1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cronin, Doreen. 2006. DOOBY DOOBY MOO. Ill. by Betsy Lewin. New York, NY: Atheneum. ISBN 0689845073
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this follow-up to her highly successful book CLICK CLACK MOO, Doreen Cronin again teams up with illustrator Betsy Lewin as they go back to the barnyard for loads of fun. Duck is up to his old tricks, preparing the animals for a talent show. The cows and sheep sing, the pigs dance, and Farmer Brown is none the wiser.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Geared toward ages 3 - 7, Cronin's books appeal to children where it matters most...animals. Anthropomorphism reigns supreme in Cronin's books, and this one in no exception.
The illustrations are crude and child-like in a way. Lewin uses bold, dark strokes to outline her characters and then uses a watercolor technique to add pigment. The illustrations look like they come straight from the art room. Her animal drawings are spot on but it is her caricature of humans that really brings the laughs. Farmer Brown's disguise when he keeps an eye on the animals is really, really funny.
The illustrations are crude and child-like in a way. Lewin uses bold, dark strokes to outline her characters and then uses a watercolor technique to add pigment. The illustrations look like they come straight from the art room. Her animal drawings are spot on but it is her caricature of humans that really brings the laughs. Farmer Brown's disguise when he keeps an eye on the animals is really, really funny.
Lewin depicts the characters perfectly and the humor of Cronin's words are intensified by Lewin's brushstrokes. Each page is an illustration on a blank, white canvas. But Lewin uses deep, dark blues to highlight a night scene or a darkened theater. The dramatic change when turning the page captures the reader's eye.
This is a fun, simple book in which children can participate, further enhancing their interest.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Comical watercolor illustrations provide the punch lines to many jokes within the well-paced text."
* Starred review in BOOKLIST: "The clever, deadpan story is fun, but the droll illustrations, strong strokes of black lines washed with watercolors, ratchet the comedy up a notch or two."
5. CONNECTIONS
* Great for read-alouds. Children will love to make the animals sounds and sing along with the cows!
* Good to pair with the other books in this series...CLICK, CLACK, MOO or GIGGLE, GIGGLE, QUACK, etc.
* If this book was read to the children in kindergarten or first grade, follow-up in second grade and compare with other Betsy Lewin illustrated books such as the COWGIRL KATE AND COCOA books:
Silverman, Erica. COWGIRL KATE AND COCOA: PARTNERS. Illus. by Betsy Lewin. unpaged. CIP. Harcourt 2006. ISBN 0-15-202125-6.
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