Dr. Coo and the Pigeon Protest

March 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-Dr. Coo is a pigeon with a problem. He's noticed that for far too long, pigeons have gone unappreciated, and yearns for a time when they are valued like when they were used as carrier pigeons. With the help of his friends, Dr. Coo forms a pigeon protest, only returning to the city when the birds feel loved again. The story is pleasant but is a bit wordy; the actual protest doesn't happen until rather late in the book, so the four main birds spend most of their time pleading their case to each other about how pigeons aren't respected. Though the message is welcome, the approach may be too monotonous for some. Reich's soft and adorable approach definitely elevates the piece. Her birds are cartoonish but gentle, and seeing them being chased around by old ladies and wearing army helmets definitely make the case for pigeon appreciation. VERDICT A warm addition for one-on-one and small group sharing.-Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI

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January 15, 2018
Hampson takes a stab at encouraging fellow feeling between pigeons and people.The story starts with a small cabal of big-city pigeons grousing that they don't get much respect. They know humans hate them, but they don't seem to understand why--though Reich's illustrations, which display a variety of responses to pigeons, hint at the reasons. Dr. Coo rouses the others by recounting their great history as carriers of messages and symbols of peace. Their worth validated, the pigeons decide to prove it to the humans by hiding from the city folk. With no pigeons, the city is an eerie place, and those who liked feeding the birds miss them. A petition is delivered to the mayor demanding respect in return for the pigeons' coordination in pooping activities--the first textual mention of this bone of human-pigeon contention--and arguing that pigeons are a valuable part of the city's diversity. Despite lofty intentions, this story simply doesn't provide much more than poop entertainment. The interactions among the pigeons are arch and mannered, and at least one joke (about millennials) will fly over the audience's heads. Dr. Coo's history lesson notwithstanding, many will feel that feral city pigeons are misidentified as unjustly marginalized.There is a reason an overexplosion of pigeons rattles many feathers, and this tale doesn't dispel it. (Picture book. 4-8)

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