At first I didn’t think I would like Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World), but the twist at the end is perfect for kids of all ages. The idea of Corey R. Tabor is simple: a Crow chases off anyone who wants to befriend him, get him to play or give advice. But things are not what they seem. There is a ring-ring nearby, a secret conversation and message (a sassy Kaw!) and one heck of a surprise for the reader. This simple thing turns out to be a lot more than anticipated.
The illustrations were a smidgen simple for my tastes, but they do the trick with their simpler details (until you need to fill things out to let the joke out of the bag) and softer colors. It works for the five to eight-year-old to be read to and read themselves, and the easier illustrations promote this age range. And though some colors are pastel, it is a gender neutral story.
Reminiscent of several other titles (Don’t Let the Pigeon; Elephant and Piggie, James Bond), the adventure will allow the child to be captivated and the adult will read the illustrations and find a very clever joke near the end (lasers, missiles, bubbles, cupcakes?) on the page. Things are overall cute, not overly cuddly, but I would like a Cranky Crow stuffed animal (but then again I would like a squirrel, cat, bat, even rat as well). 
Tabor has written and illustrated several titles, but so far, I do not see a series for crow, but am looking forward to early May 2025 when it arrives and I can explore if this is a book one. I read via an online reader copy.