Doreen Cronin

Cows That Type

Click, Clack, Moo

Sarah Sammis

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewis is a cute parody of Animal Farm aimed at the 4 to 8 set.

Farmer Brown's dairy cattle go on strike after their typewritten demands aren't met. Soon the chickens follow suit and the farmer is told via a note: "Closed. No milk. No eggs." (p. 13)

Cronin's funny story with a rhyming scheme that mimics the sound of an old manual typewriter is paired perfectly with Betsy Lewis's illustrations and the wobbly Courieresque lettering completes the illusion of novices typing on antique equipment.

Unlike Orwell's Animal Farm, the animals don't actually take over the farm to set up their own co-op. The cows, as far as I can tell, don't become the party leaders over a farm animal proletariat duped into over throwing one master for another. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type is less about revolution and more about labor negotiations.

The ducks, though, they might be planning something.

Gracie Marsden

A wonderfully illustrated beginner’s lesson on striking and workers rights! Thrilled to have added this to my collection of books that will shape my children into awesome adults!

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

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