Little Rooster's Diamond Button

Publishers Weekly

When Little Rooster finds a bit of bling ("a diamond button!"), he wants to give it to his poor, goodhearted mistress. A greedy king, however, steals the button and tries to kill the feathered hero. But the monarch is repeatedly outfoxed, so to speak, by the rooster's "magicstomach." When the king orders the rooster thrown into a beehive, for example, the rooster tells his stomach to simply eat up all the bees; when the king then tries to squash the rooster by sitting on him, the rooster regurgitates the insects ("Spit out all the bees... and let them sting that King!" the fowl commands). The triumphant Little Rooster ultimately bestows upon his owner not only the button, but also the entire contents of the royal treasury. MacDonald (Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur!) retells this folktale with her usual verve and astute ear for what pleases a read-aloud audience. Terry's (Armadilly Chili) acrylic paintings make a good match with their appealingly woozy feel. His googly-eyed characters look at home amid silly hysteria, while his swooping lines, radiantly brassy colors, and off-kilter perspectives capture a world where anything is possible. Ages 4-7. (Mar.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Children's Literature - Beverley Fahey

One day while pecking for food, Little Rooster finds a diamond button and hurries home to give it to his mistress. Along the way he meets the King, who takes the button for his own treasure. Little Rooster demands the return of his button and the King has him thrown down a well. But Little Rooster has a magic stomach and he drinks up all the water. Again he goes to the King to demand the return of what is his, and this time the King has him tossed into a fire where his magic stomach comes to the rescue by quenching the flames. Once again Little Rooster goes to the King to demand his button and this time he is thrown into a beehive. Gobbling up all the bees, he returns a third time to the King. The King asks his servants for advice and they suggest that the King sit upon him with his ample bottom. When Little Rooster is dropped into the King's baggy pants he calls upon his magic stomach to release the bees. Outwitted one time too many, the King sends Little Rooster to the treasury to retrieve his diamond button. Alone in the chamber, Little Rooster's stomach does its magic and the rooster and mistress "live richly and happily ever after." The lively retelling of this original Hungarian tale with its catchy refrain is a real child-pleaser. Bright acrylics are as energetic and delightful as the clever rooster himself. The text is almost verbatim to the author's version in Twenty Tellable Tales with the exception of "A King for the Sultan." Macdonald's version is based on Kate Seredy's retelling in The Good Master. This is a perfect read aloud that will leave children cheering for the rooster as he tricks the greedy king; it is a perfect vehicle for beginning or studentstorytellers.

School Library Journal

Gr 1–3
This version of a Hungarian folktale is perfectly suited to a storytelling performance. A little rooster finds a diamond button, only to have it snatched up by a greedy king. The rooster goes to the palace and demands that it be returned. The monarch tries to get rid of him, but he uses his amazing magic stomach to escape from a well, a fire, and a beehive. Finally he not only wins the button back, but manages to obtain all of the king's treasure as well. The story is simple but amusing and has good cadence and pacing. MacDonald has eliminated all extraneous detail so movement from scene to scene is quick. There is much here to delight listeners, especially when the rooster releases a swarm of bees in the king's baggy pants. Terry's plucky acrylic illustrations heighten the humor. He uses rich, contrasting colors and exaggerated facial features to make the characters and scenes energetically funny. Celia Barker Lottridge's version (Groundwood, 2001) is illustrated by Joanne Fitzgerald with traditional watercolor-and-ink pictures, and the story is told with more embellishment. It is well suited for individual reading, but MacDonald's is better for group sharing.
—Donna CardonCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

In this retelling of a Hungarian folktale, an enterprising rooster discovers a diamond button while searching for food. On the way home to give it to his mistress, he sees the King, who notices the glittering button and claims it for his own. "Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo! Give me back my diamond button!" Little Rooster crows. The King refuses to return the button and decides to have the bird thrown into a well. Little Rooster has a secret weapon, though: a magic stomach that drinks up all the water, allowing him to escape. The King's anger multiplies as each punishment he metes out is quashed by Little Rooster's magical stomach and infinite appetite for fair play. Eventually, Little Rooster is able to take his leave-with the king's treasure, which goes to Little Rooster's mistress and is shared with the entire village. Energetic acrylic illustrations round out this satisfying, fun-filled tale about a very fowl Robin Hood. Includes a note concerning other versions and similar folktales around the world. (Picture book. 4-7)