The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet!
by Carmen Agra Deedy (Author) Eugene Yelchin (Illustrator)
So the villagers elect the bossy Don Pepe as their mayor. Before long, singing of any kind is outlawed. Even the teakettle is afraid to whistle!
But there is one noisy rooster who doesn't give two mangos about this mayor's silly rules. Instead, he does what roosters were born to do.
He sings:
Kee-kee-ree-KEE!
Carmen Deedy's masterfully crafted allegory and Eugene Yelchin's bright, whimsical mixed-media paintings celebrate the spirit of freedom -- and the courage of those who are born to sing at any cost.
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Publishers Weekly
"Seven very quiet years" after new laws turned the noisy village of La Paz into one as "silent as a tomb," a gallito and his family arrive on the scene. The rooster's crowing enrages the mayor, Don Pepe, who imprisons the rooster in a cage, among other escalating punishments. Deedy (14 Cows for America) uses repeating language to powerful effect, ramping up the stakes while underscoring the gallito's steady determination. "And if you have no more corn?" asks Don Pepe, threatening the rooster with starvation. "I may sing a hungrier song," answers the bird. "But I will still sing." Just when it seems as though the rooster's song will cost him his life, the citizens stage a nonviolent (but very noisy) revolution. Yelchin (Elephant in the Dark) amplifies themes of protest and injustice in vivid mixed-media caricatures that emphasize the rooster's humble nobility in contrast to Don Pepe's sneering autocratic airs. Like the gallito's cries of "kee-kee-ree-kee!" Deedy's message about speaking up and speaking out rings as clearly as a bell. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Jan.)
Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.School Library Journal
K-Gr 2—In the village of La Paz, everyone is constantly singing. So much happy noise eventually causes the townspeople to wish for a little peace and quiet. So they throw out the old mayor and bring in Don Pepe, who guarantees change. In a classic "be careful what you wish for" scenario, Don Pepe delivers on his word and successfully makes singing illegal. For seven years the village remains quiet, until along comes a saucy gallito, who happily crows aloud every morning. Angered, Don Pepe makes it his personal mission to silence the rooster once and for all. He takes away the rooster's food, family, and sunlight and even threatens death, but the gallito still crows, "Kee-kee-ree-KEE!" and eventually inspires the rest of La Paz to join him in his triumphant singing. Don Pepe leaves town, and the villagers return to their loud, joyful ways. Told with a storyteller's flair, the narrative reads like a folktale, while Yelchin's mixed-media illustrations are vibrant and perfectly suit the text. VERDICT A fun read-aloud for any library, especially ones looking for stories with Hispanic influence.—Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
* "Deedy's original tale about standing up to oppression couldn't be more timely. Yelchin's saturated, folksy, mixed-media paintings are the perfect partner, fleshing out the characterizations and offering visual humor. This subtle, modern multicultural tale is a must have." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Deedy uses repeating language to powerful effect, ramping up the stakes while underscoring the gallito's steady determination....Yelchin amplifies themes of protest and injustice in vivid mixed-media caricatures that emphasize the rooster's humble nobility in contrast to Don Pepe's sneering autocratic airs. Like the gallito's cries of 'kee-kee-ree-kee!' Deedy's message about speaking up and speaking out rings as clearly as a bell." — Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "Deedy's original story of the noisy village of La Paz has the feel of a well-told folktale-one with plenty of dry wit... Bright hues and busy page layouts reflect a boisterous La Paz but fade to dull blues and open space when Don Pepe comes into power. Following the narrative arc, the color and energy return with the gallito's arrival and resistance. The story closes with an inspiring author's note encouraging readers and listeners to make themselves heard." —The Horn Book, starred review
"Told with a storyteller's flair, the narrative reads like a folktale, while Yelchin's mixed-media illustrations are vibrant and perfectly suit the text. VERDICT A fun read-aloud for any library, especially ones looking for stories with Hispanic influence." — School Library Journal
Praise for 14 Cows for America by Carmen Deedy; illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez
* "A stirring, heartwarming tale that made headlines when it happened and is now, thankfully, preserved on the page for children." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"A moving tale of compassion and generosity." — Publishers Weekly
Praise for The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark by Carmen Deedy; illustrated by Henri Sorensen
Christopher Award Winner
Jane Addams Children's Book Award Honor Book
Bologna Ragazzi Award Winner
"Vivid and lyrical." — Publishers Weekly
Praise for Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale
Pura Belpre Award Honor
International Latino Book Awards, 1st Place
Odyssey Award Honor
"Deedy's masterful retelling of this Latino folktale has a rollicking voice imbued with sly tongue-in-cheek humor." — Booklist
"This telling has magic all its own." — Kirkus Reviews
Eugene Yelchin loves to create books that explore the boundaries of universal truth. He is the author and illustrator of the Newbery Honor book Breaking Stalin's Nose, as well as the illustrator of many distinguished, award-winning picture books. These include Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw, and Elephant in the Dark, retold by Mina Javaherbin. Born in Russia, Eugene now lives in Topanga, California, with his wife and their two children. Visit him at eugeneyelchinbooks.com.
