ROOSTER CAN’T COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO

Pity poor Rooster—he has a terrible sore throat, his tail feathers are drooping, and he can’t possibly do his cock-a-doodle-doo to get the farm going in the morning. With whispers and coughing, he wakes up each set of animals on the farm, and they all go on to the next unhappy group until they reach the farmhouse to wake the farmer by forming an animal pyramid up to his window. Since Farmer Ted is now hopelessly behind in his chores, he receives help from all the animals in quite hilarious ways while Rooster rests in a lawn chair by the pond, sipping tea with honey to help his throat. Rostoker-Gruber has created a farm-animal story in the best tradition of cumulative tales but with the added spice of deadpan humor, groan-worthy puns, and witty dialogue appropriate to each species. The delightful illustrations are full of funny facial expressions and clever details that will have both children and adults giggling. Rooster might be under the weather, but his well-written story leaves the reader feeling just fine. (Picture book. 3-7)