Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type

Cronin, Doreen. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type. Illustrated by Betsey Lewin. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000. ISBN 0689832133 $15.00
Rachel Coffey

A story of intrigue, drama, suspense, conflict, and a barn full of cows who love to write letters. Farmer Brown has a problem alright when his cows find an old typewriter in the barn and start making outrageous demands for electric blankets. When the farmer refuses to comply, he finds himself face to face with a barn door note reading “Sorry, we’re closed, no milk today.” Soon farmer Brown and his cows on strike must come to an agreement and with the help of a duck, a neutral party, the reach a compromise; electric blankets for the typewriter, but soon farmer Brown will see his troubles aren’t over yet as another set of animals, the ducks, decide they need a diving board. Lewin’s bright, vivid watercolor and black line technique gives the illustrations a mix of lifelike, yet animated qualities page after page. The fabulous, driving storyline, large glossy fully illustrated pages, and repetitive, rhythmic, “Click, Clack, Moo: chant at the end of each line make this story exciting and enjoyable for the preschool and primary crowd.