From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K-Millie, a young cow, waits impatiently for the "rise-and-shine sound" that means it's time to play. Before long, she hears a "Baaaa" and feels sure that the noise is too "low and ripply" to be the rooster. A turn of the page reveals a lamb that is also ready to go. A pig and a pony join the two early risers before they finally hear the "Cock-a-doodle-doooooo" that signals the beginning of the day. Done in gouache, watercolor, crayon, and pen, the colorful cartoon illustrations are filled with movement and reflect the excitement of the text. Outlined in thick black lines, the animals stand out neatly against the looser, pastel-colored backgrounds. Millie is shown with gangly legs and exuberant features. After hearing each animal sound, young readers will want to guess which creature is coming next. A delightful read for one-on-one sharing or for storytime.
Donna Marie Wagner, Exeter Community Library, Reading, PACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PreS. Millie, the spindly lamb previously seen in
Millie in the Meadow (2003), is waiting for the rest of the farm to awaken so she can have some fun. She knows she's supposed to wait for the "rise-and-shine sound" that makes clear it's time to play, so even when she's approached by the lamb, the pig, and the pony, Millie waits to hear the rooster crow. The text is more premise than story, and children may be surprised by Millie's self-control. Still, young listeners will like guessing which animal is coming to call by its "sounds" ("Baaaa! Ba-a-a-a!" "Oink. Snuffle"), which appear before the animal does. The art has the look of work by an accomplished primary grader--gawky shapes outlined in black and set against basic backgrounds--but that apparent simplicity belies the skill required to produce art like a child's--yet with so much good humor and spunk.
Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
