Help Wanted: One Rooster

There is trouble at the farm. The rooster has taken to sleeping in because he has been staying up late working on starting a rock band. Since the rooster isn’t doing his job, none of the other barnyard animals get their chores done on time. The farm is falling apart. The cow is very organized and professional. She even has a clipboard.

She is trying to find a new rooster for the farm. A sheep is helping. Their first applicant is a rooster who is inexplicably wearing a tuxedo and thinks it would be nicer to wake the farm denizens with a small bell. The second applicant prefers waking others with the smell of coffee. And so it goes with some very odd applicants.

Julie Falatko has written an amusing look at what needs to happen to keep things running on a farm. Her witty text challenges youngsters with unusual ideas and stretches their vocabulary with big words. The charming illustrations by Andrea Stegmaier complete the story with lots of fun details that will keep youngsters’ eyes on the pages and a great sense of fun on every page. Themes of cooperation and working toward goals are nicely featured.