As you read the reviews on Bookshop Talk, you'll notice that every review is positive. No, we're not a bunch of literary
pushovers who love everything we pick up; we just see no point in telling you about a book if we didn't like it.

April 25, 2011

The CLICK, CLACK, MOO Picture Book Series by Doreen Cronin, 2000-2008



Review by Laura Madsen, mom, veterinarian and writer

Author Doreen Cronin and illustrator Betsy Lewin have created a wonderful series of picture books featuring Farmer Brown’s clever animals. All of the books are appealing to both children and adults. The illustrations capture the animals’ personalities, and the text is suitably silly. Kids will root for the animals as they confound Farmer Brown.

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That TypeIn CLICK, CLACK, MOO: COWS THAT TYPE (2000), a Caldecott Honor Book, the cows and hens send Farmer Brown typed notes demanding electric blankets in the barn. He refuses and they strike. Finally, Farmer Brown negotiates a settlement: he will give the animals electric blankets if they will surrender their typewriter. But the supposedly neutral negotiator, Duck, takes the typewriter for himself and demands a diving board for the duck pond.

Giggle, Giggle, QuackIn GIGGLE, GIGGLE, QUACK (2002), Duck is again up to no good. Farmer Brown goes on vacation, leaving his brother Bob is charge. Farmer Brown leaves written instructions for Bob regarding the animals’ care, but Duck uses a stolen pencil to alter the notes. Bob dutifully orders pizza for the farm animals (“the hens prefer anchovies”), gives the pigs bubble baths, and lets the cows watch movies in the farmhouse.

Dooby Dooby MooIn DOOBY, DOOBY, MOO (2006), the farm animals conspire to enter a talent contest at the county fair. Farmer Brown is sure they are up to something, but he can’t catch them in the act. Duck wins the talent contest with his rendition of “Born to be Wild,” and the animals all enjoy the prize—a trampoline that they install in the barn.

Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky AdventureIn THUMP, QUACK, MOO (2008), Duck is causing trouble yet again. Farmer Brown is preparing a corn maze in his field and recruits the animals to help. Duck only reluctantly helps when Farmer Brown threatens to take away his “special-order organic duck feed.” Duck gets the last laugh as he covertly alters the corn maze from a picture of the Statue of Liberty to a portrait of himself.


To order any of these books on Amazon, click on the links above, or a picture of the book. 


To learn more about the author, visit: Doreen Cronin

5 comments:

Amy Finnegan {BookshopTalk.com} said...

I love this picture book team so, SO much! They definitely produce some of the best kid lit out there. These books totally make me smile, and my kids laugh :)

Some of the best picture books ever!

Thanks for the great reviews, Laura!

Anonymous said...

They're such funny books, even for adults who are forced to read them aloud over and over :)

Becca said...

Oh, but my favorite is DUCK FOR PRESIDENT - especially the sticky ballot gag. Oh, how I love these books!

Amoniel said...

Aaahhhhh! I absolutely love Click Clack Moo!!!

Amy Finnegan {BookshopTalk.com} said...

Oh, yeah! Duck for President is so awesome, too!! :)