Don't Feed the Coos!

Created by husband and wife team Stutzman and Fox, Don’t Feed the Coos hearkens to notable classic If You Give a Mouse a Cookie in an adventure that deliciously spirals from one seemingly innocent action—feeding a coo—into pandamonium in increasingly drastic circumstances. From feeding one small coo, the little girl is then accosted by numberless concourses of coos who follow her everywhere she goes, pooing on everything and humorously wreaking havoc on her mental, physical and emotional well-being. In a moment of genius, the little girl finally discovers a way to rid herself of the coos in a way that’s amenable to all involved parties. Fox’s excellent use of white space gives readers mental space to focus on the interactions taking place between the little girl and the coos, while numerous details delight on multiple readings—from the facial expressions of all involved to clever signage (“Coo Shall Not Pass”), to coo name tags. While the illustrations tell almost half the story, Stutzmans’ text is humorous and enjoyable even as a stand-alone read aloud and carries an uncommon amount of energy. Together, Stutzman’s dry wit and Fox’s bold and utterly expressive illustrations marry perfectly to create a book that, despite a touch of potty humor, hits all the right notes!