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Rooster's Off to See the World
One fine morning, a rooster sets off to see the world. Soon he's joined by two cats, then three frogs, then four turtles, then five fish. But one group by one, his new friends decide to head home, leaving the rooster alone again -- and ready to return to his own comfortable home as well. Bold, colorful collage illustrations, a beguiling story, and a simple introduction to number sets, addition, and subtraction combine to make Rooster's Off to See the World a delight for Eric Carle's many young fans.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
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1021 people want to read
About the author
Eric Carle
786 books2,520 followersEric Carle was an American author, designer and illustrator of children's books. His picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, first published in 1969, has been translated into more than 66 languages and sold more than 50 million copies. Carle's career as an illustrator and children's book author accelerated after he collaborated on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. Carle illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote, and more than 145 million copies of his books have been sold around the world.
In 2003, the American Library Association awarded Carle the biennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal (now called the Children's Literature Legacy Award), a prize for writers or illustrators of children's books published in the U.S. who have made lasting contributions to the field. Carle was also a U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2010.
In 2003, the American Library Association awarded Carle the biennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal (now called the Children's Literature Legacy Award), a prize for writers or illustrators of children's books published in the U.S. who have made lasting contributions to the field. Carle was also a U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
February 4, 2017
Carle's artwork is, as always, lovely, but there's a rather cryptic message here. Rooster sets out on a voyage, only to throw in the towel and return to the coop. What are we to gather? Accept your limitations? Never dare to dream?
And speaking of having one's dreams crushed by a tiny fist:
2017 is the Year of the Rooster.
How appropriate! The year of the strutting cock!
I guess this is why I feel as though the sky is falling.
And speaking of having one's dreams crushed by a tiny fist:
2017 is the Year of the Rooster.
How appropriate! The year of the strutting cock!
I guess this is why I feel as though the sky is falling.
October 10, 2017
Rooster is eager to go on an adventure around the world and gathers a number of friends to join him. At each stop, a larger number of animals join the posse in search of adventure. However, when night falls and there is no food or a place to sleep, friends turn away and return home, leaving Rooster to fend for himself. In the end, he does the only thing he can do and makes the most of his journey. Neo liked the book, more for the drawings by Eric Carle than the actual story. But, as a budding reader, Neo persevered and was able to make the most of it, laughing at some of the antics undertaken by the characters throughout.
December 28, 2019
A counting book that didn't really make sense to me, I couldn't see why some things were happening in the story. The anecdote at the end explained that when Eric was small he couldn't apply the same logic to others with counting. This didn't work for me.
Read on open library
Read on open library
April 2, 2024
The book is about a rooster who got up in the morning, and decided he wanted to travel. He goes on a journey and meets various animals. He tells them to go explore the world with him. Animals join the company. So there is one rooster, two cats, three frogs, four turtles, five fishes, Evening came, and the animals asked where is their food? , where is their place to sleep? , and so on. The rooster was not prepared for a trip around the world, so he did not know what to answer to his friends. Therefore, the fishes decided to return hom,e and swam away. Then the turtles left without saying goodbye. The frogs were also dissatisfied with the journey and left. The cats remembered the unfinished food, wished the rooster a pleasant journey, and also returned home. The rooster was left alone and saw nothing of the world. The moon also disappeared, so the rooster decided to return home. He ate the grain and fell asleep.
I think the book teaches that, when you want to travel, you have to be prepared. Also take food, water, and a place to sleep :)
I think the book teaches that, when you want to travel, you have to be prepared. Also take food, water, and a place to sleep :)
March 9, 2023
A rooster spontaneously sets off to see the world, gathering recruits for the expedition while on the move, but runs up against the truism of the 7 Ps: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. I rather enjoyed the awkward, crumbling comeuppance he is dealt.
September 12, 2016
This was beautiful and colorful and I absolutely loved how much detail went into the drawing of the characters. Rooster definitely learns his lesson about straying to far from home with no plan, goals, or sense of ambition. haha It was a cute story and most definitely one that I would read again.
March 30, 2017
Here is a clever counting book about a rooster traveling who meets up with multiple friends. Then as night comes the friends leave and you count backwards. Very nice and clever.
