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The cover of “Help Wanted: One Rooster.” Image courtesy of Penguin Young Readers After writing 12 children’s books, Julie Falatko never discounts a potential story idea, no matter where it comes from. Even “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” an irreverent British skit comedy television show from the 1970s.

“Graham Chapman is being interviewed for a job (by John Cleese), and the questions just keep getting more and more absurd,” said Falatko, of South Portland. “So that led me to this idea about a farm needing a rooster, and what the interview would be like.” South Portland children’s author Julie Falatko.



Photo by Elle Darcy Falako’s picture book “Help Wanted: One Rooster” (Penguin Young Readers), is illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier and went on sale this month. Falatko will be reading from the book during a story time at the new Barnes & Noble on Running Hill Road in South Portland on July 13, at 11 a.m.

The book takes place on a farm that seems a little disorganized and messy, and the cow – a very professional cow, says the sheep – has the task of interviewing rooster applicants that could bring order back to the establishment. The rooster that already lives on the farm never seems to get up early enough to do the job. But none of the candidates, at least at first, seem to be taking the opportunity seriously.

The very first candidate, when asked to make a “cock-a-doodle-doo” noise, responds “Do you really think that’s important?” Another .

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