Published: 25th February 2020
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Illustrator: Heather Fox
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – 5 Stars
When you see a coo, you will be tempted to give it a treat.
Coos are adorable, peaceful, kind of silly.
But DON’T FEED THE COO!
If you feed one, they will ALL come…
So begins Don’t Feed the Coos, a cautionary tale that details the fallout when a little girl decides to share some bread with a coo (aka pigeon). From the park to home to the arcade to karate practice, the coos follow the generous-but-foolish girl who didn’t heed the warning. Because when you give a coo a crumb…the entire population of coos will come! But fret not: our spunky little heroine will discover that even the biggest of problems can be solved with a little determination.
After falling in love with Llama Destroys the World I was excited to pick up another Stutzman book and it did not disappoint. I loved the concept that once you feed a coo you are stuck with them for all time and once you feed one, others will come. The ingenuity and determination of these coos is delightful and Stutzman’s writing style elevates simple words and phrases and highlights the humour.
Fox’s illustrations are a pure delight and I thoroughly enjoyed every page. The scenarios she has included are very funny and incredibly cute and they add so much to the story. I got a lot of enjoyment from studying them and laughing at the coo’s expressions and antics, not to mention the fear then angst, then resignation on the little girl’s face as she accepts them into her family.
Stutzman’s story is quirky and fun and it would a great story to read aloud. It is a fabulous story that works in sync with the illustrations as they play off one another. With few words but stunning, detailed pictures there is a great balance that creates a well-rounded story with multiple levels of enjoyment.
You can purchase Don’t Feed to Coos! via the following
QBD | Booktopia | Book Depository
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How to Fight A Dragon’s Fury by Cressida Cowell
Book two of the Truly Devious series and it does not disappoint. It is filled with answers, new questions, a deeper descent into the mystery of this school and this kidnapping and as Johnson plays it out you can’t help but be enraptured.
Pretty sure these graphic novels will be on here every single year if they continue with their publishing schedule. From the A-MA-ZING podcast Clint has once again transferred it brilliantly into written form. The illustrations are fantastic, the humour is fantastic, and the story is wrapped up but there’s an ongoing arc to keep your interest piqued.
