The crafty barnyard crew from Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type is back, and this time Farmer Brown has decided to take a vacation. But not to worry--he's leaving his brother Bob to mind the farm: "I wrote everything down for you. Just follow my instructions and everything will be fine. But keep an eye on Duck. He's trouble." Of course, fans of Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin's last brilliant book already know to keep an eye on that manipulative mallard. Now, wait a minute... what's Duck doing eyeing that pencil?

Poor Bob has no idea what he's in for, and Duck and friends have shrewdly seized this chance to move on from collective bargaining to outright subterfuge: "Bob gave Duck a good long stare and went inside. He read the first note: 'Tuesday night is pizza night (not the frozen kind!). The hens prefer anchovies.'" Well, seems like strange way to run a farm, but... "Twenty-nine minutes later there was hot pizza in the barn." Giggle, giggle, quack, indeed.

Clearly, Duck and his cow pals aren't the only ones around to have mastered the pencil and the keyboard. Cronin and Lewin have put their talents to good use yet again, offering up another simple but clever story fit for kids and grownups alike. Lewin seems to snicker throughout her playful watercolors (gotta love those monogrammed towels: "FB"), and Cronin has a ball with the animal cast and their human patsy. (What do the cows pick on movie night? "The Sound of Moosic," of course. Giggle, giggle, moo.) (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes


From 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. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 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, CTCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
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. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
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. He orders pizza with anchovies for the hens, bathes the pigs with bubble bath, and lets the cows choose a movie. Is that giggling he hears? Giggle, giggle, quack, giggle, moo, giggle, oink... The duck, the cows, the hens, and the pigs are back in top form in this hilarious follow-up to the beloved Caldecott Honor Book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type.


Card catalog description
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.


About the Author
Doreen Cronin is the author of the best-selling Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, which was named a Caldecott Honor Book. She is an attorney who lives in New York City.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Fresh 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)

ANNOTATION

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?"

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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.

FROM THE CRITICS

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.

School Library Journal

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 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews