Today is Friday and time for my post for Perfect Picture Books. This week I chose:
Title: Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Author: Doreen Cronin Illustrator: Betsy Lewin Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2000
Ages: 3 to 7
Themes/Topics : animals, perseverance, teamwork, getting along with others, humor
Opening: Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears… Click, clack, moo. Click, clack, moo. Click, clack, moo.
Brief Synopsis: Farmer Brown has his hands full when his cows deliver him an ultimatum. Their demand? Electric blankets or no milk! When Farmer Brown refuses their request, the cows retaliate. And then the chickens join in! With the aid of a “neutral” duck, Farmer Brown and the cows/chickens go back and forth. The farm animals vs. the stubborn farmer is a hilarious tale of compromising and the art of peaceful protesting.
Resources:
PBS Kids: Online Teaching unit – includes lesson guide, learning objectives, and teaching strategies.
Simon & Schuster: Activity sheet (.pdf) to print out
Why I like this book: I really like the humor in this book. The author did a very good job of clever words and repetition to keep young children entertained. The illustrations are bright and full of emotion. The funny looks on the animals’ faces are hilarious. The book really illustrates the way of peaceful protesting. In today’s world, we have many occurrences of this in our everyday adult life. Books like Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type help to give children a better understanding of compromise and working together to get results. I really like this message that it sends. It’s an important lesson that many of us adults could be reminded of.
This book won the Caldecott Honor in 2001.
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
Erik -This Kid Reviews Books 30/12/2011
This book sounds VERY funny. Cows AND chickens making demands! This is now on my to be read list!
Loni Edwards 30/12/2011
That’s great Erik! Yes, it is a fun read. You will enjoy it!
Patricia Tilton 30/12/2011
Love your selection Loni. It sounds like a fun book with a powerful message for children about peaceful conflict resolution. We need more books like this for kids.
Loni Edwards 30/12/2011
Thank you Pat!
elizabethanne 30/12/2011
I think I’ve read this… but the very fact that I’m not sure means I need to read it again! (In fact, even if I was absolutely sure I’d read it, I think I’d need to read it again.)
Thanks, Loni!
Loni Edwards 30/12/2011
You’re welcome 🙂 It’s definitely worth a second read.
Catherine Johnson 31/12/2011
I’m the same, it’s so familiar but I’ve forgotten. Library here I come.
Loni Edwards 31/12/2011
Awesome Catherine! Thanks for stopping by.
Susanna Leonard Hill 30/12/2011
Oh, I LOVE Click Clack Moo! So glad you added it to the list! What a great choice 🙂
Loni Edwards 31/12/2011
Thank you Susanna!
Hannah 30/12/2011
One of my all time favorite picture books, but I haven’t read it in a while. Thanks for the reminder.
Loni Edwards 31/12/2011
You are welcome Hannah!
Joanne May 31/12/2011
Thank you for visiting my blog. It is lovely to meet you and see your wonderful illustrations here! 😉
Happy New Year!
Best wishes,
Jo May.
Loni Edwards 31/12/2011
You’re welcome Jo May. Thanks for the nice compliment. It’s lovely to meet you too!
shirley 01/01/2012
Loni I wish you a most wonderful 2012 ahead! Happy new year to you!
Loni 02/01/2012 — Post Author
Thanks so much Shirley!
Vanessa 01/01/2012
Hey there Loni,
Wishing you all the joy and laughter your heart can hold for a fresh New Year! Thanks so much for your friendship and encouragement. Wishing you many book contracts and more expression!
Hugs
V
Loni 02/01/2012 — Post Author
Thank you Vanessa! You are sweet. I wish the same for you! Thanks for coming by my blog.
Diana Evans 01/01/2012
oh this book looks like so much fun!!! I love cows!!!!
Loni 02/01/2012 — Post Author
Hi Diana, it is fun! And yes, there are lots of cows! You will love it! My favorite was the duck. 🙂 Thanks for leaving a comment. I appreciate it.
MaryHelen 12/01/2012
Love this book! Kids have fun reading it as a Reader’s Theater as well. I will be checking back to see more Perfect Picture Books. I’m also going to send your blog to my niece, who is interested in possibly illustrating. :)MaryHelen
Loni 13/01/2012 — Post Author
That’s great MaryHelen! Oh thank you for passing on my blog. Most appreciated! Thanks for the comment.