Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type

My rating:

In this laugh-out-loud book, Farmer Brown has a problem—his cows have learned to type, and the sound is bugging him. And worse, they politely request better working conditions (electric blankets for the cold nights) in exchange for providing milk. When Farmer Brown refuses their request, the cows go on strike, and unite with the other barnyard animals until, through negotiation, they both get what they want--the cows and hens get electric blankets, and they give him the typewriter. Little did Farmer Brown know that the duck would start typing on the typewriter, and come up with his own demands!

This is a hilarious turn-a-situation-on-its-head book, where the animals are vocal about their wishes, and the controlling farmer is frustrated. Cronin's text sounds perfect to the ear—it clips along at a great pace, is interesting and funny, and no words seem out of place. There's a nice movement to the story, with trouble mounting to a climax and resolution. The ending is enjoyable, with readers guessing at what comes next, knowing that there's going to be a similar but new repetition of events.

The use of sound to illustrate the typing by cows and ducks is also enjoyable ("Click, clack, moo" and "Click, clack, quack,") especially as it's not repeated too many times.

Lewin's loose-lined, cartoon-like watercolor paintings fit the humorous tone of the book. They're light, expressive, and free, taking up the entire spread, and contained only by the pages of the book. They illustrate the farmer's frustration and the feelings of the animals well, and add small details that compliment and build on the text (such as the cows locking the barn for a secret meeting, and the duck walking alone down a long stretch of path to deliver the ultimatum.)

You'll want to read this over many times. This is a very funny page-turner. Highly recommended.