The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck: A Tale from the Age of Wonder

By Matt Phelan

“Intoxicating . . . it will be hard for young readers to put down.”—New York Times Book Review

“A grand, giddy, and, at times, literally soaring tale.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“An amusing, fast-paced tale of land, sky, and spies.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Incredibly creative. . . . A little bit of history, a touch of mystery, and heaps of fun.”—ALA Booklist (starred review)

A Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews Best Book

A Junior Library Guild Selection

A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year

Wherever there are injustices, nefarious plots, or threats to society, the Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck are there to stop them!

A sly villain with a plan to cause havoc across the globe is no match for three extraordinary animals—and their two young human friends. From acclaimed author and artist Matt Phelan, The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck is a hilarious, action-packed, and highly illustrated middle grade adventure perfect for fans of Skunk and Badger and Flora & Ulysses.

The very first passengers to ride in a hot-air balloon were a sheep, a rooster, and a duck in 1783. And while hot-air balloons are indeed wondrous, ten-year-old Emile is too busy being the fastidious caretaker of ambassador Benjamin Franklin’s château in Paris to think much about them.

But soon, young Emile finds himself right in the middle of a sinister plot. And right in the middle of the secret headquarters for France’s undercover guardians—the very same sheep, rooster, and duck that piloted the first hot-air balloon. If Emile can muster his courage and be bold, he may be the key to helping the heroes save both Benjamin Franklin and the world.

Award-winning author Matt Phelan’s The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck is a highly illustrated adventure full of secrets, hijinks, and reimagined historical events. This rip-roaring and surprising story is ideal for reluctant readers, aspiring heroes, and fans of Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9780062911025

Matt Phelan

Matt Phelan is the author and illustrator of several novels for young readers, including the five books in the acclaimed Plum series and Knights vs. Dinosaurs and its two sequels. Matt Phelan’s picture books include Sweater Weather, Turtle Walk, Pignic, and Druthers. He is also the creator of the graphic novels The Storm in the Barn (winner of a Scott O’Dell Award), Around the World, Bluffton, and the New York Times bestseller Snow White: A Graphic Novel. Matt Phelan lives in Pennsylvania.

Book preview

Dedication

For Nora and Jasper, with special thanks to David Niven, Tyrone Power, and Orson Welles

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Author’s Note

About the Author

Copyright

About the Publisher

Chapter One

Two years later

A carriage drawn by a single horse sped down a forest road. The driver, Edward Bancroft, snapped his whip and yelled, Yah! as he raced deeper into the woods. The darkness enveloped him.

Suddenly Bancroft pulled hard on the reins. The horse reared and kicked, snorted and whinnied.

Four men on horseback, pistols drawn, blocked the road before him.

Highwaymen! exclaimed Bancroft. I carry no money with me. The carriage is empty. See for yourself.

The highwaymen parted, allowing a fifth rider to join the blockade. He was a large man in a black cloak, his face hidden by a strange, birdlike mask.

Edward Bancroft? said the man in the mask.

Yes, I am Bancroft.

Edward Bancroft, secretary to ambassador Benjamin Franklin?

Yes, said Bancroft.

Edward Bancroft . . . the English spy?

Bancroft said nothing.

You will give me that letter you carry, Monsieur Bancroft. Or else, said the masked man.

Two highwaymen took aim.

Bancroft reached into his cloak and slowly removed an envelope.

Wise choice, Monsieur Bancroft. I thank you for keeping this exchange pleasant. Return to Monsieur Franklin’s house and continue to gather information. But from this night forward, you are not spying for England. You work for me.

The masked man approached. He reached for the letter.

What can only be described as a fast-moving shadow soared between them, snatching the letter from a startled Bancroft.

Bête Noire! screamed a highwayman.

Get that letter! bellowed the masked man.

Pistols fired. But the shadow was small and agile. It flipped and zipped across the road.

A highwayman drew his sword. With a flash of steel, the shadow knocked the weapon from his hand.

When the dust from the road settled, the shadow had vanished. With the letter.

Bête Noire, muttered the masked man. We shall meet again. Very soon.

Chapter Two

At midnight the village was completely still, not a sound to be heard nor movement to be seen.

Except for a small shadow. It slipped swiftly from the wall to the well to the side of the barn. The moon emerged from behind a cloud, revealing the shadow was a rooster. The rooster wore a black satin mask and kept a sword in a sash at its waist. He held the letter.

The rooster hopped through the barn window and landed silently on the dirt-and-straw-covered floor.

The rooster glanced around. The coast was clear. He drew his sword and pressed the point against a knot of wood on the barn wall.

A trapdoor in the floor cranked open, and soft light spilled up into the barn. The rooster slipped down the hatch, which closed behind him.

About time, said the duck.

An artist cannot be rushed, my dear Jean-Luc, said the rooster.

Was it him, Pierre? A sheep turned from studying a large map on the wall. The map showed various notes, lines, and circles. Was it Cagliostro? asked the sheep.

Most certainly, Bernadette, said the rooster. "He is still wearing that ridiculous mask. As if he could have a beak."

Pierre, be a fine fellow and read the letter, said the duck, Jean-Luc.

Pierre, the rooster, broke the wax seal with a flourish. He cleared his throat and began to read:

My dearest darling honey loaf,

The days are simply unbearable without the sweet nectar of your laugh, the rich wine of your eyes, and the fine cheese of your company! How dost I miss thee? Let me now carefully count the ways . . .

Pierre looked up. There are a lot of ways. Should I go on?

Yes, said Jean-Luc, hopping from his stool to grab a candle. He brought it close to the back of the letter. "But now, please."

The candlelight illuminated more writing, hidden between the lines of the love letter.

Oh ho! Invisible ink. Most clever! said Pierre. "Yes, here we are. It seems that Benjamin Franklin is developing some