LSSL 5360: Module 1 -- Picture Books

Click, Clack, Moo
Cows That Type
By Doreen Cronin



1)    BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cronin, Doreen.  2000.  CLICK, CLACK, MOO COWS THAT TYPE.  Ill. by Betsy Lewin.  New York:  Ready –to-Read, Simon Spotlight.  ISBN 9781481465410


2)    PLOT SUMMARY
Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type chronicles the correspondence between Farmer Brown and a few of his animals on the farm.  Farmer Brown’s cows discover a typewriter out in the barn, and write a request for electric blankets.  He refuses their demand, and soon the cows go on strike until their demand is met.  After the cows go on strike, they send a peace treaty that they will relinquish the typewriter back to him if they receive their electric blankets.  They come to an agreement, but the typewriter ends up in the hands of the duck which leads Farmer Brown to continue correspondence with another set of farm animals.


3)    CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type is a fun-loving story that will have students laughing throughout the book.  The author takes readers on a hilarious journey with Farmer Brown and his various farm animals.  This would be a great book to introduce students to the basic structure of a letter.  The correspondence between Farmer Brown and his animals always includes a polite greeting and who they are addressing, a brief paragraph explaining why they are writing, and ends with a closing and signature.  Cronin does a great job of entertaining readers with humorous tales of life on the farm, and keeps her audience laughing with her use of onomatopoeia throughout the book.  This book would be great to read to students to introduce them to the concepts of strikes and peace treaties.  The cows make their demands to Farmer Brown, go on strike, and then send him a peace treaty which explains the concepts in a way that students will be able to comprehend.  Lewin’s illustrations add a sense of lightheartedness to the book in contrast to Farmer Brown’s foul mood in regards to how his animals are acting.  The use of Farmer Brown’s shadow to show his frustration and rage with his predicament would be a great example to use in an art class to start a discussion on how shadowing techniques can be used to emphasis a point in a drawing.  Lewin’s use of watercolors throughout makes the book warm and welcoming to readers, and a pleasure to read.  Cronin’s book displays how working together can help when trying to achieve a goal.  There are many teachable moments throughout this funny, light read.


4)    REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Publisher Weekly’s Review:  “Plucky barnyard denizens unite to improve their working conditions in this hilarious debut picture book from Cronin (appropriately enough, an attorney). Farmer Brown is dumbfounded when his cows discover an old typewriter in the barn and begin experimenting ("All day long he hears click, clack, moo. Click, clack, moo. Clickety clack moo"). Things really get out of hand when the cows begin airing their grievances. Lewin (Araminta's Paint Box) conveys the fellow's shock as he reads: "Dear Farmer Brown, The barn is very cold at night. We'd like some electric blankets. Sincerely, The Cows." When Farmer Brown denies the cows' request, the bovine organizers go on strike. Through the use of the man's shadow, Lewin communicates his rage: the straw in his hat creates the appearance of his hair on end. With help from a neutral duck mediator, the exasperated Farmer Brown finally makes concessions. But, much to his dismay, the cows are not the only creatures that can type. Cronin humorously turns the tables on conventional barnyard dynamics; Lewin's bold, loose-lined watercolors set a light and easygoing mood that matches Farmer Brown's very funny predicament. Kids and underdogs everywhere will cheer for the clever critters that calmly and politely stand up for their rights, while their human caretaker becomes more and more unglued.”  (Reviewed 11/8/2000)


5)    CONNECTIONS
v This is a great book to teach students:
§  The structure of a letter.
§  Figurative Language:  Onomatopoeia
§  History Concepts:  Strikes and peace treaties.
v Other similar stories:
Cronin, Doreen.  GIGGLE, GIGGLE, QUACK  ISBN 0743490096
Cronin, Doreen.  DUCK FOR PRESIDENT  ISBN 0689863772
Daywalt, Drew.  THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT  ISBN 0399255370
Cummings, Troy.  CAN I BE YOUR DOG?  ISBN 0399554521

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