Cock-A-Doodle Moooo! - A Mixed-Up Menagerie by Keith DuQuette

Copyright ©2004 by Keith DuQuette

DuQuette begins his book by introducing the reader to mythical beasts from history that combined characteristics of different animals: the Griffin (Lion + Eagle), the Kappa (Monkey +Tortoise), the Hippocampus (Horse +Dolphin) and the Cockatrice (Rooster +Serpent). The author then creates his own hybrid animals with delightful illustrations accompanied by comical rhyming text.

Cock-A-Doodle Moo's cover illustration is of the "Cooster" (Cow + Rooster) with the following caption: 
Imagine your surprise at dawn
to be roused by a cooster's call -
"Cock-a-doodle mooo,
I've got milk for you."

Also included are the following:

The "Parilla" (Parrot + Gorilla)

Parilla wants a banana
Parilla wants a bunch
And then he wants your breakfast,
and then he wants your lunch!

The "Mosquiphant" (Mosquito + Elephant)

 

The "Squoodle" (Squid + Poodle)

There are more bizarre animals such as the "Girantula," "Snorse" and "Frutterfly," that will keep  you and the kids laughing.

After showcasing his own hybrids, DuQuette includes two pages of various animals, birds and insects to inspire the reader. There is also an invitation: "Of all the animals we could combine, what kind of creatures would you design?" My kids gladly accepted the invitation and have been coming up with what they call "mutant animals" ever since.

The kids have created the “Couse” (Cat + Mouse). The cat half spends all its time pursuing the mouse half. They have come up with the “Kangarark” (Kangaroo + Shark). It hops on the bottom of the sea, catching  food and storing leftovers in its pouch. A "Porcupunk" (Porcupine + Skunk).  It is the most feared animal in the forest because of its painfull quills and offensive aroma. The list goes on and on. After staring in awe at DuQuette's illustrations, the boys grabbed pencils and paper and started drawing. Frequently, they enjoy simply putting several names together and blurting them out of the blue: "Octomonkerus" (octopus +monkey + walrus), a Zebrarhinomel (zebra + rhino + camel) etc.

I do not feel that I have a great imagination - I am a typical adult and lost it after childhood- so I am thrilled when a book provides me with ideas. DuQuette's Cock-A-Doodle Moooo! is such a book. After a little practice you will find yourself coming up with your own outlandish animal combinations and their characteristics. It is wonderfully silly and a fun way of  fostering creativity. At the end, there is a list of mytical animal combinations from around the world, so it is educational to boot. Parents and teachers out there, take heed, Cock-A-Doodle Moooo! is versatile and can be used in numerous ways!

Also, for parents looking for an alternative to cutesy nursery art, DuQuette's illustration would be really cool to frame and hang on the wall. I wish I would have discovered this book when my kids were still small enough for a nursery because that is exactly what I would have done.