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Overview
When Farmer Brown goes on vacation, leaving his brother Bob in charge, Duck makes trouble by changing all his instructions to notes the animals like much better.In this hilarious companion to the Caldecott Honor book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Farmer Brown leave his brother, Bob, in charge while he goes on vacation. He gives Bob detailed notes of what to do, and warns him, "But keep an eye on Duck. He's trouble." Bob follows the notes exactly -- not realizing that Duck has rewritten them -- so he orders pizza with anchovies (the hens' favorite) on pizza night, lets the cows choose the movie on movie night, and uses Farmer Brown's good towels on the pigs' bath night. Did anyone hear... "Giggle, giggle, quack, giggle, moo, giggle, oink?"
Synopsis
Farmer Brown is going on vacation. He asks his brother, Bob, to take care of the animals. "But keep an eye on Duck. He's trouble." Bob follows the instructions in Farmer Brown's notes exactly. Is that giggling he hears?
Giggle, giggle,
quack, giggle, moo,
giggle, oink...
Duck, the cows, the hens and the pigs are back in this Classic Board Book™ edition!
Publishers Weekly
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. (May) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
The Barnes & Noble ReviewFresh from their Caldecott Honor win for Click Clack Moo, Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin present their sequel to the innovative tale of oppressed cows and the world of the written (er, typed) word. This time, it's the power of a pencil and the now-infamous wit of one determined Duck that keeps the farm (and young readers) in stitches.
Farmer Brown is going on vacation -- who could blame him after his last ordeal with Duck? He leaves the farm in the care of his suspenders-wearing brother, Bob, with a set of written instructions that include the warning "But keep an eye on Duck. He's trouble." As Farmer Brown drives away, Duck is seen eyeing a pencil, and readers can imagine what comes next. By the time Bob reads the first instructions from his brother, readers realize a few changes have been made, as in "Tuesday night is pizza night (not the frozen kind!)." Giggle, giggle. For the following day, Bob reads that the pigs need a bubble bath and a rubdown, including the use of the farmer's personal towels. Giggle, giggle, oink. Farmer Brown calls to check in, and when Bob reports no problems, his brother asks, "Are you keeping a very close eye on Duck?" Duck is too busy sharpening his pencil to notice Bob's stare. Thursday is movie night, as specified by the instructions. As The Sound of Moosic plays in the background, Farmer Brown calls again and hears "Giggle, giggle, quack, giggle, moo, giggle, oink..."
With the combination of a simple story and brilliant humor, young readers are sure to laugh at the wacky hijinks as the animals outwit Farmer Brown yet again. Fabulous watercolors convey the lighthearted spirit and jovial nature of these clever farm animals. Lewin's attention to hilarious detail, such as Farmer Brown's vacation attire (Hawaiian shirt and straw hat) and the very appropriate movie choice (made by the cows, of course) classifies this book as a truly rollicking read-aloud. (Amy Barkat)