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.