The braying of Dicky Donkey annoys everyone in town, but are they better off without it? The unnamed little girl who tells the story is awakened every morning by the “eee-orrh!” of Dicky Donkey, so she doesn’t need an alarm clock. The same goes for neighbors Miss Moany, Mrs. Moody and Mr. Misery, but they are not so happy about it. Their complaints drive Dicky into a sad silence that even the local doctor can’t cure. Only when the complainers start oversleeping do they realize how valuable Dicky’s braying was. It doesn’t take much convincing by these remorseful citizens to get Dicky happy and braying again. Monks’s unique illustrations—bold paint-and-collage crammed with fun shapes and a riot of colors—are far superior to her so-so story, and more humorous, to boot. They should attract young listeners. (Picture book. 2-6)
