Stop Your Crowing, Kasimir!

Katy has a farm that the neighborscity-dwellers who have moved to the countryside housing development looking for peaceful surroundingsconsider picture-book perfect. But they hate her noisy new rooster, Kasimir, and despise her habit of spreading manure in her garden each Monday morning. Mrs. Moaner charges the rooster with disturbing the peace, and Katy has to move away, to her isolated country barn. She is contented, but a disco takes over her old home, serving up just deserts and lots of noise to that old bag, Mrs. Moaner. Reminiscent in many ways of Joan Blos's Old Henry, this story is uncompromising in its warning of what intolerance can breed. Brix-Henker's spectacular watercolors are also picture-book perfectfull of spunky hens, blotted blue skies and full, rosy dawns. Unfortunately, the book's design is clumsy, with text planted in odd places over and around the art. But this can be forgiven as a minor flaw, given Scheffler's messageto live and let live. Ages 5-8. (February)