By: Megan Dowd Lambert / Illustrated by: Jessica Lannan

Can Clyde handle the new kid in town?

In this fresh and funny followup to the Ezra Jack Keats Honor book A Crow of His Own, Rooster Clyde has just settled in and found his voice when everyone demands that he take his hard-earned crow down a notch to let newcomer Rowdy and his mother get their beauty sleep. That doesn’t sit well with Clyde. Even worse, motherly goose Roberta seems to have taken the new animals’ side! Can they reach a solution that works for everybody?

While the furred and feathered farm residents welcome their newest additions, background illustrations show Farmer Jay and Farmer Kevin preparing for their own adopted child to arrive. A perfect book for new siblings and family growing pains.

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Author & Illustrator

Megan Dowd Lambert, author

Megan Dowd Lambert is the author of A Crow of His Own, Real Sisters Pretend, and Reading Picture Books with Children. She is an instructor at the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons University, where she earned her master’s degree. She writes about books and parenting for Horn Book Magazine, has served on a Caldecott Committee, and worked at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for many years.

Read more about Megan.

Jessica Lannan

Jessica Lanan is the illustrator of Out of School and Into Nature: The Anna Comstock Story, The Story I’ll Tell, and Finding Narnia. She attended Scripps College and has a BA in fine art. She lives in Colorado.

Read more about Jessica.

Awards & Honors

• CCBC Choices

Editorial Reviews

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

In this companion book to A Crow of His Own (illustrated by David Hyde Costello, 2015), Clyde the rooster returns with his star wake-up crow.

Regularly lapping up universal praise and adoration, Clyde is living a comfortable life on the farm until farmers Jay and Kevin introduce Fran the goat and her kid, Rowdy. Everyone is delighted to have a kid on the farm except for a jealous Clyde, who devises a plan to regain everyones attention. The next morning he uses a megaphone to make an extra loud wake-up call, but the noise doesnt allow Rowdy the sleep he needs. His friend Roberta the goose asks him to tone it down, but he dials it up with amps and drums, crowing every time Rowdy tries to rest. Soon everyone is upset, and Clyde realizes he must do something to make up for his foul behavior. Lambert depicts how hard the change brought about by a new young one in the family can be while also addressing inclusivity and celebrating everyones unique voice. The charming watercolor illustrations include little hints that the two white, male farmers are preparing for another new arrival. As with the authors first book, the vocabulary sets this title apart from many others for this age group. Rarely using verbs like said or asked, the text allows readers to discover gushed, huffed, and gasped alongside other crunchy vocabulary: Resolve, bereft, and righteousness are just a smattering. A sweet and unusual new-baby story with an uncommonly broadening vocabulary. (Picture book. 4-6)

School Library Journal

Clyde the rooster struggles to share his limelight with a new farmyard addition. Clyde has just welcomed the dawn with his signature Cock-adoodle-doo, when farmers Jay and Kevin drive up and announce the arrival of two new goats. Rowdy, the kid, quickly wins over everyone, and Clyde feels hes lost his spotlight. He resolves to win it back in the morning with an extra-loud, extraordinary crow. His extra-loud crow serves only to wake the young Rowdy from his slumber and earns the ire of the other animals. Eventually, the others disdain for his showboating helps Clyde realize the error of his ways, and peace and restful silence are restored with the help of a fuzzy pair of earmuffs for Rowdy. This delightful sequel will please fans of A Crow of Ones Own, as well as readers new to the series. Lanams illustrations are reminiscent of Jon Agee, with line-drawn animals and great big, blocky text. The text is full of action words and playful animal puns, and clearly delineated text bubbles give each animal its own distinctive personality. The farmers adoption of their own kid at the storys conclusion provides an easy transition to conversations about new siblings and growing families. VERDICT The lesson that there is room and love for everyone in the family is one that parents and caregivers will be happy to share.

Downloadables

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Details

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-58089-879-9

E-book
ISBN: 978-1-63289-703-9 EPUB

Ages: 4-8
Page count: 32
10 x 8

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