Moo Hoo

Publishers Weekly

Ryan and Lowery follow their frog-and-bunny show, Ribbit Rabbit (2011), with another tale of beastie besties. Cow and Owl, who love superheroes as much as their predecessors loved robots, are inseparable: “They fix things together. Moo hoo. Glue shoe,” and they share a double “Boo!” on Halloween. “But when Kangaroo shows up, Moo hoo. Roo new. They don’t know what to do. Moo hoo. Who you?” Despite Kangaroo’s plea to join them (“Roo too?” the newcomer asks), Cow and Owl look the other way. Only later does it dawn on them that a third party might enliven their pastimes. Lowery combines screenprinting and digital techniques to craft rough-hewn, childlike illustrations on flat, muted backgrounds; as Cow and Owl look for Kangaroo, tracing a dotted line through a treed backyard, Ribbit Rabbit’s joined-at-the-hip duo makes a cameo appearance to shrug, “Roo who?” Ryan’s monosyllabic conclusion—“Moo Hoo Roo. New True Crew”—serves as the happy wrapup. Emphasizing simplicity and sound, Ryan and Lowery cover the basics of friendship. Ages 3–6. Agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Deborah Warren, East West Literary Agency. (Apr.)

Children's Literature - Susan Treadway M.Ed.

Generous illustrations accompany this cheerful rhyming story about developing new friendships with large fonts representing conversations of "Moo," "Hoo," and "Roo." Cow and Owl are already friends who share many favorite activities such as pretending with superheroes, playing in a band, making needed repairs, and going Trick-or-Treat. Life is good. Friendship is sweet. However, Kangaroo wants to join them. Why not? Apparently simply tossing a toy their way gets their attention, but only after "Roo" leaves. After taking a second look, the two friends decide to give their potential friend a tentative invitation by drawing a special coloring page. Where did he go? After an intense search and then a quick celebration, the three form a New True Crew. Instruments hum, faces glow, and once again friendships are sweet. In the succinct style of Ribbit Rabbit with poignant, memorable characters, this story features the challenge of making new friends with appropriate connections for the younger set. Students and families explore similar experiences together in this terrific read-aloud with plenty of room for further creative play as well. Reviewer: Susan Treadway, M.Ed.

Kirkus Reviews

It comes as a delight how much fun can be wrung from the words "moo" and "hoo." Cow and Owl are young chums (and bear a keen resemblance to Frog and Rabbit, the spawn of Ryan and Lowery's terrific first collaboration, Ribbit Rabbit, 2011). Being what they are, the words moo and hoo spin freely in their orbit and trigger like words depending on what they are doing. They fix things together: "Moo Hoo. Glue Shoe." They trick-or-treat together: "Moo Hoo. Boo! Boo!" Although Ryan fills in some narrative context, it is these tiny, rhymed sound-words that express the emotional range of the story, which is whopping in its brevity (aided and abetted by Lowery's dear, spindly creatures, with their disarming gestures and primitive toys). When a young kangaroo enters the scene--"Who you?" "Roo new"--Cow and Owl are standoffish. Roo wants to join in--"Roo too?"--but no deal. "Roo blue." It breaks your heart. Cow and Owl do see the error in their ways, and Kangaroo enters the fold. "Woo hoo!" A winning display of finding the high ground and paved with particularly sweet verbal compression. (Picture book. 3-6)