BERNARD THE ANGRY ROOSTER

What has gotten Bernard's shorts in a twist? Usually placid, this bold, black rooster is today a feathery explosion of indignation, chasing away Tommy the ginger cat, Toby the dog, and even the young child, Lucy. "Why are you so cross?" his victims chorus. The answer comes at last (there's a visual hint at the beginning, but most readers are going to have to go back to catch it) when Bernard takes on a horse, who kicks him up onto the stable's roof. Bernard's mood undergoes a rapid change as he climbs a tree to crow—at the new rooster weathervane just placed atop the barn. Once again the highest rooster around, Bernard settles back into his old geniality. Wormell's bold linoleum cuts are a nice change from the usual flowery colors of farmyard picture books and seem the perfect choice to depict an angry rooster and slightly frazzled animals. Young fans of Nancy Tafuri's picture books and similar barnyard brouhahas as well as Wormell's earlier farm books (Why Not?, 2000, etc.) will be drawn to this—and will agree that there's a bit of Bernard in everyone. (Picture book. 4-6)