Cock-a-Doodle-Doo-Bop

August 3, 2015
It’s just before dawn on the farm. A crescent moon hangs in the sky, and Myers (Battle Bunny) conjures up a landscape awash in purple and blue. But this farm’s hip rooster (he even wears shades at night) wants to replace his traditional crowing with something more interesting: scat, doo-wop, a trumpet solo, even record scratching (“wick wick wickee old mac wick wick wickee eieiooo”). It isn’t just annoying to his fellow farm denizens—it violates the laws of nature, as a bleary farm boy explains: “The sun won’t come up without a ‘cock-a-doodle-doo.’ ” The cow, whose attempts at being reasonable are the book’s funniest running joke, takes a different tack. “Look, Mel,” he says, “I’m all for creativity, but some things are perfect just the way they are.” When Rooster’s artistic integrity proves implacable, desperate measures prevail. This is a witty crowd-pleaser and a gift to those reading aloud, thanks to Black’s (Naked!) gooses of blaring onomatopoeia (the typography plays along, popping off the page) and character-rich dialogue. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

August 1, 2015
"Cock-a-doodle-doo" is so last century, man! Mel the rooster is just not feeling "cock-a-doodle-doo." He wakes the farmer (a concerned boy) with a "Scat-scat-doo-wop-bop-biddly-doo-wop-doowop-bop-bop-bop!" Even after the farmer tells him the sun won't rise without a cock-a-doodle-doo, Mel's ready for something new. He tries another scat after the cow expresses her concern...but the sun doesn't rise. So Mel pulls out his trumpet for a cool jive blast. Nothin'. The rest of the barnyard is awake, and they are all concerned that morning might never come. Mel tries spinnin' and scratchin' beats with a turntable. Still no sun, but Mel will not go back to the traditional rooster crow. Finally, the horse has an idea that involves the cow and a "Cow-ca-doo-dle-moooooooo!" Hello sun! Black's rockin' rooster will have toddlers laughing and joining in on second reads if the book's read just right. The whole tale is told only through dialogue, and each character's words appear in a different color. There are no dialogue bubbles to indicate who's speaking, so readers need to be nimble in switching places. Myers' oils present a mix of double-page spreads and sequential panels (separated by fence posts rather than negative space) paced beautifully for maximum effect. A sly, wry, and funny tale that's as much fun to perform as it is to hear. A fine addition to the cock-a-doodle canon. (Picture book. 3-7)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-It's dawn. Mel, the farm's resident rooster, breaks loose with a raucous scat improvisation worthy of the local WFRM microphone. It's also time for a morning wake-up, and the volume (and large font) of the lyrics literally tosses residents from their beds. There's an issue here-anything but a simple "cock-a-doodle-doo" just won't wake the Sun, and unfortunately this rooster is bored with "doing that same old number every morning for years." The young farmer and Cow react with alarm, rooster provides another inspired rise-and-shine rendition, and the result is the same-NO Sun. Neither trumpet solo nor rap budge the moon, but Cow's final offering of a "Cow-ca-doodle-MOO" has just the right sound to invite the morning rays. Boldly painted cartoon art enhances the sleepy concern of farm residents as night finally turns into day. Font and text color change with dialogue of the characters and the ear-splitting onomatopoeia of the rooster's wake-up cries. Each page varies with smaller scenes, spreads, and tiny details to challenge observant readers. VERDICT Storytime will never be the same with this delightful routine breaker.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.