The village of La Paz is noisy. “Dogs bayed, mothers crooned, engines hummed, fountains warbled, and everybody sang in the shower.” In fact it’s so noisy the mayor is fired and an election is held to choose a new one. “Only Don Pepe promised peace and quiet. He won by a landslide.” First Don Pepe bans loud singing, then he bans singing altogether. Seven quiet years pass until a “saucy gallito” moves into town and does what roosters do: “Kee-kee-ree KEE!” Furious, Don Pepe cuts down the tree where the rooster sits. When that doesn’t silence the rooster, Don Pepe throws him in a cage alone, then takes away his corn, and blankets him in darkness. Still the rooster crows. “I sing for those who dare not sing—or have forgotten how,” he tells Don Pepe. Even under threat of being turned into soup, the rooster is defiant, stating a song “will never die—so long as there is someone to sing it.” A delightfully told tale is an entertaining allegory about the importance of speaking up, and sometimes resisting authority. Colorful mixed-media illustrations with a comic edge provide a vibrant backdrop for the language- and idea-rich story, here in a bilingual edition. (Ages 6-9)

Pura Belpre Honoree Carmen Agra Deedy and Newbery Honor-book author/illustrator Eugene Yelchin have created a powerful tale that celebrates the spirit of freedom.

La Paz es un pueblo alegre, pero ruidoso. Un poco de silencio no le vendría nada mal. Así que la gente del pueblo elige a don Pepe de alcalde para que resuelva el problema del ruido. Muy pronto, se prohíbe cantar en cualquier sitio. ¡Y hasta las teteras tienen miedo de pitar!

Pero un gallito muy ruidoso, a quien le importa un pito las reglas del alcalde, sigue haciendo lo que los gallos hacen desde que nacen: ¡cantar!

La Paz is a happy, but noisy village. A little peace and quiet would make it just right. So the villagers elect the bossy Don Pepe as their mayor. Before long, singing of any kind is outlawed. Even the teakettle is afraid to whistle!

But there is one noisy rooster who doesn't give two mangos about this mayor's silly rules. Instead, he does what roosters were born to do.