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Cockatoos
The reader may find Professor Dupont's hiding cockatoos in the illustrations of his house, but the professor needs to correct the problem that caused his ten pets to hide in the first place.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
3 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Quentin Blake
816 books738 followersSir Quentin Saxby Blake is an English cartoonist, caricaturist, illustrator and children's writer. He has illustrated over 300 books, including 18 written by Roald Dahl, which are among his most popular works. For his lasting contribution as a children's illustrator he won the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2002, the highest recognition available to creators of children's books. From 1999 to 2001, he was the inaugural British Children's Laureate. He is a patron of the Association of Illustrators.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 15, 2016
Five-year-old Becca had very good taste :) Such a delightful book with lovely drawings! Loved how it ended. I hope the cockatoos eventually succeed in helping the old professor try new things.
July 23, 2023
Too too funny with lots of cockatoos.
December 18, 2025
وای که چه تصاویر بامزه و باحالی داشت. یه قصهی ساده با تصویرگری مثل همیشه بامزه و دوستداشتنی آقای کوئنتین بلیک شگفتانگیز.
بچهها عاشق دنبال کردن تصاویر این کتاب میشن. خیلی خوب و بانمک بود.
بچهها عاشق دنبال کردن تصاویر این کتاب میشن. خیلی خوب و بانمک بود.
November 9, 2018
Great book, I enjoyed this. This book has a simple plot and is easy to follow with kids. Great illustrations. The illustrations regarding the character's facial expressions really help to tell the story. I would recommend this book to children.
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October 22, 2019Opinião da Isabel: https://youtu.be/B-zmRVgz6GA
November 10, 2018
Love love LOVE this book, which is (I think!) my favourite of QB's. Fun for all ages as you have to find the missing cockatoos - counting them on each page - and giggle at Mr DuPont's (French accent mandatory) apparent inability to spot them! "Good morning my fine, feathered friends!" is a well-worn catchphrase in our house. Wonder how long til my kids break a window to escape it...?
November 26, 2011
Excellent avec alice, 2ans. "le professeur entra dans le salon : pas de cacatoes"
"mais si, papa, regarde, il y a un cacatoes ! Il est cache ici le cacatoes !"
"mais si, papa, regarde, il y a un cacatoes ! Il est cache ici le cacatoes !"
April 28, 2020
Richie’s Picks: COCKATOOS by Quentin Blake, Little Brown, 1992, 32p., ISBN: 978-0-316-09951-6
“A-well, a bird, bird, bird, well-a bird is a word
A-well, a bird, bird, b-bird’s a word
A-well-a don’t you know about the bird?
Well, everyone knows that the bird is a word”
-- The Trashmen (1963)
For most of the world, Quentin Blake is known as the illustrator of Roald Dahl’s classic chapter books published in the 1960s, like CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. But for those in the know, Blake is also the author/illustrator of some exceptional picture books, including MRS. ARMITAGE ON WHEELS (1987), ALL JOIN IN (1990), and CLOWN (1996). COCKATOOS is one of his best.
Professor Dupont is quite proud of his ten cockatoos.
“Every morning he jumped out of bed.
He took a shower and brushed his teeth, as he always did.
He got dressed and he tied his tie, as he always did.
He adjusted his glasses, as he always did.
And he went downstairs.
He went into the conservatory. There were all his cockatoos, every single one.
Professor Dupont threw wide his arms.
He said: ‘Good morning, my fine feathered friends!’
Every morning he said the same thing.
The day came when the cockatoos thought they would go crazy if they had to listen to the ame words once again.
They decided to have some fun with Professor Dupont.
One after another they escaped through a broken pane of glass they had discovered in a corner of the conservatory.
Next morning Professor Dupont came into the conservatory and threw his arms wide.
There was not a cockatoo in sight.”
Poor Professor Dupont wanders about the house and grounds trying to locate the missing cockatoos. He cannot find a single one of them, but young readers who look carefully will discover the various places where the mischievous birds have hidden themselves.
After a restless night, Professor Dupont once again goes through his morning routine, heads into the conservatory and, thank goodness, the cockatoos are back where they belong.
But did he learn his lesson? Uh-uh:
“Professor Dupont threw wide his arms. He said: ‘Good morning my fine feathered friends!’
(I bet you can guess what happens next.)
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“A-well, a bird, bird, bird, well-a bird is a word
A-well, a bird, bird, b-bird’s a word
A-well-a don’t you know about the bird?
Well, everyone knows that the bird is a word”
-- The Trashmen (1963)
For most of the world, Quentin Blake is known as the illustrator of Roald Dahl’s classic chapter books published in the 1960s, like CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. But for those in the know, Blake is also the author/illustrator of some exceptional picture books, including MRS. ARMITAGE ON WHEELS (1987), ALL JOIN IN (1990), and CLOWN (1996). COCKATOOS is one of his best.
Professor Dupont is quite proud of his ten cockatoos.
“Every morning he jumped out of bed.
He took a shower and brushed his teeth, as he always did.
He got dressed and he tied his tie, as he always did.
He adjusted his glasses, as he always did.
And he went downstairs.
