Giggle, Giggle, Quack

Starred review from April 15, 2002
The barnyard animals first seen in Cronin and Lewin's Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
continue to express themselves via the written word in this clever and funny sequel. When Farmer Brown takes a vacation and leaves his brother Bob in charge ("I wrote everything down for you. Just follow my instructions and everything will be fine. But keep an eye on Duck. He's trouble"), enterprising Duck sees boundless opportunity in the situation. The webbed fellow commandeers the pencil and paper that Farmer Brown has left behind and writes out his own feeding/care tips for Bob to follow: "Tuesday night is pizza night (not the frozen kind!). The hens prefer anchovies." (A "giggle, giggle, cluck" escapes from the onlookers.) Unaware of the note's authorship, Bob complies, and subsequent requests include indoor bubble baths for the pigs and the cows' choice for movie night ("The Sound of Moosic"). The jig is soon up—with Duck and company found out in a humorous denouement. Cronin again balances wit and jovial warmth in scenarios that will have readers laughing out loud. Fans of the first book will delight in the details found in Lewin's chipper watercolor washes with a painted bold black line (the electric blankets originally demanded by the cows are put to good use, for example). This sitcom on the farm more than lives up to its title and demands repeat visits. Ages 3-7.

Starred review from June 1, 2002
K-Gr 2-Remember that audacious duck who made an appearance in Click, Clack, Moo (S & S, 2000)? Well, he's back in this hilarious continuation of the subversive antics of Farmer Brown's animals. The farmer is off on a much-needed vacation, leaving his brother in charge with the admonition, "But keep an eye on Duck. He's trouble." Bob dutifully follows his brother's written instructions: "Tuesday night is pizza night .The hens prefer anchovies," and "Wednesday is bath day for the pigs. Remember, they have very sensitive skin," etc. Art and text cleverly play off one another. Early on, sharp-eyed viewers will observe that Duck is rarely without his pencil, thereby giving a clue as to who is really supplying the daily instructions. And Lewin's animated cartoon art with its loosely composed black line manages to capture well-meaning, but perfectly clueless Bob and that pampered barnyard crew. The scam ends when, during a check-in phone call, Farmer Brown hears "Giggle, giggle, quack" (the animals are watching The Sound of Moosic). Kids old enough to catch on will delight in seeing the clever animals pull off another fast one.-Caroline Ward, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2002
Ages 3-6. Illustrator Lewin was awarded a Caldecott Honor for "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type" (2000), by Cronin, a book that has become widely popular for its hilarious cartoon story of farm animals that stand up for their rights. This sequel is just as wild. Farmer Brown goes on vacation, leaving his brother Bob handwritten instructions on how to care for the animals. The trouble is that Duck intervenes. He has a pencil in his beak, so the messages instruct Bob to order in pizza for the animals, wash the pigs in a bubble bath, and rent the movie "The Sound of Moosic." Eventually, poor Bob runs away. There's no real story here, just one triumphant, messy scenario after another. But kids will love the silly, subversive farce, and Lewin's big illustrations with thick black outlines do a great job of showing close-up cows and pigs happily lolling on the sofa, splashing in the bathroom, and making themselves right at home. As in Stephen Gammell's "Once Upon MacDonald's Farm" (2000), the mischief and the mayhem will appeal to little ones who chafe at being domesticated. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)