Don't Feed the Coos

Don’t Feed the Coos--- Jonathan Stutzman

Illustrated by Heather Fox

Henry Holt & Co. Holt Books for Young Readers.

2020

From parking lots to sidewalks pigeons (coos) are everywhere and in great number. Their ubiquity is a fact of life that most overlook, except children. Every child I have ever met is fascinated by them. All three of my nephews were determined that they would one day have a pigeon for a pet…if only they could catch it.

The protagonist of Jonathan Stutzman’s Don’t Feed the Coos is able to experience the (short-lived) joy of having not only one but multiple pigeons as pets. After feeding the coos at the park, the pigeons follow the protagonist home! The coos are lot of work and messier than anticipated. The protagonist tries different strategies to get the pigeons to leave, though the coos don’t take the hint to leave when their messiness gets out of wing. When the protagonist takes the coos on a walk, she finds a way to return them to their own home.

Overall an amusing read with lovely art. Some of my favorite artwork from this book were the lovely endpapers featuring the coos, and the image of the coos on a walk at the park.

Friends and Relations of this book: For another cause and effect book try If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff  and Stop Feedin’ Da Boids by James Sage is for readers looking for another take on keeping pigeons as pets.

Until the next chapter,

   Victoria.