July 5, 2019
A rooster decides he wants to travel and see the world. He gets lonely and meets two cats. They join the rooster on his travels. Along the way, three frogs, four turtles and five fish join the rooster. When night falls and they don't have food and shelter, the rooster's companions all head to their homes, leaving the rooster all alone. What will the rooster do next?
The illustrations are vibrant and vivid collage drawings. This book teaches numbers and number sets. It can be read for the story alone. The text is in paragraph structure. It might be challenging for beginning readers.
The illustrations are vibrant and vivid collage drawings. This book teaches numbers and number sets. It can be read for the story alone. The text is in paragraph structure. It might be challenging for beginning readers.
May 4, 2008
My daughter thought that she was really grown up when she could both read and do the maths in this book.
June 4, 2017
This book seems pointless to me. Don't make a plan, go on an adventure, hit an obstacle, and give up.
September 13, 2022
Evinden çıkan deli olmuş başına türlü haller gelmiş.
May 4, 2018
Features the beautiful illustrations we expect from Eric Carle.
Rooster is off to see the world.
Along the way he picks up 2 cats, 3 frogs, 4 turtles, and 5 fish.
Then, they encounter the problem of food and shelter. 10 fireflies scare them.
First the 5 fish leave, then the 4 turtles, then the 3 frogs, and finally the 2 cats. We're left with just Rooster.
The numbers never appear, just the number words. However, there's a neat feature in the upper right-hand corner of each two page spread where it shows a pyramid that builds with symbols of the animals as each group is added (and then shrinks as they leave).
So, it starts with an icon of a rooster.
The next page has the icon of the rooster in the top row, then 2 cat icons below it.
The next page has the icon of the rooster in the top row, 2 cat icons in the middle row, and 3 frogs in the bottom row.
So, you can count the animals actually on the page (usually just the latest additions) AND you can keep track of all the animals.
Rooster is off to see the world.
Along the way he picks up 2 cats, 3 frogs, 4 turtles, and 5 fish.
Then, they encounter the problem of food and shelter. 10 fireflies scare them.
First the 5 fish leave, then the 4 turtles, then the 3 frogs, and finally the 2 cats. We're left with just Rooster.
The numbers never appear, just the number words. However, there's a neat feature in the upper right-hand corner of each two page spread where it shows a pyramid that builds with symbols of the animals as each group is added (and then shrinks as they leave).
So, it starts with an icon of a rooster.
The next page has the icon of the rooster in the top row, then 2 cat icons below it.
The next page has the icon of the rooster in the top row, 2 cat icons in the middle row, and 3 frogs in the bottom row.
So, you can count the animals actually on the page (usually just the latest additions) AND you can keep track of all the animals.
September 12, 2020
Rooster leaves the farm to see the world, followed by other animals.
This picture book was perhaps inspired by the idiom don’t go off half-cocked, the predecessor to the modern saying don’t go in unprepared. One morning on a whim, Rooster sets off to see the world. He is soon joined by other animals. When night falls, they find themselves cold, hungry, and afraid because having acted on impulse, none had made plans for food and shelter. The group then disperses in reverse order and returns home.
This story embodies the classic moral there’s no place like home. It also teaches counting up one to five and counting down five to one. The number of animals are visually represented with counters in the upper counter, and written words for thee numbers appear in the text.
This picture book was perhaps inspired by the idiom don’t go off half-cocked, the predecessor to the modern saying don’t go in unprepared. One morning on a whim, Rooster sets off to see the world. He is soon joined by other animals. When night falls, they find themselves cold, hungry, and afraid because having acted on impulse, none had made plans for food and shelter. The group then disperses in reverse order and returns home.
This story embodies the classic moral there’s no place like home. It also teaches counting up one to five and counting down five to one. The number of animals are visually represented with counters in the upper counter, and written words for thee numbers appear in the text.
June 20, 2018
Nice story from that caterpillar guy. Loved the paintings, and the concept is great to teach kids counting and inspire travelling. Which makes the ending kind of a downer. Why not have the rooster brave enough to continue on his own and end up in a more exciting place than going back home? (Hypothetical, because I know the answer. “Don’t venture too far from home.” The Wizard of Oz did this too).
8/10
8/10
September 8, 2009
So... I hate to spoil a predictable kids book but: I thought the roster should have followed through on his plan. What kind of lesson is this teaching children that you can just decide to do something and then not do it? Won't always have that luxury in life. If you make a plan don't back out half way. See it through. Come on Eric Carle I expected better from you.
