A Kid of Their Own

PreS-Gr 2–Clyde the rooster struggles to share his limelight with a new farmyard addition. Clyde has just welcomed the dawn with his signature “Cock-a’doodle-doo,” when farmers Jay and Kevin drive up and announce the arrival of two new goats. Rowdy, the kid, quickly wins over everyone, and Clyde feels he’s lost his spotlight. He resolves to win it back in the morning with an extra-loud, extraordinary crow. His extra-loud crow serves only to wake the young Rowdy from his slumber and earns the ire of the other animals. Eventually, the others’ disdain for his showboating helps Clyde realize the error of his ways, and peace and restful silence are restored with the help of a fuzzy pair of earmuffs for Rowdy. This delightful sequel will please fans of A Crow of His Own, as well as readers new to the series. Lanam’s illustrations are reminiscent of Jon Agee, with line-drawn animals and great big, blocky text. The text is full of action words and playful animal puns, and clearly delineated text bubbles give each animal its own distinctive personality. The farmer’s adoption of their own “kid” at the story’s conclusion provides an easy transition to conversations about new siblings and growing families.