5 Ways to Make Reading More Fun with Rooster & Squid
September 19, 2026
What if a chapter book could make a child laugh, keep them guessing, and leave them wanting to know more about the animals they meet along the way?
That is part of the fun behind Rooster & Squid.
Written by veterinarian Jen Cole, the series combines animal-filled adventures, mysteries, humor, and real-world learning. As Rooster, Squid, and their friends explore Trout Springs and beyond, young readers encounter topics that can spark questions about animals, veterinary medicine, nature, safety, and science.
The learning is part of the adventure, not a break from it.
Children are naturally curious about animals.
Why does a dog behave that way?
How does a veterinarian know when an animal is sick?
Why can some animals see, hear, or smell things differently than we can?
What should you do when you encounter a wild animal?
A story gives children a reason to start asking those questions.
Instead of beginning with a science lesson and then trying to make it interesting, Rooster & Squid begins with characters and adventures children can connect with. The questions often come naturally from there.
Throughout the series, readers encounter animals in all kinds of situations.
Some are pets. Others are wildlife. Some need help. Others have an important job to do. And sometimes, understanding an animal becomes an important part of solving the mystery.
Because Jen Cole is a veterinarian, animal health and care are a natural part of the world she has created.
Young readers can be introduced to topics involving:
These topics give parents and educators plenty of opportunities to take the learning one step further.
For homeschool families and teachers, a Rooster & Squid chapter can become the starting point for a larger lesson.
If an interesting animal or veterinary topic appears in the story, pause and explore it.
Look up the animal together. Research three facts. Draw and label a picture. Find out what veterinarians do to diagnose a certain condition. Talk about the difference between pets and wildlife. Ask your child what they would want to know if they were the veterinarian.
It does not have to become a complicated assignment.
Sometimes one good question is enough to send a curious child down an entirely new path of discovery.
Not every book needs to feel educational.
In fact, sometimes the best learning happens when children are so interested in the story that they do not realize how much they are picking up along the way.
That is what makes stories such a powerful place to introduce science.
Children can follow a mystery, laugh at Squid, root for Rooster, meet new animals, and discover something about the real world at the same time.
The adventure comes first.
The learning follows naturally.
The next time your young reader finishes a Rooster & Squid chapter, try asking one simple question:
“What did you learn about animals that you didn’t know before?”
You might be surprised where the conversation goes.
Explore the Rooster & Squid series and discover stories filled with animals, mysteries, humor, and plenty of opportunities to learn something new.
Discover fun mysteries, memorable characters, and animal-filled stories with Rooster & Squid.
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