The Rooster's Gift

by Pam Conrad, Eric Beddows (Illustrator)

Believing that his pre-dawn call brings out the morning sun, the Rooster considers himself to be more important than everyone else on the farm, but one day he gets a real shock when he oversleeps and finds out that the sun has come up without his call.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, 2nd Grade

40 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 1996

About the author

Pam Conrad (1947-1996) was an author for children. Her book Our House: Stories of Levittown was a Newbery Medal finalist.

Ms. Conrad was born in New York City and graduated from the New School for Social Research.

Reviews

[Nichole · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a farmer's daughter, this book is weird to me. Does the author know that rooster crow whenever they feel like it? Not just when the sun is rising? Obviously, it's not like this is realism, there are talking chickens. But I had a hard time getting past it and I didn't like and value the story and theme enough past it for me to overlook it.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

This rooster is a jerk. The smallest hen comes out every morning to watch him bring up the sun and every morning she says "thank you", at first he responds to her but day by day he gets more full of himself and eventually stops acknowledging her all together. But when he gets all down because he realizes the sun will rise without him the rooster looks to the hen to tell him how great he is but is still a jerk to her when he says even she can crow and calls her fat and round when she tries. This is not one I'll be reading again.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A proud rooster learns a lesson in humility when he discovers that he does not control the sunrise. The illustrations are beautiful, and it's always nice to see chickens as the main characters of a story. It would be nice if all chickens could have the sort of idyllic life that is depicted in storybooks such as this.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this kid's book is supposed to be about "pride goeth before a fall", but absolutely nothing is said about the inbreeding going on between Rooster and his nine sisters and, presumably, his mother.

After all, there's no other rooster around.

Holy fuck.

Gets two stars instead of one due to the quality of the artwork.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes. I requested from KPL 1/25

[Alma Loredo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The farmer and his wife saw all the baby chicks and wished that at least one of them were a rooster. They all wondered what that meant. The rooster righ tbefore dawn walked out to the top of the chiclen coop and told the sun to raise. He did this everyday. One day we was running late and the sun rose without him. He was very upset and did not understand what was his gift. The small hen helped him understand that he helps tell the sun when to raise.

[April Castle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how you find out what the rooster does when he gets older. I like the story about him trying to find out the special talent he has. Although I don't like the male ego voice he has degrading the hen. The story line is good but the dialogue didn't have to be so pushy from the rooster. This book could be introduced into the classroom to students about chickens but needs to be discussed about the tone of the book.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the author uses bias language that portrays the male rooster as being better than the other animals, I felt this book in general was ok. It definitely portrayed a rooster's characteristics very well since they like to strut their self around a barn. Also it touches a lot of areas that can be used in discussion such as boastfulness about one's abilities, finding one's talent, and embarassment and how it makes us feel.

[Melissa Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. It has really great illustrations. It is very entertaining. Through the whole book, you suspect something else is going to happen, but every morning the rooster goes through the same routine. I dont like the attitude of the rooster. He is not very nice and respectful to his fellow farm animals at the begginning of the book. This would be a good book to read to kids in Kindergarten-2nd grade.

[Lindsay Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story of chicks who grow up to become hens and one rooster. The rooster hears the old man and woman say something about his Gift and he wonders what it is. When he crows in the morning for the first time he is sure that his gift is his ability to make the sun rise. He becomes very full of himself. Only the friendship of a hen can help him when he realizes he has no grand gift.

[Nick Cherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think one could say this book may come across as sexist, but I doubt that a child would take it that way. I think this book was a little long, but younger children would enjoy it. I know when I was in the first grade, we did a lesson with chickens. This book would go perfect for learning about them.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book in my tradebooks class, and after the reading we had a discussion about sexist behavior in this book. I could see the male dominance slightly, but would not consider this book to be harmful to children. I really enjoyed this book. It is a little long, but would be a great book to introduce a chicken or farm unit. I would read this book again and share it with others!

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although there are tone of sexism in the book, I still think it was pretty good. I don't think the implied message will be understood by young children. It is important to select proper materials for kids, but this one is fairly vague. I would use this book to introduce life on a farm in my classroom and not worry about the connetations.

[Drew Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book I would avoid because the author tends to make the rooster(male figure) better than everyone else (especially more than females). Yeah there is the moral at the end but children do not always see it that way. I think the bad parts stick out more than the good in this story. Not a huge fan of this book.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book about chicks growing up. Good to show how life is on the farm from an animals perspective. Would need lost of explaining about how the roaster and hen interact. Reminded me of a valley girl fawning over a football player.

[Suzanne Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love this book! I simply do not understand not loving this book. I read it to my daughter over and over when she was young. It has the sweetest story with the moral of being yourself and beautiful illustrations.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rooster thinks his gift is making the sun rise, until one morning when the sun rises without him. ALA Notable book 1997, GG 1996

[Curriculum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rooster thinks his gift is making the sun rise, until one morning when the sun rises without him. (ALA notable book 1997, GG 1996).

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was too long. I frankly got bored in the middle of it. This book could be used with students of all ages. As long as they can sit still through it.

[Rocco Delauro · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the best, I would not read it again. I think that the characters where not very good.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun farmyard story about the Rooster discovering what his gift really is.

[Elle Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is absolutely amazing - beautiful artwork - beautiful story; character study, responsibility to find one's own gift and share it, identity framing.

[Mirela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice portrayal of what it means to be humble and appreciative, as this Rooster finds out. Great illustrations!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

AR 3.7