Review: Click, Clack, Quack to School by Doreen Cronin

CLICK, CLACK, QUACK TO SCHOOL!

by Doreen Cronin

Illustrated by Betsy Lewin

Atheneum Young Readers

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 3 and up

They can stand in line (sort of), use indoor voices (perhaps), and are capable of sharing (rumor has it), so the Click Clack critters are ready for school…but is school ready for them? A charming addition to the award-winning Click, Clack series from the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott winning team who brought you Click, Clack, Moo and Click, Clack, Surprise!

Farmer Brown has been invited to be a guest at the elementary school’s Farm Day! The animals excitedly practice their best classroom behavior: standing quietly in line, using their inside voices, and learning how to share. But then they find out that farm animals aren’t actually allowed in school (who knew they were considered a health code violation?!). Rules are rules, so Farmer Brown goes to school solo—or so he thinks…for while our favorite barnyard bunch don’t get high marks in rules, they do excel in disguise.

 MY TIDBITS

Silliness and giggles are guaranteed as these animals venture into a brand new venue—school!

Farmer Brown has received a letter, requesting the presence of him and his farm yard friends to visit the school. As he dashes around and informs each of the animals, excitement bounds immediately. But Farmer Brown quickly reels in back in and even hands each animal a book of rules...ones that take all the fun out of the entire idea of visiting school. When the animals arrive at school, they are in for a huge surprise.

What a fun book! It's cute to watch the animals leap into excitement when they find out they get to visit school...and just as funny when Farmer Brown immediately tells each one what they can't do. No mooing, no stomping, no clucking. The atmosphere spikes and drops each time like a roller coaster ride. It's hard not to feel sorry for the animals, and brings across very proud feelings when they're able to hold to the rules and be very, very well behaved animals. Kids will enjoy joining in and easily relate to the poor animals. After all, kids have experienced the exact same up and down at one time or another. The ending wraps everything up in a burst of happiness and leaves  on a silly and joyful note.

The illustrations are bright, bubbly and express the emotions wonderfully. The animals are silly and easy to identify with. Their reactions are fun to watch. This is the type of book which kids can flip through on their own and enjoy, since the story is brought over through the illustrations nicely as well.

It's a fun read and not only for animal friends.

And here they are...

The Author...
Doreen Cronin is the author of The Chicken Squad series, Cyclone, and many other New York Times bestselling picture books, including Click, Clack, Surprise!' Click, Clack, Ho, Ho, Ho; Click, Clack, Peep; Click, Clack, Boo!; Dooby Dooby Moo; Thump, Quack, Moo; A Whacky Adventure; Bounce; Wiggle; Duck for President;Giggle, Giggle, Quack; Bloom; and the Caldecott Honor Book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at DoreenCronin.com.

The Illustrator...

Betsy Lewin is the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type and its sequels, Click, Clack, Surprise!; Click, Clack, Ho, Ho, Ho; Click, Clack, Peep; Click, clack, Boo!; Giggle, Giggle Quack; Duck for President; Dooby, Dooby, Moo; and Thump, Quack, Moo; in addition to a number of other picture books, including So, What;s It Like to Be a Cat? and Where Is Tippy Toes? She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Review: Click, Clack, Moo I Love You! by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

CLICK, CLACK, MOO

I LOVE YOU!

by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

Picture Book

Valentine's Day

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

It’s Valentine’s Day and on the farm - that means a Valentine’s party! Little Duck is wildly excited. She hangs balloons, streamers, sparkling lights, and hearts everywhere, and hand-makes a valentine for everyone. On top of a hill, a little fox hears the music from the party and follows Little Duck’s many decorations to the barn…but foxes are not at all welcome on farms. The chickens stop dancing. The sheep stop dancing. The pigs stop dancing. The mice hustle off to hide. Will Little Fox ruin the dance? Or, perhaps, she’s just what the party needs!

MY TIDBITS

Glitter and barn yard celebration abound in this lovely Valentine's story, which shows that love and friendship stretch beyond even carefully built and mended boundaries.

Valentine's Day is a special day at the farm, but no one is as excited as Little Duck. Streamers and balloons dangle from every barnyard corner for the big celebration, and all farm animals are more than happy to join in the fun. Just as everyone is dancing away, an unexpected guest arrives and not necessarily the most desired one.

Starting with a good 'ole barnyard feel of fence fixing and hay, this book quickly turns to giggles and smiles thanks to one cute Little Duck and her extreme Valentine's Day excitement. The joy gleams from the pages—and not only because of the delightful oodles of glitter sweeping across every illustration. Little Duck's excitement is contagious. The mix of barnyard animals and their fun rounds off the festivities before the wonderful message sets in, and what a timely message it is. In a way that raises a little tension and holds a spark of fun, the book takes on the question of diversity and reminds not to judge people by their appearance.

The illustrations are adorable, and the ample splashes of glitter make every page a treat. It's colorful and detailed enough to make young listeners want to gaze at the pictures even on their own. The text flows nicely, fits well to ages four and up, and delivers the tale with finesse. But it's definitely the illustrations which make this book shine. Literally.

It's a cute book, especially for farm animal friends, and a nice read for the approaching holiday or even long after that.

And here they are. . .

Doreen Cronin  is the author of The Chicken Squad series, her debut novel Cyclone, and many other New York Times bestselling picture books, including Click, Clack, Surprise!; Click, Clack, Ho, Ho, Ho; Click, Clack, Peep; Click, Clack, Boo!; Dooby Dooby Moo; Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure; Bounce; Wiggle; Duck for President; Giggle, Giggle, Quack; Bloom; and the Caldecott Honor Book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at DoreenCronin.com.

Betsy Lewinis the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type and its sequels, Click, Clack, Surprise!; Click, Clack, Ho, Ho, Ho; Click, Clack, Peep; Click, Clack, Boo!; Dooby Dooby Moo; and Thump, Quack, Moo: in addition to a number of other picture books, including So, What's It Like to Be a Cat? and Where Is Tippy Toes? She lives in Brooklyn, New York.