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COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO-BOP! by Michael Ian Black

COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO-BOP!

by Michael Ian Black ; illustrated by Matt Myers

Pub Date: Oct. 13th, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4424-9510-4
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

“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)