Cock-A-Doodle-Hoooo!

by Mick Manning

One stormy night, a lost and lonely owl walks into a farmyard looking for a place to sleep.
After a restful night in the henhouse, Owl wakes to discover that the hens want him to leave. They're looking for a rooster, not an owl!
How will Owl convince his new friends that he should stay?
With action-packed illustrations, this hilarious picture book will be a story-time hit!

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Humor, Friendship

28 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Manning went to school in Keighley and then studied at at Bradford College. He studied illustration and graphic design at Newcastle Polytechnic (now the University of Northumbria) 1979 - 82 and then illustration and animation at the Royal College of Art London 1984-87 . Later he devised and ran the BA honours Illustration option at the Glasgow School of Art while maintaining a freelance career. In 1998 he resigned to concentrate on writing and illustrating children's books full-time. British artist-illustrators Xavier Pick, Helen Stephens and Mark Hearld number among his ex-students. Manning's first book A Ruined House was chosen by Quentin Blake in The Laureate's Party (Red Fox) as one of his personal top 50 children's books of all time. Manning is known for his collaborations as author and co-illustrator with partner Brita Granström. Books from their young non-fiction series "Wonderwise" won the TES, Silver Smarties and English Association Awards and were also shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prizes (then called The Rhone Poulenc) on three occasions. They won The English Association award again in 2005 with Voices of the Rainforest and again in 2008 with Greek Hero. Their book Yuck! is referenced in the Mike Leigh film Happy Go Lucky. Tail End Charlie, a picture book about his father's Second World War experience as an RAF air gunner during 1944 was shortlisted for, and televised on, the Blue Peter Book Awards 2010. It was also shortlisted for the ALCS Award and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal 2010. Manning is a direct descendant of 18th Century Italian artist Bonifacio Musso, and Musso's London-born son Charles Muss who was himself, among many other things, a British illustrator. In 2011 Mick and Brita won a fourth English Association Award with the follow up to Tail-End Charlie; Taff in the WAAF a fascinating book about his mother's war including her experiences as a Chicksands 'Y' station listener for Bletchley Park. In 2011 he was elected a Fellow of The English Association.

Manning's other children's non fiction picture books include science titles such as: How Did I Begin? (this book looks at the amazing development of a human baby from fertilised egg to birth and was shortlisted for the Rhone Poulenc Prize in 1996) Woolly Mammoth (with the NHM, London), Dino Dinners (with the NHM, London), Nature Adventures and 'What Mr Darwin Saw, (this book about the life of Charles Darwin and his discoveries was shortlisted for the Royal Society's science book prize in 2011.)

Reviews

[Chanae Wills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about an owl in a hen house. The hens don’t want him there because he’s not a rooster, but they soon find out that even though he’s not a rooster he’s special and they want him around. I would use this book to teach my students that although people may not physically be what you want them to be, there is more on the inside and when you get to know them, you’ll be pleased with what you find.

[Gennie Hendrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really cute book about fitting in. An owl finds himself in a hen house one morning and the hens are not very accepting. The owl tries hard to be like the rooster the hens want him to be. However, the owl saved the day by being himself. This would be a great book to let children know its okay to be yourself and that everyone is special in their own way.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cute story about a little owl who is lost, cold and hungry and finds a hen house for shelter. He does his best to fit in and act just like a rooster. Fun illustrations and funny onomatopoeia - our girls loved it!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owl takes refuge in a hen house but can only stay if he can behave like a rooster. He tries but he is still an owl. Then an egg-eating rat turns up and Owl is appreciated for being an owl. An entertaining picture book with a nice message about unlikely heroes.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 3 out of 5]

This simple and engaging tale puts a lost and cold owl in a hen house where he tries to fit in--with delightful results. I have a granddaughter who loves owls. I think she will like it.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor owl, lost, wet and cold he finds a hole in a shed, squeezes in and falls asleep. In the morning he discovers that he is in a hen house. The hens seem to be desperate for a male rooster so they give him a try out which he fails dismally. The speckled hen (different from all the others) takes him aside and tells him that she will teach him to be a rooster. He is doing well with his lessons, but he just can't cock-a-doodle doo, only HOOT. He has put himself out there and failed to be what all the others expect him to be, but he will never be that ROOSTER because he is an OWL. At that moment a rat sneaks into the hen house and the owl swoops down and catches the rat and eats him. That is what owls do! He is now a hero to the hens.
I just hope that the farmer figures out that there won't be any little chicks happening and that owl overcomes his own nature and doesn't eat the bird-brained hens. But, of course, he can always fly away.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful illustrations accompany this story about a lonely, lost owl who accidently stumbles into a hen house...it's warm, it's cozy, and just right for falling asleep. In the morning, the hens were outraged...he's no rooster, all he can do is hoot. Trying with all his might to fit in, he just couldn't seem to get the clacking and the cock-a-doodle-doing down. But, when it seems as all hope is lost, the hens find out what owl is good for...catching RATS!

Cock-a-Doodle-Hooooooo! is a good way to introduce individuality and self-worth to the little set. The expressions on owl face will make them HOOT with laughter.

Used for "Who's There? It's Me, Owl!" storytime: March, 2011.
Used for Dream Big:READ! Owls storytime: June, 2012.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best for kids ages 4 and up. Colorful pictures and cute characters.
Early Literacy Skills: Print Motivation, Print Awareness, Letter Knowledge, Vocabulary, Phonological Awareness

From cover:
One stormy night, a lost and lonely owl walks into a farmyard looking for a place to sleep.
After a restful night in the henhouse, Owl wakes to discover that the hens want him to leave. They're looking for a rooster, not an owl!
How will Owl convince his new friends that he should stay?

