| This is actually a 4.5 due to the heavy subject matter. The lovely illustrations do help push it closer to a 5. The younger child probably will not get the meaning of the story, but it still is a funny story about a rooster crowing and giving someone a bit of grief because of it. |
The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! by Carmen Agra Deedy and Eugene Yelchin is a story about a town where everyone has a song to sing. And usually, very loudly. Therefore, this makes it hard to concentrate and do things. The people of the town want quiet. They blame their mayor and kick him out of office. This leaves the town without a mayor. Only one candidate promises quiet and is quickly elected. But soon, “No loud singing in public” turns into “No noise!” Period! Nada! Not at all! Some people leave the town and some stay and only quietly sing. But others still were happy for the quiet. It is only when a loud rooster and his family try and settle into the town that things get more than just noisy!
The story is “Stand up against tyranny and unfairness” and to be proud of who you are. You are a Rooster that sings. If your tree is cut down, your song maybe sadder, but you will sing. If you are in the dark, you will sing. If you are dead you will not sing anymore, but you will have your song heard if there are others who will sing about and for you. Hence while the material presented can be a bit “too much” for a younger reader. (Spoiler) The Mayor does threaten to kill the rooster. Therefore, if you have a sensitive child, this probably is not for them. The older reader should be fine.
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