ELVIS THE ROOSTER ALMOST GOES TO HEAVEN

The tender male ego gets another bruising in this spin-off from Cazet’s popular “Minnie and Moo” readers. Elvis the rooster is about to crow the sun up as usual when a bug flies into his mouth, and he sees the sun rise without his help. Much later, dapper Little Willie’s beefy (well, goosey, to be precise) sidekick, Rocky, finds him swooning on the barn roof, and hauls him down to a sickbed in the coop, from which he proclaims his imminent demise due to uselessness. “I might as well be a cow.” With help from other barnyard residents, Little Willie gets Elvis back up onto the roof for another try, only to see him inhale another bug at just the wrong moment. Happily, Henrietta Hen is standing by to deliver a quick Heimlich maneuver, saving the day (so to speak), and allowing Elvis to regain his “pluck.” Small but finely detailed scenes of barnyard fowl, some adorned with cool-looking shades, add an extra layer of daffiness to this droll episode; fans of the series, and younger readers in general, will applaud as Elvis takes center stage. (Easy reader. 6-8)