"Storytelling at its most brilliant-and whimsical." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Everything is on the line for crabby, cranky Crow. But why, exactly, is Crow so moody? The reason will delight readers in three-time Geisel Medal and Caldecott Honor winner Corey R. Tabor's funny and surprising twist on friendship, science, and saving the world.
Cranky, crabby Crow does not want to play with Squirrel or do loop-de-loops with Hummingbird. He doesn't have time for Rat or Bat. From high atop a telephone pole, Cat warns Crow that he will soon be all alone if he turns his friends away with his very cranky "kaw!" one more time. But, unbeknownst to all, Crow has bigger, world-saving fish to fry-he must protect planet Earth from an asteroid headed our way!
With playful illustrations and a classic "Tabor twist," Cranky, Crabby Crow is an excellent choice for readers who love Mo Willems and Jon Klassen. Kirkus Reviews calls Corey R. Tabor "a master of the early reader" with good reason, and here he once again proves himself an innovative and unforgettable storyteller. Cranky, Crabby Crow explores perennial, age-appropriate social and emotional themes through Corey R. Tabor's signature subtlety and silliness. Includes a secret code.
"Storytelling at its most brilliant-and whimsical." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Clever pacing, bone-dry humor, and visual surprises distinguish this wildly entertaining picture book from Tabor, whose ability to conjure up a fully fleshed-out scenario in just a few strokes contributes significantly to the action." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The book layers humor and whimsy over a tight plot and controlled design, playing with readers' expectations and delivering multiple twists in a compact package." - Horn Book (starred review)
"A stern-tempered corvid guards an astonishing secret in the disarmingly adorable, sneakily hilarious picture book. . . . Tabor subverts the trope of the grouch who learns the lesson of loneliness in a story that portrays a real, albeit absurdist, need for alone time. . . . Short sentences should make this story easily digestible for little readers, while their grownups should appreciate the meteoric plot twist. Expect a KAW-rus of laughter." - Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"Colored by Tabor's characteristic flair for humor and surprise, cranky, crabby Crow turns out to be a secret agent tasked with saving the world! . . .The sudden twist from simple animal communications to agent duties is a fun surprise that children will love." - Booklist
"This is an excellent book to teach young children about safety, sacrifice, putting service before self, and staying focused on a task until it is successfully completed." - School Library Journal
