Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type is a hilarious children’s book. Between the brilliant writing style of Doreen Cronin and the masterful illustration skills of Betsy Lewis, this is a must read book for both children and adults. Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type transports the reader to a simpler time on Farmer Browns’ farm. There is just one problem; technology has infiltrated this simple life and now cows are using type writers. All night long Farmer Brown hears click, clack, moo, click, clack, moo. The trouble really starts when the cows unionize. They used the typewriter to ask for electric blankets. When Farmer Brown refused to give the cows electric blankets they go on strike and refuse to give him milk. Will Farmer Brown ever get his milk, will the cows ask for more demands, and who is that duck on the title page? These questions and many more will be answered once you read this book. The illustrations in Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type, a Caldecott Honors book, are breathtaking. They are painted with watercolor and have a very distinctive cartoonish style. Betsy Lewis told the story beautifully through the use of illustration. The simplicity of the artwork captures the readers' interest and expands the story line and at the same time expands from the text. Doreen Cronin shows off her skillful use of word-ology. This story is smoothly written, fluidly introducing new words such as ‘ultimatum’ to young reader’s vernaculars.
This book would be a great introduction to the topic of negotiation. In a funny way students can see the power of agreement. The cows wanted electric blankets and Farmer Brown wanted milk and for them to stop typing. Even though each party had to give up something they both received what they wanted. This is a very important skill for children to have.
I am sure you will enjoy reading this book just as I have. Doreen Cronin has written other books, such as Giggle, Giggle, Quack, and Thump, Quack, Moo A Wacky Adventure, that follow a similar story line and I am eager to get my hands on them.
This book sounds hilarious! I would love to read it aloud to a class! I particularly liked how you related it to the topic of negotiating, which can be challenging for elementary students.
ReplyDeleteI also love how you relate it back to negotiation and think it could be interesting to use it to introduce the idea of "going on strike" and workers rights.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same about how the book would be a fun way to discuss strikes and protests. It might even be fun to divide the children up into cows and farmers to see what other negotiations and compromises they devise on their own.
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