Cock-a-doodle-doo by Pamela Allen

An exciting read aloud from the wonderful Pamela Allen will find a deserved space on every library shelf, and rarely stay there as it will be borrowed and borrowed until it falls apart. The tale of the noise in the night will intrigue as the story unfolds, and the loud calling out of the repeated refrain, ‘Cock-a doodle-do It was the middle of the night!’ will be heard from classrooms, to libraries and home at bed time.

Mr Grumble Bumble is woken in the middle of the night by this raucous noise. He gets out of bed and peers through his window. He sees something black and big, a scary monster he calls as he goes back to bed. Meanwhile Mrs Brittle Little wakes because of the same noise. She too peers out of the window and sees a big, black, scary monster as she runs back to bed. Then Mr Arden Garden hears the same noise and papers out of the window. He sees a big, black, smelly monster as he rushed back to bed. The trio shut all the windows and close all the doors. They talk to each other about what to do. Mrs Brittle Little makes a cup of tea, Mr Grumble Bumble makes pancakes, while Mr Arden Garden says he likes his pancakes with lots of honey and a little lemon juice. They sit together to eat their breakfast. Mr Grumble Bumble goes to the window to see wha he can see, and the question is asked about what the three see as they peer through the window.

Children will love the drama of not knowing what is outside the window, second guessing as the book is read. They will love saying the repeated lines, while taking in the wonderful illustrations recognising Pamela Allen’s distinctive style from her many other books. The repeated images of the bed, the funny names given to the characters, along with the images of the three people in their bedclothes will cause lots of laughs from the audience. The repeated sounds outside too, underscores a sense of fun which permeates the book. I love the three looking out of the window to find the reason for the noise, and the breakfast table where they share their concern over a cup of tea and pancakes with honey and lemon. And Allen’s first words impel children’s involvement: ‘this is a little story, it is a drama which needs your voice to bring it to life’. And this will happen.

Themes: Humour, Night tine, Friendship, Mystery, Sleep.

Fran Knight