Gobble, Quack, Moon [With Audio CD] [Hardcover]

Matthew W. Gollub (Author), Judy Love (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002 | Age Level: 2 and up

Katie the cow's blues are about to give way to inspiration. Maybe it was Farmer Beth's pink tutu that got her thinking. Maybe it was the glimmer of a far-away star. But when Katie tells her friends of her secret wish, the donkey, the turkey, and the duck make a plan to help get the moon rocking.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gollub (The Jazz Fly) aims for a song-and-dance flight of fancy in his latest picture book, but this tale of a cow's ballet dream never quite reaches the heights. Inspired by the actions of tutu-clad Farmer Beth (who pli‚s across the yard in between chores) and the night's bright full moon, Katie the cow expresses her desire to "wear a tutu for a change of pace/ and dance on moonbeams up in space." Before long, the duck and the turkey rig up a rocket and the whole barnyard bunch blasts off for the moon, singing the refrain: "Gobble-gobble, moo-gobble, gobble-haw quack. Moo quack-a quack-a moo. Just like that." After cutting a rug on the moon, the animals arrive home just in time for lunch ("Our life's the best life ANYWHERE!" they proclaim). Gollub's rhyming text exudes a buoyant energy, despite the often forced rhymes. His no-place-like-home and grass-is-always-greener themes will surely ring familiar to youngsters. Love's limber animal cast cavorts, squawks and munches feed with much enthusiasm (though open-mouthed, starry-eyed expressions give them all a dopey look) through scenery both bucolic and galactic. Ages 2-8. (Apr.)musical accompaniment is bound into the front cover of the book.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4-7. When Katie the cow sets her heart on donning a tutu and dancing in space, all the barnyard animals pitch in to build a rocket ship and transport themselves to the moon. They lark about amid the craters for a while, playing games and dancing such classic numbers as the Watusi and the Mashed Potato, then the whole jovial crew returns to Earth. The rhyming text bounces along agreeably, expanded by the good-humored ink drawings, brightened with watercolor washes. Packaged in a plastic sleeve and attached to the front-cover endpapers is a CD that offers Gollub reading the story aloud with a spirited musical accompaniment. A possible choice for teachers seeking space-related picture books to read aloud. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Tortuga Pr (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889910201
• ISBN-13: 978-1889910208
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 10.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #905,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Matthew Gollub is a children's author, speaker, storyteller and musician. He has created 15 picture books which together have garnered 25 national awards and distinctions. His musical narrations on audio CD--set to jazz, Latin jazz or rhythm and blues combos--accompany some of his most popular books. (Yes, that's also him playing drums behind his vocals.) He delights in introducing rhythmic sounds to kids while engaging their imaginations with stories. His idea of a successful children's book with audio is one that kids, and grown-ups, can savor time and again.

Kudos for Gollub's latest title, "Jazz Fly 2: The Jungle Pachanga", include: Foreword Reviews Best Books of the Year Gold Award Winner; USA Book News Best Books 2010 Award Winner; International Book Awards Winner; Parents' Choice Award; Moonbeam Children's Book Award Gold Medal.

Acclaim for the original "Jazz Fly," his all-time bestselling title, includes: Writer's Digest National Self-Published Book Award; America's #1 Recommended Children's Book, Children's Book Sense 76; Benjamin Franklin Award for Children's Book with Audio; Smithsonian's Notable Books for Children; California Department of Education Suggested Reading; San Francisco Chronicle Editors' Picks.

"Gobble, Quack, Moon," loosely based on the author's family as he grew up, likewise received a Benjamin Franklin Award and was a Top 10 Book Sense selection among independent booksellers nationwide. This title enjoys a further distinction in that the author's mother has named it her favorite book!

A dynamic, bilingual (English and Spanish) presenter, Gollub has performed at over 1,000 elementary schools, providing language arts enrichment for over half a million students. His goal as an author/speaker is to inspire young people to read for fun. He lives with his wife and son in California, one hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the book that my child actually wants to read at night, July 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Gobble, Quack, Moon [With Audio CD] (Hardcover)

The other day my 9 year old son came to me wanting me to read "Gobble, Quack, Moon"
My son was late in learning to read, but the wonderful illustrations and fun music and writing style in "Gobble, Quack, Moon" made him want to read. He pushed himself to try harder so he could see what happens at the end. Now he can read much better after completing this story. Thank you Mr. Gollub for bringing my child into the wonderful world of reading.
Now my son and I will get comfortable on the couch and read this excellent book almost nightly. I am sure my son and I will go on and read the rest of your books.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enthusiastically recommended read-along experience, June 8, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gobble, Quack, Moon [With Audio CD] (Hardcover)

Gobble, Quack, Moon is a rousing and entertaining children's picturebook with an accompanying audio CD of author's Matthew Gollub's performance with toe-tapping background music. A whimsical story about a group of farm animals who reach for the stars and have fun dancing on the moon, Gobble, Quack, Moon is embellished by its freewheeling puns, playful attitude, and exuberant full-color artwork by Judy Love. Gobble, Quack, Moon is an engaging, enthusiastically recommended read-along experience for young readers ages 2 to 8, by itself or in tangent with the audio CD.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Review from ForeWordreviews.com, February 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Gobble, Quack, Moon [With Audio CD] (Hardcover)

Everyone knows that cows yearn for that greener grass on the other side of the fence. In this lively picture book, Katie, a bored cow, is no exception. Her sites are set, however, on more distant pastures: the moon. Inspired by Farmer Beth's dances around the farm, the barnyard animals suggest a space ballet, and cram themselves into a homemade rocket built from cans and glue. The lack of gravity on the moon makes dancing ballet, the Watusi, and the Mashed Potato "udderly great," and even Katie's tight fit in a crater cannot dampen the mood of the lunar merriment.

Everyone also knows that the other side of the fence is not always as fulfilling. Katie soon begins to miss her own pastures. Along with the donkey, turkey, duck, sheep, cat, and other animals, she heads back home, their incredible journey unbeknownst to their sleeping farmer. Although now content in her barn, Katie appreciates the adventure that made her value her true home.

Matthew Gollub, an award-winning children's author, tells this humorous romp through rhyming text, with detailed, action-packed illustrations that add to the amusement. While the rhymes may come across as forced in some places when reading the text, an accompanying CD creates an experience that young children will find entertaining. With appropriate pacing, a variety of animal voices, and the refrain, "Gobble-gobble, moo-gobble, gobble-haw quack. Moo quack-a quack-a moo. Just like that," the jazzy music will inspire listeners to clap along with the story. It even takes on slower and faster tempos when Katie reaches the moon to reflect the many dances of this talented cow and her friends.

"Gobble, Quack, Moon" could be used by libraries, schools, children's programs, and caregivers to explore farm animals and different forms of dance. Beginning readers can use the CD to follow the text on their own. The CD can also be played separately, simply to enjoy the spirited song and story.