CRANKY, CRABBY CROW (SAVES THE WORLD)

Crow sits on a telephone wire as various animals approach, cajoling him into playing.

Crow utters one word—“KAW”—to all, even Hummingbird, who invites him to “race-n’-do-tricks-n’-loops.” Is Crow just standoffish? It turns out he has more on his mind than silly games. He is a secret agent with an important mission—to save the world from a giant asteroid hurtling toward Earth. As in earlier titles, such as the Caldecott Honor–winning Mel Fell (2021), Tabor plays with the physical format of the picture book, depicting Crow descending an elevator inside the telephone pole; down, down, down he goes to reveal a spaceship waiting for blast-off. The minimalist design features simple animal figures performing a high-wire act against a soft pale background. The tale also exhibits a faultless sense of timing and a delicious touch of drama as Crow awaits orders. A delightfully understated droll humor is in play as Crow saves the world by pressing first the “button for missiles,” then the “button for lasers” (other options include “bubbles” and “cupcakes”). In addition to being a clever caper, with its recurring pattern of Crow uttering only one word and its use of rhyming words—rat, bat, cat—this story also makes a wonderful option for burgeoning readers. Adding to the fun is a secret code to decipher on the endpapers.

Storytelling at its most brilliant—and whimsical.