Owl just wants a place to call his own and the hen house seems like a perfect place if only they would let him stay because he is not a proper rooster. Tries as he might he just can't get things right. What else will it take to get them to let him stay?

[Muhuawu wu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is among the better kids' stories I've read, and well worth investing in the hardcover version of the book because of the quality of the story. This book was a replacement of this same story that had originally been purchased as a paperbound book through a book order. Knowing that the story was good (and fun to read to young kids), I deliberated wanted the more durable hardcover version. The illustrations of this book are imperative and reinforcing to text and mood of story; may often add a different detail than text alone. The animal is identifiable and the hero/heroine with admirable character traits that show growth and represent the theme. Language is lively, concise, not overly didactic, and with quality writing and a coherent structure; Screaming to be read aloud.

[Amanda Chmara]

I liked this book, it was written by Mick Manning and illustrated by Brita Granstrom. The story is about an owl who is out in the cold is finds shelter in a chicken coop for the night. In the morning the chickens test him to see if he is capable of being a rooster. He doesn't prove his worth so a chicken tries to teach him, and it is when a rat is in the coop taking food and eggs that the owl proves he can help out after all. From that point on the chickens feel the owl is worthy of being around. The words are easy enough but a few are challenging at times. The text is in black on the colorful illustrations. The emotions of the words is really brought out in the pictures. Over all I believe it is a good book, appropriate for kindergarten to second.

[Nayhara Sepulcri · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the middle of a cold, stormy night a lost and lonely owl seeks a place to rest. He walks into a farmyard and squeezes himself through a hole in a shed. He wakes up surrounded by 'bony feet and beady eyes'. Will he convince the hens that he can be the cockerel they need?

The abundant use of adjectives, synonyms and similes throughout the story provides a great opportunity to enrich children's vocabulary, specially at the EYFS. For that reason, 'Cock-a-doodle-hooooooo!' is a great book to be discussed in detail and as part of a topic, such as farm or when discussing life cycle of a hen.

[Mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a very stormy evening, a lonely and cold owl was looking for a place to sleep. He wandered onto a farm and into a hen house to rest for the night. When he wakes up the hens around him are confused about the owl, they needed a rooster! The hens try to teach him how to be a rooster, but they have no luck and ridicule him for it. Will the hens change their mind and let him stay? This was a cute book and followed the theme of fitting in. Again I think that this would be another great book for children to read. Everyone is different in their own way, but that is okay! I highly suggest adding this book to your classroom.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked illustrations! The rat didn't bother me. I've raised farm animals for food and have chickens now. So I am partial to chicken stories and frankly, I wish more kids knew where their food came from. Most of us eat other living things. Did not like the mean girl comments, especially "What a loser!" But, really, don't kids hear stuff like this on the playground and bus?? I think it would lead to some great discussions. When people don't like us, we shouldn't change to please anyone and be proud of who we are and what we can do.

[Stef · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cute! I love these fish out of water tales. My favorite picture books are the ones where the characters have to excellent facial expressions in reaction to the story. I think this would be a good read aloud.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband really liked this book, but I just thought it was okay. Pretty cute story, but I wasn't in love with it. The illustrations are pretty cute though, especially the last one with the owl leading all the chickens and chicks with the confusing farmer looking on!

[Rhonda Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book to use to teach children how to accept everyone. Owl doesn't fit in with the rest of the chickens but he doesn't know why. The chickens soon find out that owl can help them out. Read to find out how owl helps them.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Owl finds shelter in a chick coop. They don't like him because he's not like a rooster until he catches rats for them. It ends quickly. It's heavy on insults for the owl and light on meaningful resolution.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young owl finds a warm, dry henhouse during a storm. He is not so accepted by the hens come the next day, however. They want a rooster. His best efforts are failing until he discovers a talent that is appreciated by the hens.

[Jenn Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An owl ends up in a chicken coop and is mocked by the chickens because he is different. He changes their mind when he captures a pesky rat that is trying to steal eggs. Then he becomes a hero. My daughter enjoyed this story. Would recommend.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great choice for a preschool storytime. It's funny, and it's a good lesson about being yourself rather than trying to act like something you're not--everyone has strengths and can contribute to the well-being of the community. It just takes the hens a while to appreciate that.

[Alfajirikali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice ending.

[Julene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this one! It is such a fun story! Who know that such a short kids' book could have such great characters? I think you've got to read the hens' lines with a southern accent!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful book about an owl who takes on the attributes of a rooster and is accepted by the hens because of an extra special talent. Cute & clever!

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love owls! This one is cute.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given it four stars, maybe five, but the rat part kinda freaked us out. Otherwise it was a cute story with nice pictures.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This funny picture book is perfect for storytime. An owl falls into a hen coop and tries to become their rooster.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun read! I was a bit worried the kids would be grossed out by the rat eating bit, but they seemed to love it!

[Brianna Dietz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book is great for any age with it's fun illustrations! An owl falls into a hen coop and the hens try and make the owl a rooster. Very funny book!

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about an owl who comes into a hen house but he isn't a rooster...but he does eat rats! Fun story about an owl's acceptance of being different.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's cute.