Customer Reviews

Giggle, Giggle, Quack

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This companion to "Click, Clack, Moo" reunites author Doreen Cronin with her illustrative foil, Betsy Lewin. Those bossy farm animals are back and here, they decide to turn things to their advantage when Farmer Brown goes on vacation. Leaving his easygoing brother Bob in charge is a mistake, as the animals get manipulative--demanding pizza, videos at night ("The Sound of Moosic," naturally!) and so on.

I can't say enough about Betsy Lewin's illustrations. With just a few swooping lines and a sensitive use of color, she manages to give each animal its own personality while simultaneously carrying along the narrative thrust of the story. Her pictures are a joy to behold and a testament to the power of simplicity.

Poor Bob does what he can to make the animals happy, and by the time Farmer Brown arrives home, everything is in hilarious disarray. Although this isn't quite up to the level of "Click, Clack, Moo," it'd be a fun gift for a child who already has the earlier book.

Click Clack Moo is one of my favorite kid's book, and conveniently my kids like it as well (see my listmania of my eldest's top ten books on the verge of turning four). Giggle Giggle Quack is a cute, fun follow-up but it lacks the subversive undertones that I enjoyed so much in the first book. If Click Clack Moo is the Animal Farm of pre-school lit, than Giggle Giggle Quack is something closer to Animal House.

In Click Clack Moo, the animals unite and strike, refusing to do their animal duties unless Farmer Brown improves their working conditions. That's some serious stuff. In Giggle Giggle Quack, Farmer Brown goes on vacation and leaves his brother, who appears to be a nebbish perhaps from the big city, in charge. No longer are the animals noble workers becoming empowered and agitating for their rights. Instead, this time out the animals act like mischevious children taking advantage of the hapless substitute teacher. For example, they manipulate the farmer's brother into ordering them pizzas. That ain't exactly the Tompkins Square Riot.

The drawings are cute as ever, and I gave the book an energetic reading which managed to save it. So, it certainly works at the level of mediocre kids books. But Click Clack Moo is a very special book that is great on many levels. In comparison, the sequel is a let-down.

Farmer Brown is taking a much needed vacation, and brother Bob will be taking care of things around the farm until he gets back. "I wrote everything down for you. Just follow my instructions and everything will be fine. But keep an eye on Duck. He's trouble." And all sharp eyed readers will notice the pencil duck is eyeing as Farmer Brown drives away. Soon the fun begins as Bob reads the first note. "Tuesday night is pizza night (not the frozen kind!). The hens prefer anchovies." As the week progresses, the instructions become more outrageous. "Wednesday is bath day for the pigs. Wash them with my favorite bubble bath and dry them off with my good towels. Remember, they have very sensitive skin..." "Thursday night is movie night. It's the cows' turn to pick..." And when Farmer Brown finally calls home to check in and Duck answers the phone, he realizes the animals have really pulled a fast one on poor old unaware Bob...Giggle, giggle, quack, giggle, moo, giggle, oink..... The dynamic duo, Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin, who authored Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type, are back and in fine form with this clever and hilarious sequel. Ms Cronin's droll text is engaging and sets the scene. But it's Ms Lewin's bold and busy, cartoon-like artwork that really steals the show, and youngsters will revel in the fact that they're in on the joke as they enjoy all the subtle details, marvelous animal facial expressions, and entertaining barnyard scenes. Perfect for youngsters 3-7, Giggle, Giggle, Quack is a silly, funny, manic adventure that definitely shouldn't be missed.

This book is about a duck writing notes and he is trying to fool Bob. I like this book because the duck was trying to fool Bob and it is funny. Later, the telephone rings and duck answered the phone and he said giggle, giggle, quack. You should read this book too. It is funny and entertaining.

If you enjoyed Click Clack Moo, you will love its sequel, Giggle, Giggle Quack. The team of Cronin and Lewin have done it again with this very funny tale of barnyard animals who cleverly dupe Farmer Brown's brother Bob into getting them what they want.

As before, Lewin's comical, boldly outlined watercolors are a perfect match for Cronin's witty story. You and the child in your life will enjoy this book. Look out for duck...he's a handful!

I became a big fan of Cronin and Lewis with "Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type." "Giggle Giggle Quack" is every bit as hilarious. It is one of those books that you don't mind reading to your child over and over because it entertains the grown-ups, too. If you fall in love with Cronin and Lewis, too, don't miss "Duck For President" (that darn Duck is at it again) or "Diary of a Worm."

"And watch out for Duck, he's trouble!" warns Farmer Brown to his brother Bob who has come to watch the farm so Farmer Brown can get a much needed vacation. This book follows the same formula as Click Clack Moo in that the animals get the upper hand on a human, in this case Bob. Bob does his best to follow what he thinks are Farmer's Brown's notes but they were really written by duck. The animals have traded their typwriters in for pencils and now they are running poor Bob ragged. With Duck doing the dictating bubble baths with Farmer Brown's good bubble bath and the movie the sound of Moosic are on the itenerary. The giggle giggle quack in the title refers to the sound the animals make as they get their scheme over on Bob. Of course all good things must come to an end. Farmer Brown catches on to what the animals are up to when he calls and duck answers the phone. If you loved Click Clack Moo you will love this book. Click Clack and Giggle Giggle are my two favorite books to read to my daughter. I never get tired of reading them to her and she loves them just as much. Even though the recommended reading age says 4+ my two and half year old daughter finds these books humerous and enjoyable. I would recommend this book to everybody.

This book has got to be one of the funniest books I've ever read! It's the sequel to "Click, Clack, Moo,Cows That Type" and continues the story of how a bunch of farm animals, lead by a pencil toting duck, pull the wool over the eyes of Farmer Brown's brother when Farmer Brown goes out of town. Betsy Lewin's illustrations just help to convey how mischievous these guys are. I laughed harder with every page turn. Now I ask the question....will there be a third???

This book is the best book for kids every age. When I'm down and I just need to laugh I pick up this book and just read and laugh.

-Alyson (...)

What a wonderful, funny book. We bought it last week and have been reading it ever since - three times last night! My four-year-old loves the clever duck. I didn't know there was another book with these characters, so I'll have to look for that.