Cock-a-Doodle Oops!

In this humorous early reader%E2%80%93style story, farm animals try in vain to rouse Farmer McPeeper from sleep after Rooster takes off for a week at the beach. Initially intimidated by their newfound responsibility, Pig, Donkey, Cow, Sheep, and Goat each give it their best shots, failing with comical results: " %E2%80%98I know I'm quiet,/ but I'd like to try it./ Here goes,' said a shy little sheep./ Her cock-a-doodle-baaaaaaa/ didn't travel too faaa./ In fact, she barely made a peep!" Degman's (1 Zany Zoo) rhymes have the structure and bounce of limericks, and are sprinkled with barnyard puns and hybrid animal rooster crows that readers will be itching to try out themselves. Zemke's (The Deep Deep Puddle) cartoons nail the wide-eyed, dumbfounded look of the animals as they scramble to fill the rooster's shoes. Luckily, the rooster finally returns home%E2%80%94albeit, with a cold that requires some additional clever thinking on the animals' parts. A final twist ends this peppy and fun story on a high note. Ages 3%E2%80%939. (May)