Do Cows Meow?

PreS--In Cows, children can guess animal sounds by filling in the rhyming word at the end of a series of questions. "Do cows sing?/Do cows coo?/All I know is cows go...." The answer is revealed when the flap covering the cow's mouth is open. At the end of the book, the barnyard animals are hidden behind a fence. Before the flaps open, children can try to match them to the sounds they make. The glossy pages have a polka-dot motif on the verso and a solid colored background on the recto. The animals are visually simple, but appealing. This book is a perfect fit for toddlers. The second book asks: Who is making all that noise in the wild? Is it the snapping crocodile? Could it be the roaring lion, or the chirping toucan? The eight animals open their mouths wide. They growl and chomp, but their smiles and innocent appearance make them look harmless. A concluding spread gives children a chance to identify all the creatures and their sounds. Youngsters will be drawn to the bright colors and interactive format of these books.--Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Everything is simple here, and that's what makes it great. First there's a four-line rhyme: 'Do sheep tango? / Do sheep cha-cha? / All I know is / sheep go . . .' On the next page is the graphically elemental face of a sheep. Lift the flap over its mouth and see 'BAA!' Little ones will be just as appreciative of the duck, frog, cat, pig, and horse. The heavy pages will withstand lots of use, and even though the mouth flaps are just made of paper, they seem strong enough to withstand multiple openings and closings. Just the right look and feel for preschoolers who will add their own joyful noises." —Booklist