Cock-A-Doodle-Doo

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Here's a book with clear-cut appeal, capitalizing on two major toddler obsessions: counting and animal sounds. A rooster's wake-up call sets off a chorus of barnyard noises and a flurry of numerically orchestrated activity, including "Four frisky dogs looking for some fun" and "Ten clucking chickens roosting in the barn." A scampering mouse, appearing on each spread, provides continuity; a final scene brings the entire noisy chorus together. First-time author/artist Lavis's illustrations are, for the most part, accomplished-rendered in warm, autumnal tones, every watercolor virtually pops off its spread, while bold, playful typography makes each animal sound come alive. A minor drawback is that Lavis's draftsmanship and composition can lack consistency: some of the bright-eyed, smiling animals are more cartoon-like than others. But from the cows' bovine charm to the merry pigs and grinning cats, the animals' energy and joyful cacophony of sounds make this a lively counting book, and an especially fun one to read aloud. Ages 2-6. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Steve Lavis looks at animals foreign and domestic with two Peek-Through Board Books. On the Farm follows the wooly sheep as he searches out who has eaten its breakfast. As each page is turned, more animals become visible through the die-cut spaces. The culprits are found behind the tractor. In the Jungle follows the same format, only this time a crocodile is in hiding. "Here I am!" shouts the crocodile on the last spread. Then he asks, "Who wants to hide next?" ( Apr.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

PreS-This counting book features attractive illustrations, a simple text, an engaging little mouse peeking out from each page, and the opportunity to make lots of noise, all of which add up to a good toddler read-aloud. Lavis's cheerful pictures of friendly faced animals are much like Jill Barton's illustrations for Martin Waddell's The Pig in the Pond (Candlewick, 1992). Presented in an agreeably large and clear typeface on a white background, the text is essentially a numbered list of animals with brief references to typical activities and sounds. This straight-forward presentation is less engaging than Nancy Tafuri's Spots, Feathers, and Curly Tails (Greenwillow, 1988), Sue Williams's I Went Walking (Harcourt, 1990), or Jakki Wood's Moo Moo, Brown Cow (Harcourt, 1992). Collections with an inexhaustible need for counting and/or farm animal books will find this a serviceable addition.-Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Kirkus Reviews

Counting cows and chickens while making animal sounds is nothing new to the toddler set. One noisy rooster wakes up the farm while a mouse watches a progression of barnyard animals at work and play—feeding, swimming, and rolling in the mud. Expressive watercolors of the animals are suspended against clean white backgrounds, facilitating counting and creature recognition. The various noises the animals make are spelled out in large black letters. As the animals pose for a group picture at the end, Lavis offers the last line of his first book: "And they all live . . . together on one very . . . NOISY farm." The last spread is a group shot, with the words hanging overhead like a visual cacophony of sound—a phonetic finale to otherwise standard fare.