The Mixed-Up Rooster

PreSchool-Grade 2–The sun rises over the henhouse, awakening Daisy Mae. Once again she must tell the other hens that there will be no time for breakfast, because the rooster has overslept. Ned is just not a morning bird. Exasperated, Daisy Mae calls down to the head office for a replacement. Ned leaves the henhouse in a huff and spies on his replacement while he sulks in a nearby tree. When night falls, he frolics with a new group of nocturnal friends. In the midst of all the fun, he spies a black snake slithering into the henhouse and sounds the alarm, thus saving the eggs. His former boss is so grateful for his quick thinking that she creates a perfect new position for him, head of night security. This lighthearted story is written in an uncomplicated, comical style and has vibrant illustrations that are full of personality and charm. The facial expressions of Ned and Daisy Mae are particularly amusing. Children will appreciate the message that although Ned is different from most other roosters, he has his own special talents. This humorous tale of woe could be paired with Mary Jane Auch's Bantam of the Opera (Holiday House, 1997), the story of another uniquely talented rooster.–Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.