He went into the conservatory. There were all his cockatoos, every single one.
Professor Dupont threw wide his arms.
He said: ‘Good morning, my fine feathered friends!’
Every morning he said the same thing.
The day came when the cockatoos thought they would go crazy if they had to listen to the ame words once again.
They decided to have some fun with Professor Dupont.
One after another they escaped through a broken pane of glass they had discovered in a corner of the conservatory.
Next morning Professor Dupont came into the conservatory and threw his arms wide.
There was not a cockatoo in sight.”
Poor Professor Dupont wanders about the house and grounds trying to locate the missing cockatoos. He cannot find a single one of them, but young readers who look carefully will discover the various places where the mischievous birds have hidden themselves.
After a restless night, Professor Dupont once again goes through his morning routine, heads into the conservatory and, thank goodness, the cockatoos are back where they belong.
But did he learn his lesson? Uh-uh:
“Professor Dupont threw wide his arms. He said: ‘Good morning my fine feathered friends!’
(I bet you can guess what happens next.)
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
December 20, 2020
The day came when the cockatoos thought they would go mad if they had to listen to the same words once again.
We found this Quentin Blake children's picture book in a charity shop yesterday and couldn't resist it. Tania has always been a fan of his art and illustrations since his illustrations for Roald Dahl books.
The story is of Professor Dupont and his cockatoos. Every day the Professor follows the same routine and the cockatoos have grown weary of it. As such, they decide to escape. The dun is trying to spot them hiding in the pictures as the Professor searches them out.
Cute!
We found this Quentin Blake children's picture book in a charity shop yesterday and couldn't resist it. Tania has always been a fan of his art and illustrations since his illustrations for Roald Dahl books.
The story is of Professor Dupont and his cockatoos. Every day the Professor follows the same routine and the cockatoos have grown weary of it. As such, they decide to escape. The dun is trying to spot them hiding in the pictures as the Professor searches them out.
Cute!
February 18, 2023
Cockatoos (1992) by Quintin Blake is a very humorous little tale about a man who owns a dozen cockatoos and greets them the exact same way each and every morning. Well, one morning the cockatoos have had enough of the monotony and decide to escape the conservatory and hide out throughout the house as the frantic owner searches in vain for his feathered friends. When he gives up he goes to bed in heartache and agony. The twist end is very clever and Blake's illustrations are always fantastic. This would be a great read-a-loud book because kids can search for the cockatoos that are hiding in the pictures. My rating - 4/5
October 20, 2025
Die Botschaft der Geschichte zeigt sich immer wieder in einem Morgengruß des glücklichen Professors Dupont an seine Papageien: „Guten Morgen, meine lieben gefiederten Freunde.“ Sinngemäß lautet sie: Manche Menschen lernen einfach nie. Damals habe ich meinen Kindern erklärt, dass sie auf keinen Fall zu dieser Klasse von Menschen gehören dürfen. Meine Tochter war zu dieser Zeit erst 3 Jahre und 8 Monate alt, das empfohlene Alter für das Buch liegt bei 5 Jahren. Sie konnte der Geschichte jedoch problemlos folgen und machte sehr aktiv bei den im Buch enthaltenen Such-, Finde- und Zählaufgaben mit. Mein Sohn wünschte sich zum ersten Mal, dass ich beim Vorlesen auch eine französische Übersetzung mitliefere – eine für mich ganz neue Erfahrung.
June 22, 2021
Absolutely brilliant. It is probably the best counting book ever. You aren’t going to get away with just reading it to a child though. You are going to have to actively participate in counting the cockatoos.
June 29, 2021
My children (5 and 8) chuckled and liked looking for the hiding cockatoos. It doesn’t have the greatest ability to be read over and over again though unless your children are younger. We always enjoy Quentin Blake’s illustrations.
October 18, 2022
I brought this book as I love the art work, I’m not who the book is intended for but I love Quentin Blake’s books.
And I love birds.
I make a lot of art about birds, I was trying to see how Quentin Blake draws birds and plants ect so I thought this book was a good find.
And I love birds.
I make a lot of art about birds, I was trying to see how Quentin Blake draws birds and plants ect so I thought this book was a good find.
October 22, 2023
A beautifully illustrated story about Professor Dupont who’s cockatoos decide to play a trick on him. My niece found it very funny and loved spotting where the cockatoos were hiding on each page. This has become a favourite in our house.
December 11, 2023
I love Quentin Blake's illustration (who doesn't!?). Paired with this witty story this is a great book. I don't agree with birds in captivity, but at least with this the cockatoos come and go at will! Lovely story.
February 2, 2019
The book has a simple plot but it may make the reader laugh. The book would be appropriate for reception children as it is repetitive.
April 17, 2019
I got sucked into counting cockatoos just like the author wanted :)
September 25, 2019
A rather simple story made cheekily delightful by asking the kiddo you're reading to to find (and count) the hidden cockatoos as you flip through the pages.
October 8, 2019
This is a very fun and enjoyable book with great illustrations! Can also be used in maths for counting to ten, time/routines and different ways to make the same number.
June 5, 2020
I enjoyed the story, and re-read it once I discovered something I missed the first time!
