Review of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

By Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Betsy Lewin

*All of these entries were created to fulfill an assignment for a course at TWU.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cronin, Doreen. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type. Ill. by Betsy Lewin. New York: Simon & Schuster: Little Simon. 2011. ISBN: 1442408898

PLOT SUMMARY

This is a story about Farmer Brown’s cows that like to type. The cows find an old typewriter in the barn and use it to type notes to Farmer Brown. The first note they left for him on the barn door complained about the barn being cold at night and asked for some electric blankets. Farmer Brown said that they could not have them and so the cows go on strike refusing to give milk. The cows left a note on behalf of the chickens claiming that they need electric blankets as well. The farmer did not respond to this request, so the chickens joined the cows refusing to lay eggs. The farmer got out his own typewriter and typed a note demanding milk and eggs and refusing to cave in to their request for electric blankets. The duck was neutral and agreed to take Farmer Brown’s note to the animals. The cows held an emergency meeting with all of the animals in the barn and sent the duck back to the farmer with a note that said that they would trade the typewriter for the electric blankets and they would send duck over with the typewriter. The farmer thought that was a good deal so he complied with their wishes and brought them electric blankets and waited for the typewriter. The next morning he received a note typed by the ducks that said the pond was boring and they wanted a diving board.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book is a board book printed on much thicker paper and meant for preschool-aged children. The wonderful artwork by Betsy Lewin is colorful and appealing to children. The story is humorous for both children and adults and enhances imagination. Since parents are their children’s first teachers, the book comes with lessons that can be a fun teaching tool for parents and preschool teachers. These include learning what constitutes a plot: the beginning, the middle, and the end; and then provides an example that gives a child an understanding of the meaning of what constitutes a plot; words to know, where the author and illustrator highlight words and there meanings throughout the text; the features of fiction’ development of phonics, comparison to other texts, and how to write a thank you note. Highly recommended!

 REVIEW EXCERPTS

Author Doreen Cronin was the recipient of the Caldecott Honor Book in 2011 for this work.

Illustrator Betsy Lewin was the recipient of the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator for this work.

Amazon: “This hilarious tale will give young rebels-in-the-making a taste of the power of peaceful protest and the satisfaction of cooperative give and take. Witty watercolors by award-winning illustrator Betsy Lewin (Snake Alley Band, Araminta's Paint Box) will make this a favorite for one and all, even if words such as "ultimatum" and "neutral" throw the younger set. (Ages 5 to 8)”

Publishers Weekly: “Cronin humorously turns the tables on conventional barnyard dynamics; Lewin's bold, loose-lined watercolors set a light and easygoing mood that matches Farmer Brown's very funny predicament. Kids and underdogs everywhere will cheer for the clever critters that calmly and politely stand up for their rights, while their human caretaker becomes more and more unglued. Ages 3-7”

Booklist: “Lewin's wild line-and-watercolor cartoons are perfectly suited to this barnyard farce about animals that go on strike to demand better working conditions.”

CONNECTIONS

Read other books by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin:

·         Giggle, Giggle, Quack. ISBN: 1442408898

·         Dooby Dooby Moo. ISBN: 1442408901

·         Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure. ISBN: 141691630X

And many others!

Note: This book is a great teaching tool for preschool children. It teaches about, plot, expands vocabulary, understanding fiction, phonics, and even how to write a thank you note.