Book Review #2

Book Review: Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by  Doreen Cronin pictures by Betsy Lewin

1.  Bibliography

Cronin, Doreen. 2000. CLICK, CLACK, MOO COWS THAT TYPE.  Ill. by Betsy Lewin. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Divison. ISBN 9780689832130

2.  Plot Summary

In this funny book, Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter and they type all day long.  As the story moves on the cows end up leaving Farmer Brown notes demanding electric blankets for themselves and their friends, the hens.  When Farmer Brown does not answer to their demands, they go on strike leaving Farmer Brown with no milk and no eggs.  No milk and no eggs left Farmer Brown furious so he got out his own typewriter and sent a note to the cows with the duck.  The cows and hens turn in the typewriter for electric blankets, but unexpectedly the duck learned some tricks from the cows and the hen.  At the end the duck begins to have his own demands.  

3.  Critical Analysis

Cronin's writing is simple and funny, something children will enjoy.  In a funny way the author writes about him needing the eggs and the milk from these animals.  Not only does the farmer need the animals but the animals need to farmer to take care of them.  All of this is written in a hilarious manner.  I read this book to my five year old son and he loved it, he thought what the animals were being so silly.  He wanted to read it over and over.

The illustrations by Betsy Lewin were awesome!  The drawings are colorful and engaging to the reader.  The use of watercolors brings the story to life, it makes this book and the all the books she has illustrated unique.  The expressions she puts on the animals and the farmer's face give a clear understanding of what that animals and the farmer are feeling.  My students were able to point out the expressions on their faces and what they were feeling.

4.  Review Excerpts

Award: Caldecott Honor Book 2001

Starred review in BOOKLIST: "the thickly outlined pictures extend the fun, with closeups of the frenzied boss, the stalwart cows, and the hens cozy under the plugged-in blankets."

Starred Review in PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY:  "Lewin's bold, loose-lined watercolors set a light and easygoing mood that matches Farmer Brown's very funny predicament."

5.  Connections

The children make connections of how a farmer needs to meet the needs of animals to get what he needs, in this case milk and eggs. Discussing the silly negotiations (discuss the meaning of negotiations) of the animals and the farmers can bring discussion of negotiations they have made or people they know have made.  This funny book also has a typewriter, something that children today are not familiar with.  This can also bring a discussion about technology and how it has changed.

What I liked the most were the illustrations with the use of water colors, Betsy Lewin did an outstanding job with the illustrations.  

Other books illustrated by Betsy Lewin are Quack Duck for President, Click Clack Peep, Giggle Giggle Quack, and many more.