Where Is Robbie? Part 2, by Lesa Melnyczuk, follows the mystery of Robbie, the grumpy, bumpy rooster who has disappeared after terrifying the younger chickens with his bullying. When he returns, he’s nearly unrecognizable: glittery, musical, and leading a rowdy rooster rock band called The Bubbie Rooster Rockers. The story reveals that Robbie was taken to a patient farmer who helped him redirect his anger into music, but it’s careful not to pretend that a costume change and a guitar can erase the hurt he caused. Lucy and Tekla are still afraid, and Robbie has to begin the slower work of earning trust back.

The book’s emotional center is surprisingly thoughtful. I appreciated that the book doesn’t flatten bullying into a neat “bad rooster becomes good rooster” lesson. Robbie changes, yes, but the book lets the frightened little ones keep their fear. That mattered to me. Children are often asked to forgive too quickly, especially in stories that want a tidy ending, and this one has a gentler, wiser instinct. It says change is possible, but safety still comes first. I liked that balance.

The writing is energetic and playful, which suits a story full of crowing, guitars, dancing chooks, and big feelings. Some of the language has a funny, breathless rhythm, and the repeated sounds give it a lively read-aloud quality. The artwork has the same bold personality. Veronica Rooke’s illustrations are bright, quirky, and full of motion, from the Ukrainian village setting to Robbie’s outrageous rock-star transformation. I especially enjoyed the contrast between the worried, watchful chickens and Robbie’s flamboyant return. The pages feel busy at times, but that busyness also mirrors the chaos of the story, so it mostly works in the book’s favor.

I thought Where Is Robbie? Part 2 was a warm, offbeat, and emotionally grounded picture book about anger, accountability, and the long road back after hurting others. It has humor and flash, but underneath the feathers and guitars, it’s really about learning self-control and respecting someone else’s need to feel safe. I’d recommend it for families and classrooms talking about bullying, forgiveness, fear, and second chances, especially with children who are ready for a story that admits trust takes time, hard work, and care.

Pages: 18 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GHZM32BK