August 26, 2020
Great fun searching for them on each page
August 29, 2021
Charming and humorous!
April 23, 2022
A beautiful book, and fun (if a bit easy) to find the cockatoos hiding on each page!
June 23, 2022
SO CUTE
December 29, 2022
It was somewhat average compared to QB's standard
April 29, 2024
Super cute
July 31, 2024
A simple and easy book to read to teach and have fun with counting. The illustrations remind me of Roald Dahl's books.
Currently reading
September 3, 2014Cockatoos by Quentin Blake
Out of Quentin Blake many book this is one of his classics which combines humour and learning in one perfect package.
Cockatoos portrays the story of Professor Dupont's who goes in search for his missing cockatoos. However they the cockatoos are not missing but playing hide and seek due to their annoyance of the professor repetitive greeting every morning. Through out the book the reader is invited to join in the search and engage in counting out loud the mischievous cockatoos. The reader is given encouragement as the professor appears to not find the cockatoos whilst they can.
As a tool for teaching it is fantastic for introducing Early Years pupils the correct method for counting items by ensuring the pupils has to start from one cockatoo when the search commences. The repetitive and simple nature of the story allows for pupils to memorize the words after a few readings. The ending of the book is brilliant as it is simple as it offers a life lesson. Cockatoos can be used to explore different parts of a household especially useful for nursery to reception topics about the Environment such as Houses and Homes. Resources such as items found in the kitchen to what may be found in a cellar, a room which is non-existent in many homes.
The basic but yet colourful illustrations, typical of Blake's books makes it accessible to most age groups even if it is just as a picture book.
The book is useful for Early Years as a resource in terms of basic number counting or as mentioned above. To extract more from the story for Early Years settings, it would be useful to role play the story with ten of your pupils playing out the role of the cockatoos. This is a sure way to keep the others interest with the hope that they will be next. However its reading target age is more suitable for pupils in Year Two or pupils with an understood of phonics at least to the blending stage.
Out of Quentin Blake many book this is one of his classics which combines humour and learning in one perfect package.
Cockatoos portrays the story of Professor Dupont's who goes in search for his missing cockatoos. However they the cockatoos are not missing but playing hide and seek due to their annoyance of the professor repetitive greeting every morning. Through out the book the reader is invited to join in the search and engage in counting out loud the mischievous cockatoos. The reader is given encouragement as the professor appears to not find the cockatoos whilst they can.
As a tool for teaching it is fantastic for introducing Early Years pupils the correct method for counting items by ensuring the pupils has to start from one cockatoo when the search commences. The repetitive and simple nature of the story allows for pupils to memorize the words after a few readings. The ending of the book is brilliant as it is simple as it offers a life lesson. Cockatoos can be used to explore different parts of a household especially useful for nursery to reception topics about the Environment such as Houses and Homes. Resources such as items found in the kitchen to what may be found in a cellar, a room which is non-existent in many homes.
The basic but yet colourful illustrations, typical of Blake's books makes it accessible to most age groups even if it is just as a picture book.
The book is useful for Early Years as a resource in terms of basic number counting or as mentioned above. To extract more from the story for Early Years settings, it would be useful to role play the story with ten of your pupils playing out the role of the cockatoos. This is a sure way to keep the others interest with the hope that they will be next. However its reading target age is more suitable for pupils in Year Two or pupils with an understood of phonics at least to the blending stage.
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May 17, 2010The story is simple enough. Professor DuPont is stuffy and boring, so his ten cockatoos decide they’ve had enough and hide from him for a whole day. Professor DuPont looks everywhere, but the cockatoos are always just out of sight – but not for the reader, which makes for an enjoyable seek and find experience.
Quentin Blake has quite a distinctive illustration style; in Cockatoos, his sketchy lines and watercolors create a wild, slightly disheveled appearance that seems at odds with Professor DuPont’s personality. But the style fits the mental disturbance of Professor DuPont when he finds his cockatoos missing. It also creates great opportunities for this hide-and-seek that is going on. The colors are for the most part subdued, but the cockatoos are a little more brightly colored. Blake uses contrast and value to hide the ten cockatoos. Space is used well; the illustrations mostly fill the pages, giving lots of room for detail. The perspective is similar to that of Mrs. Armitage: for the most part we see an entire scene from just about eye level, but when Blake is focusing on the mental state of any one of his characters, he zooms in on them alone and pulls them out of the background.
Quentin Blake has quite a distinctive illustration style; in Cockatoos, his sketchy lines and watercolors create a wild, slightly disheveled appearance that seems at odds with Professor DuPont’s personality. But the style fits the mental disturbance of Professor DuPont when he finds his cockatoos missing. It also creates great opportunities for this hide-and-seek that is going on. The colors are for the most part subdued, but the cockatoos are a little more brightly colored. Blake uses contrast and value to hide the ten cockatoos. Space is used well; the illustrations mostly fill the pages, giving lots of room for detail. The perspective is similar to that of Mrs. Armitage: for the most part we see an entire scene from just about eye level, but when Blake is focusing on the mental state of any one of his characters, he zooms in on them alone and pulls them out of the background.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews