Giggle, Giggle, Quack (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Betsy Lewin (Illustrator) "Farmer Brown was going on vacation..." (more)
Key Phrases: Farmer Brown

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum; 1st edition (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689845065
• ISBN-13: 978-0689845062
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,870 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The companion to "Click, Clack, Moo" is also a lot of fun, June 3, 2002

By	Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Downgrading from Geroge Orwell to John Landis , January 23, 2006

By	My Uncle Stu (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch Out for Duck...He's Trouble!, June 7, 2002

By	Roz Levine (Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.