January 9, 2018
Eric Carle is a childhood favorite and his stories and illustrations are what sets him apart from other children's authors. This book was great for my kindergartener to read and he really enjoyed the story. Rooster finds friends as he travels, but many of the animals soon realize that they miss home.
November 3, 2019
This is a delightful travel story for a child who loves to travel. The rooster's travels aren't as productive as he sets out to be. This makes it have a twist that intrigues the little ones. I could read this book and enjoy the artwork without feeling bored...as is sometimes the case when you read the same story over and over and over.
November 19, 2019
This has some of the most lush, stunning illustrations I've seen to-date in Carle's work. I did think the story was a little less creative than usual. However, this has Carle's trademark learning, this one with an extremely clever way to teach adding and subtraction. It's for slightly older readers and still really lovely.
April 24, 2020
Modern Fantasy
K-3rd
Rooster is a character that appeals to every child's sense of adventure, and for this reason I recommend it for every hoe and classroom. I like how the rooster acquired more and more friends throughout his journey, and I think this teaches us that to gain new friends, we just have to reach out.
K-3rd
Rooster is a character that appeals to every child's sense of adventure, and for this reason I recommend it for every hoe and classroom. I like how the rooster acquired more and more friends throughout his journey, and I think this teaches us that to gain new friends, we just have to reach out.
January 14, 2021
This Eric Carle book was okay, though it was a little better than the Pancakes, Pancakes! book. This is a counting book about a rooster who wants to explore and brings along friends, but in the end everyone gets homesick and wants to go home.
April 30, 2018
Rooster wants to see the world. He brings his friends, too.
Review: I don't love Eric Carle. Still, I really liked the illustration of the rooster. He's super cool. The rest of the book is fine, I think.
Review: I don't love Eric Carle. Still, I really liked the illustration of the rooster. He's super cool. The rest of the book is fine, I think.
December 21, 2018
A cute book that introduces addition and subtraction in very small numbers. It is also a social commentary on friendship. I like that the tally is kept in the top right hand corner as he adds friends on the top left hand when he loses them. The artwork is good, as expected.
January 11, 2019
I liked it because Rooster wanted to go see the world, but he was lonely so he asked some friends to go with, and at the end of the time, it was dark and all the friends went home, and he said to the moon "I am lonely", but the moon left too. It was kinda sad.
December 14, 2012
This has become one of my favorite authors. This tale has a wonderful story line. This would be a perfect book to help teach counting to students.
June 15, 2019
Fun artwork set to the tune of depressing realism.
The rooster gives up on seeing the world because he is hungry and wants shelter. The only happiness he finds is seeing the world in his dreams.
The rooster gives up on seeing the world because he is hungry and wants shelter. The only happiness he finds is seeing the world in his dreams.
April 4, 2025
Şirin bir yol hikayesi aynı zamanda çocukları sayılarla barıştırır. Eric Carle'ın kendine has renkleri ve stili her zaman olduğu gibi yine ilham verici.
Eric Carle derdini şöyle anlatırdı: “Birisi bana bir tabağın içindeki iki elmadan bir alınınca geride kaç elma kaldığını sorduğunda cevap veremezdim. Sonuçta bu,
aldığın elmayı ne yapacağına bağlı. Ya yiyeceksindir veya suyunu
çıkaracaksındır ya da ne bileyim bir sepete gizleyeceksindir. Yani
elma her durumda hala elmadır ve bir yere gitmez...
Öte yandan, bir tabaktaki tek elmanın yanına bir ikincisini
koyduğunda kase benim icin sorundur. Yani “Kaç tane?” sorusunu
sorarken kaseyi niye dikkate almıyoruz ki?”
Eric Carle derdini şöyle anlatırdı: “Birisi bana bir tabağın içindeki iki elmadan bir alınınca geride kaç elma kaldığını sorduğunda cevap veremezdim. Sonuçta bu,
aldığın elmayı ne yapacağına bağlı. Ya yiyeceksindir veya suyunu
çıkaracaksındır ya da ne bileyim bir sepete gizleyeceksindir. Yani
elma her durumda hala elmadır ve bir yere gitmez...
