Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

Written by: Doreen Cronin

Illustrated by: Betsy Lewin

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, 2000

29 pages

Picture Book

 

        I chose this book because I was interested in what the title of the book meant.  I had previously seen the book in Scholastic and was going to order it, but decided to order something else instead, because I had no clue what the title meant and had never heard of the book.  But, when I saw the same book at the library again a week later, I knew I had to find out more about it.  The story begins with a farmer (Farmer Brown) who has a problem with his cows.  The cows like to type on a typewriter that they have found in their barn.  Farmer Brown does not believe that his cows are typing at first, until he finds a note that they have written him, saying they would like some electric blankets.  He finds this ridiculous and tells them they cannot have the blankets.  So, the cows write him back saying that they are closed and the farmer cannot have their milk. The farmer’s hens also go on strike, because they also want blankets. The farmer writes them back demanding they give him milk and eggs; the cows hold a meeting.  Then, the cows tell the farmer that they are willing to exchange their typewriter for some electric blankets, explaining that duck will bring him the typewriter; the farmer agrees.  But, the next morning he receives a note from the ducks…. This is a very cute book!

     The illustrations were done with black watercolors.  After the artist drew them, she had them photocopied and put onto another type of watercolor paper.  Then, she added color to the black paintings.  She chose this method because it allowed her to see what colors she liked best. I love the colors that the artist used.  I think the technique she used turned out really well.  The pictures are very large, but detailed.  The black outlines make the pictures stand out nicely.  It is not hard to depict what is happening in the story at all.  This book actually won a Caldecott Honor in 2001.  

     I would use this book to explain how to compromise with friends.   It would also be a great book to teach on the importance of writing and reasons why we write.  I could have the class write a letter to their friends or to their parents about what they want for their birthday or Christmas.  I could also have them write about a time when they did not get what they wanted and what compromise they could have made that might have changed the outcome of the situation.  This book could also be used to teach sequencing of events.  The vocabulary in the book is another aspect that could be incorporated.