The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet, written by Carmen Agra Deedy, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary: This uplifting book tells the story of the village of La Paz, which is full of noise, commotion and singing at all times. When people become dissatisfied with the constant hullabaloo, they fire the mayor and replace him with the only candidate who promises quiet, Don Pepe. Don Pepe’ quest for silence becomes more and more intense until, “even the tea kettles [are] afraid to whistle.” Seven years of quiet rigidity have passed, when a gallito (rooster) and his family move to town, and carry on crowing as roosters always do. The gallito becomes embroiled in a battle of wills with Don Pepe, who systematically removes the joys (his tree, his family, his food) from the gallito’s life in an attempt to silence him. But the endlessly optimistic gallito is always able to find some joy left, like the sun shining, that makes him repeatedly ask Don Pepe, “How can I keep from singing?” 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book is a beautiful message in a fun package with Spanish language exposure to boot. Eugene Yelchin’s illustrations are full of vivid color and tremendous expression. He captures the spirit and boldness of the gallito perfectly. Children will delight in seeing the gallito continue to sing and will shout along with the reader, “Kee-kee-ree-KEE!” (the Spanish representation of the rooster crow, similar to the English, “Cockadoodle-doo!”) As the rooster continues to find beauty and joy in a world that grows increasingly desperate, kids and adults alike will feel bolstered by the time-honored ideas of taking the optimistic approach and speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves, both of which are beautifully and age-appropriately conveyed. Cuban-born author, Carmen Agra Deedy, infuses the story with Spanish words and names throughout, offering opportunities for cross-cultural connections and possible incorporation into Spanish language lessons. This reader found herself with a tear in her eye as the rooster, having nothing left, still felt the urge to sing for those who could not lift their own voices, and my young listeners cheered as the villagers joined the rooster in song and ran Don Pepe (“the bad guy”) out of town. Add this book to elementary collections immediately. It is a delight.