Öte yandan, bir tabaktaki tek elmanın yanına bir ikincisini
koyduğunda kase benim icin sorundur. Yani “Kaç tane?” sorusunu
sorarken kaseyi niye dikkate almıyoruz ki?”
August 3, 2022
My 9 year old liked this one, it’s rare he expresses a strong opinion on a picture book!
April 9, 2018
This book starts off with a rooster wanting to travel the world. As he begins his journey he feels lonely. So he ends up meeting friends along the way to travel with him. First he meets two cats, then three frogs, then four turtles, and then five fish. Well the plan wasn't a well thought out plan so the five fish thought it would be best to leave and go home. Soon after, the turtles followed, then the frogs, and then last but not least the cats. So what did the rooster do? Did he go home too? Was he homesick?
This book was cute and really enjoyable to read. The book cover is what stood out to me because of the drawing of the rooster and the sun. It looks bright and happy, and gives you a warm feeling. I really like the pictures. They were so colorful and detailed, yet so simple. I chose this book, because it also has some really neat and helpful math concepts. I think the style and the theme work together to create the meaning of the book because the books style is set up in a way that teaches young children some addition and subtraction all while telling a cute story. The theme of 'theres no place like home' really shows at the end of the book when all the animals are feeling homesick. Together these literacy elements made this book interactive and cute. I definitely recommend this book to young children. It was a really good book!
This book was cute and really enjoyable to read. The book cover is what stood out to me because of the drawing of the rooster and the sun. It looks bright and happy, and gives you a warm feeling. I really like the pictures. They were so colorful and detailed, yet so simple. I chose this book, because it also has some really neat and helpful math concepts. I think the style and the theme work together to create the meaning of the book because the books style is set up in a way that teaches young children some addition and subtraction all while telling a cute story. The theme of 'theres no place like home' really shows at the end of the book when all the animals are feeling homesick. Together these literacy elements made this book interactive and cute. I definitely recommend this book to young children. It was a really good book!
December 30, 2021
This book is terrible. I bought it for my niece, and I actually plan to return it. I seriously don’t want her to read The message this book offers.
Spoiler alert: The plot: The rooster wants to travel the world and meets friends along the way (so far so good) his friends realize they have no food, shelter or water and decide to go home. The rooster returns home on day one and seems content to dream of traveling the world instead.
Criticisms: This book is really about a failure to plan and then a failure to adapt, persevere, or learn from your mistakes then try again. The moral seems to be ‘if you can’t achieve your dreams, give up, go home and dream about it instead.’ Further, it’s just poorly written. The fish were afraid of fireflies for some unknown reason and there is literally an awkward silence. All of the tagalong animals begin to give up in varying degrees of unhappiness with seemingly no effort to plan to move forward or to remain friends.
I’m honestly shocked and I don’t think a publisher would have picked up this book if it didn’t have Eric Carle‘s name on it.
The art is great.
Spoiler alert: The plot: The rooster wants to travel the world and meets friends along the way (so far so good) his friends realize they have no food, shelter or water and decide to go home. The rooster returns home on day one and seems content to dream of traveling the world instead.
Criticisms: This book is really about a failure to plan and then a failure to adapt, persevere, or learn from your mistakes then try again. The moral seems to be ‘if you can’t achieve your dreams, give up, go home and dream about it instead.’ Further, it’s just poorly written. The fish were afraid of fireflies for some unknown reason and there is literally an awkward silence. All of the tagalong animals begin to give up in varying degrees of unhappiness with seemingly no effort to plan to move forward or to remain friends.
I’m honestly shocked and I don’t think a publisher would have picked up this book if it didn’t have Eric Carle‘s name on it.
The art is great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2017
a rooster sets off to see the world; and along the way he finds various friends to go with him. As the sun goes down and the moon comes up they then realize they have forgotten to bring anything to eat or anything to use to sleep with so little by little they all turn back and realize their home isn't as bad as they thought in the beginning. The illustrations are great and this is a great counting book as each page and animal is counting like the first set is '2" turtles, then the next is '3" cats, 4 fish, etc. and they have small squares in the upper right corner to help readers physically see the 'math' problem as well. Then as they 'go home' the squares disappear for the subtraction of the squares. So this is a great 'multiple' usage book for those parents that like books for more than just the story line.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews