The Rooster Who Would Not be Quiet!



Last updated Sunday, February 5, 2023

Author: Carmen Agra Deedy
Illustrator: Eugene Yelchin
Date of Publication: 2017
ISBN: 0545722888
Grade Level: Kindergarten    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Feb. 2023

Synopsis: La Paz is a happy, but noisy village. A little peace and quiet would make it just right. So the villagers elect the bossy Don Pepe as their mayor. Before long, singing of any kind is outlawed. Even the teakettle is afraid to whistle! But there is one noisy rooster who doesn't give two mangos about this mayor's silly rules. Instead, he does what roosters were born to do - he sings: "Kee-kee-ree-KEE!"

Note to readers:
•  This book is about making noise and being quiet. Expect – and allow – kindergarteners to get loud (and practice being silent).

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  In English, a rooster says cock-a-doodle-DOO. In Spanish (and in this book) a gallito (pronounced GUY YEET OH) says kee-kee-ree-KEE. Do you think animals sound different in different languages?
•  Is it good to be quiet? Can you be TOO quiet sometimes? Is it good to make noise? Can you be TOO noisy sometimes?
•  What does La Paz (peace) mean? This village called La Paz likes peace and quiet!

Vocabulary:

•  bayed, crooned, hummed, warbled: descriptions of different sounds
•  fire: take away someone’s job
•  mayor: person in charge of a city
•  election: opportunity to vote on what people think is important and who should be the leader
•  won by a landslide: no one else got nearly as many votes
•  silent as a tomb: quiet like a grave in a cemetery
•  for crying out loud: for goodness’ sake!
•  groused: complained
•  merry: happy
•  headstrong: happy
•  indigestion: a stomachache

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  When you read how dogs bayed, mothers crooned, engines hummed, fountains warbled … ask the kids to describe those sounds and imitate how they would sound.
•  Why did they fire the mayor?
•  Explain how the law “No loud singing at home” became “Basta! Quiet, already.”
•  Why did people leave the village? Would you want to live in La Paz?
•  How did the mayor try to make the rooster stop singing? And why did he keep singing? (When things were taken from him, he was still thankful for what he had.)
•  How did the singing make the people feel? What would happen if the rooster wasn’t there? Why was the rooster so important? Did he make a difference in the town?
•  Point out the pages showing people who are fearful compared to people singing.

Craft ideas:
•  Make a valentine for a friend or family member
•  Use a paper plate to make a rooster mask. Pre-cut triangles for the beak. The kids can outline their hands and you help them cut it out to make the shape of the rooster’s comb. https://www.pinterest.com/readingtokids/february-2023-people-places-around-the-world/
•  Roll paper cones to make megaphones

Special activities:
•  Encourage the kids to cock-a-doodle-doo or kee-kee-ree-kee each time the rooster does.
•  Point out all the ways that the people are making music. Can the kids make those sounds?
•  Play a video of people making rooster sounds in different languages: Rooster noises in 9 languages! https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=videos+of+rooster+in+different+languages&view=detail&mid=32772D45DBCFF3AB839832772D45DBCFF3AB8398&FORM=VIRE You can just play the volume and stop to identify each language

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!