The Cuckoo That Couldn’t Count

by Jean Lee Latham, Bee Lewi

“Here is a story for us to tell together. I tell what happened, and you make the noises. All right?”
With this invitation the authors begin the story of Calloway, a cuckoo who has trouble when he tries to keep time with the other clocks.
Children will love the chance to jump into the storytelling—first as noisemaker, then as storyteller.
Fun and participation in beginning reading.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Born on April 19th, Jean Lee Latham grew up in Buckhannon, West Virginia. She attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, where she wrote plays and operated the county newspaper’s linotype machine. She earned a master’s degree at Cornell University. While completing her degree, Ms. Latham taught English, history, and drama at Ithaca.

Once she graduated, she became editor-in-chief of the Dramatic Publishing Company in Chicago. She worked hard to become a radio writer, but WWII changed her plans. She signed up for the US Signal Corps Inspection Agency, where she trained women inspectors. The U.S. War Department gave her a Silver Wreath for her work.

After D-Day, Ms. Latham made the decision to write biographies for children. Her first book was The Story of Eli Whitney, published in 1953. Her third book, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, earned the Newbery Medal in 1956.

Playwright, author, and teacher, Ms. Latham died on June 13, 1995, at the age of 93. Her manuscripts are housed in the Children’s Literature Research Collection at the University of Minnesota.