WHEN THE COCK CROWS

An extended, allusive beginning, a spirited stream of casual observations throughout--but the inappropriately bland illustrations don't convey the highly individual nuances of the narrator. This is not a book for kids who insist on vital statistics (where did the jacket copywriter find the boy's name?). He and brother Henrik are nicely behaved (they hate it), a discontented mean between two troublemakers ejected from the first grade and seemingly docile Sigurd, every parent's pet. Sneaking up on a local rooster of ill repute, they balk when he squawks, and take flight, convinced with trembling-boy terror that the end is near. They survive, and go on to adventure in the Land of the Crazy Cock; they initiate Sigurd, who has soothing, almost magic powers over animals (which makes him welcome), and friend Keld, who doesn't and who comes out running just as they had. Lotte doesn't have to go through the ceremony but she's in on it, even if she is a girl. It's all off the top of his head, which limits its popular potential, but a selective few will be transported.