Dr. Coo and the Pigeon Protest

by Sarah Hampson

Overview

Do pigeons plus people have to equal problems? The erudite big-city pigeon Dr. Archibald Coo is tired of the way people treat him and his pigeon friends. They’re always being shooed and swatted, and they’re never admired the way the other birds are. But it wasn’t always this way. Pigeons once delivered news of the Olympic Games throughout ancient Greece and medicines to soldiers on battlefields. They were heroes! Dr. Coo resolves to find a way for pigeons to once again get the admiration they deserve. But can it be done? Pigeons unite! It’s time to teach the people a lesson in peacemaking.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781525300776
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	04/03/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	37 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Sarah Hampson is an award-winning journalist with the Globe and Mail. This is her first foray into the world of writing for children. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Kass Reich worked for three years in Beijing as an early childhood educator — and that's what inspired her to start making picture books. She now lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Editorial Reviews

A warm addition for one-on-one and small group sharing.—School Library Journal

... a welcome addition to classroom lessons about respect.—Quill & Quire

... a wonderful tool for leading discussions with young children about concepts such as acceptance and friendship, as well as pointing out ways to peacefully work out frustrations and grievances.—Quebec Library Association

... a pleasant lighthearted read ...—CM Magazine

... promotes the importance of learning to live together even when there are differences.—Resource Links

From the Publisher

03/01/2018
PreS-Gr 2—Dr. Coo is a pigeon with a problem. He's noticed that for far too long, pigeons have gone unappreciated, and yearns for a time when they are valued like when they were used as carrier pigeons. With the help of his friends, Dr. Coo forms a pigeon protest, only returning to the city when the birds feel loved again. The story is pleasant but is a bit wordy; the actual protest doesn't happen until rather late in the book, so the four main birds spend most of their time pleading their case to each other about how pigeons aren't respected. Though the message is welcome, the approach may be too monotonous for some. Reich's soft and adorable approach definitely elevates the piece. Her birds are cartoonish but gentle, and seeing them being chased around by old ladies and wearing army helmets definitely make the case for pigeon appreciation. VERDICT A warm addition for one-on-one and small group sharing.—Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

2017-12-11
Hampson takes a stab at encouraging fellow feeling between pigeons and people.The story starts with a small cabal of big-city pigeons grousing that they don't get much respect. They know humans hate them, but they don't seem to understand why—though Reich's illustrations, which display a variety of responses to pigeons, hint at the reasons. Dr. Coo rouses the others by recounting their great history as carriers of messages and symbols of peace. Their worth validated, the pigeons decide to prove it to the humans by hiding from the city folk. With no pigeons, the city is an eerie place, and those who liked feeding the birds miss them. A petition is delivered to the mayor demanding respect in return for the pigeons' coordination in pooping activities—the first textual mention of this bone of human-pigeon contention—and arguing that pigeons are a valuable part of the city's diversity. Despite lofty intentions, this story simply doesn't provide much more than poop entertainment. The interactions among the pigeons are arch and mannered, and at least one joke (about millennials) will fly over the audience's heads. Dr. Coo's history lesson notwithstanding, many will feel that feral city pigeons are misidentified as unjustly marginalized.There is a reason an overexplosion of pigeons rattles many feathers, and this tale doesn't dispel it. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Review