Tired of the same old food, the rooster leads the other animals of Nuthatcher Farm in making southwestern-themed dishes. They plan a fiesta, but then the farmer's wife uses up the vegetables in her tamales, and the rooster has to re-group. Though a bit repetitive, the text is entertaining. The spicy illustrations give the story its flavor. Recipes are included.

A Southwestern cooking show spied through the farmhouse window inspires a rooster weary of the same-old same-old to plan a farmyard fiesta with filched garden tomatoes, chiles, cilantro and other produce. With a rodent syndicate supplying the chips for the salsa, the cheese for the nachos, the avocados for the "quackamole" and the requisite sombreros, the stage is set. Bogan's big cartoon scenes capture the increasing excitement, as well as the general bliss brought on by plenty of pre-fiesta snacking. Alas, it all comes to naught, though, as the produce is suddenly appropriated by the farmer's wife for County Fair tamales. Still, three recipes in the back, a cutout poster attached to the jacket, plus a new venture by the rooster into French cuisine, compensate, at least in part, for the downer ending. Ole! (Picture book. 6-8)

K-Gr 2-A rollicking story about a rooster that is a little smarter than the average barnyard animal. Farmer Nuthatcher's chickens are tired of their regular feed, and it just so happens that the rooster has been watching cooking shows over the farmer's wife's shoulder. He has some ideas, beginning with chips and salsa. Soon the ducks are inspired and give up fish for guacamole, and the pigs go for beans and chiles. With all of this southwestern cuisine, it's time for a fiesta. It turns out, though, that Mrs. Nuthatcher is making tamales, and all of the ingredients the animals need are gone, so it's time for a new cuisine-from a French cookbook. This story is a fun read, with a refrain and a smooth pattern. Bogan's humorous illustrations keep the action moving, and the pages are filled with saturated color and energy. A definite purchase for any library.-Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.