The New Rooster by Rilla Alexander is a universal and fanciful story about the challenges of communicating when many different languages are spoken. The story starts on the title page when Rooster, clutching his roller bag, parachutes from a plane. He has come a long way for his new job in a new country. We notice on the front endpapers that he has been hired to give the wake-up call at the ZZZ Hotel. But when he crows just as he had back home, no one is aroused. Even when he yells at the top of his lungs no one gets up. Repeated efforts until 3 p.m. fail to get anyone out of bed and the rooster figures he is out of a job. He realizes that he will need a good breakfast if he must make the long journey home. When the delicious smells of his cooking finally arouses the hotel guests they share a breakfast and chat. “They didn’t understand every word they heard, but they tried their best.” The ending will leave smiles on listener’s faces as this book makes a terrific read aloud. Don’t miss the punch line on the back endpapers — “Did you know the Rooster speaks pig latin?”

The New Rooster is one of ten winners of 2022 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books. The award describes the illustrations as “Drawn in a bouncy, kid-friendly style….” Alexander’s brightly-colored, simple shapes with a blue background appear animated. Rooster is shown in vivid colors — yellow, red and orange. The simple animal characters staying at the hotel fill the later pages with a variety of hues that pop.

The story captures the frustration of trying to be understood when nobody understands your words. However, the Rooster discovers the universal language of good food shared when the delicious smells of his breakfast bring eager eaters who share the food and chat. Even when the Rooster learns how to crow, “Cock A Doodle Do,” he also starts every day by preparing breakfast for the guests because, “It was something everybody understood.” The guests appear quite happy that Rooster is staying to wake them and prepare their breakfast.

A number of books connect with The New Rooster to read aloud and discuss:
Click, Clack, Moo, Cows that Type
Drawn Together
Du Iz Tak?
Little Beauty
Luli and the Language of Tea
Mango, Abuela and Me
Marianthe’s Story, Painted Words
The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle’s Wedding
The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet

-Recommended by Marilyn Carpenter, Professor Emeritus Eastern Washington University

Title: The New Rooster
Author/Illustrator: Rilla Alexander
ISBN: 9781534493452
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
PubDate: July 12, 2022

Each month a committee of Worlds of Words advisors recommends a book published within the last year. Our hope is to spark conversations on our website and on social media about the book that expand global understandings and perceptions. Please join us by leaving a comment. You can also share your thoughts with us by using the hashtag #WOWRecommends on social media. See our full list of WOW Recommends in the archives.

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• Themes: Marilyn Carpenter, Rilla Alexander, The New Rooster
• Descriptors: WOW Recommends