Prizes

Short-listed for Portsmouth Year 1 Picture Book Award 2026

Make time for this giggle-worthy barnyard tale. A rooster encounters on-the-job stress. Farmer Tony presents Ronnie, the new rooster, to an assembly of cheerful animals. Though Ronnie's friendly and eager to join the farm, his timing is off. He crows during dinner but is silent early the next morning, and the other animals sleep in. "WRONG TIME, ROOSTER!" the others cheer when Ronnie cock-a-doodles at inopportune moments. Farmer Tony has a talk with Ronnie, who confides that he's been fired from every job he's ever had and then blurts out: "Nobody ever taught me how to tell the time!" His revelation will resonate with anyone who's ever felt out of their element. Ronnie's sure he'll be let go, but the supportive cast swings into action, teaching him how to tell time and, more importantly, making him feel part of the team. Though Parkin covers familiar ground, the narrative flows well, and vulnerable, angsty Ronnie will soften hearts. An especially endearing image depicts him nervously holding a cup of coffee, surrounded by ticking clocks, as the light-skinned, white-haired Farmer Tony approaches. Chunky illustrations that rely on pleasant primary colors match warm, playful text. Opportunities for call and response abound with the refrains "Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!" and "WRONG TIME, ROOSTER!" Make time for this giggle-worthy barnyard tale. (Picture book. 4-7) * Kirkus Reviews *
Parkin's delightful story is filled to the brim with vibrant and hilarious illustrations, perfect for sparking young imaginations. -- Andrew J. Ross
A fun and charming way to learn to tell the time! -- Mariajo Ilustrajo, Flooded
When Farmer Tony introduces Ronnie the Rooster to the farmyard, he thinks he has solved the issue of his animals sleeping in late. The only problem is, Ronnie keeps cock-a-doodle-dooing at completely the wrong time, much to the amusement of the other animals, and the frustration of Farmer Tony. Hopeless at telling the time, Ronnie fears he'll be sent away, until Farmer Tony comes up with a plan to help. The animals in this book are illustrated with great character - Ronnie particularly. And children will love joining in with chants of "Wrong time, Rooster!" -- Alice Ellerby * Juno Magazine, Issue 94, February 2025 *
The farm animals band together to help Ronnie the Rooster learn to tell the time and stop waking them up at all hours. Funny, solo début from Parkin, who has previously worked for Ladybird, Magic Cat and The Natural History Museum. -- Charlotte Eyre * The Bookseller Children's Previews February 2025 *
This is a brightly coloured almost cartoon version of a farm, but the author-illustrator draws us beyond the immediate into thinking about poor Ronnie's predicament: we see him 'too worried to crow,' gazing into the night sky, and our hearts go out to him. It's a shame that the alliteration - and perhaps a desire for a wider readership - gives us a rooster instead of a cockerel, but this is a minor quibble. Key Stage 1 in the current National Curriculum in England requires that pupils should 'tell the time to the hour and half past the hour and draw the hands on a clock face to show these times,' and this book would fit well into younger children being introduced to clock time. There is a bigger debate about whether this remains an important part of maths in Primary schooling, but nevertheless this goggle-eyed cockerel and his amusing farmyard companions would be a fun addition to the book corner and a reminder that kindness is important whatever the time! -- Nick Swarbrick * BooksForKeeps *

Michael Parkin grew up in the countryside around Hampshire and Surrey. He graduated from Kingston University with a first-class degree in 2014 and has since been working as a freelance illustrator for clients including; Ladybird Books, The Natural History Museum, The NY Times and Magic Cat. Narrative and humour have always shone through in Michael's work, leading to him getting shortlisted for the AOI Awards multiple times and winning 2nd prize in the Jonathan Cape/Observer/Comica graphic short story prize.