Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type

by Doreen Cronin
Illustrated by Betsy Lewin

A perfect tale for an early lesson in how to negotiate, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type gets better every time you read it.  Much to Farmer Brown’s dismay, his cows find a typewriter and quickly discover the power of the written word. To add to the shenanigans in the barnyard, Duck must step in and mediate when Farmer Brown refuses to meet the bovine demands and the cows go on strike.  

Illustrations by Betsy Lewin add to the charming story Doreen Cronin wrote that gives power to the animals and leaves Farmer Brown wondering what will happen next on his farm!

In this Issue

• Duck Feed Granola
• Watch and Learn
• Cow Prints
• Click Clack Moo Book Play

 

Duck Feed Granola

Perhaps a nice snack of Duck Feed Granola would have eased negotiations between the barnyard animals and Farmer Brown. It's fun to bring the hilarious story to life when you make a batch of this low fat, lightly sweetened, whole grain granola (the secret ingredient is applesauce!). Young readers/chefs can help measure, mix, and bake for a tasty breakfast or snack option. 

Duck Feed Granola

 Ingredients

• 3 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 cup any mixture unsalted nuts
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut
• 1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries, or any mix of dried fruit
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Mix oats, almonds, walnuts, coconut, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger together in a large bowl.
3. In a smaller bow, mix the applesauce, honey, oil, and vanilla together until well blended.
4. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix until the dry ingredients are evenly coated with the applesauce mixture.
5. Spread onto a jelly roll pan or other baking pan with sides (two 9 in baking dishes would work).
6. Bake for 45 minutes, or until golden brown, stirring every ten minutes. The granola will continue to crisp after it comes out of the oven.
7. Remove from oven and stir in dried fruit.
8. Cool on pans, and store in an airtight container.

 

Watch and Learn

 

Cow Prints

This paint rubbing activity is a fun and simple way to introduce your young reader to printmaking. Folding the paper and not letting paint cross the fold line is also a simple way to introduce or reinforce the concept of halves.

Cow Prints

Supplies

• 1 sheet large white construction paper
• Black paint
• Paint brush
• Scissors
• Glue
• Can or lid to trace to make the head

Part 1: Mirror Image Printing

1. Fold construction paper in half to crease, then unfold paper.
2. Paint black splotches on only one half of the paper. Don’t let the paint cross the line!
3. Refold the paper on the same crease and rub across the top of the paper in all directions. Unfold the paper to reveal the cow print. Lay flat to dry completely.

Part 2: Making the Cow

1. Once paint is completely dry, fold paper in half,  then cut along crease. 
2. Choose one half to be the body of the cow; using scissors, round each of the corners.
3. From the remaining half you will get all the features of the cow. To make the head, trace a can or lid of an appropriate size and cut out. This will be the cow’s head. Glue the circle to the body.
4. Cut out the remaining features using the remaining paper: 2 ears, 4 legs, 2 horns, and a tail. This is a creative cow so let your reader decide how those features should look. Glue the pieces to the cow. Add eyes and mouth with marker or crayon.

 

 

Click Clack Moo Book Play

Here are a few more ideas of fun things to do with your young reader after reading Click Clack Moo:

• See pictures of real versions of the chickens, cows, ducks, horses, sheep, and other common farmyard animals shown in Click Clack Moo with National Georgraphic Kids Farm Animal Photos. 

• Instead of singing the usual "Old MacDonald Had a Farm," change it to "Old Farmer Brown" and in each verse use a different animal featured in the book.  On a side note, did you know that the song Old MacDonald goes back to about 1917, and in other versions even earlier? Read more on Old MacDonald at Wikipedia.

Read It Again

• You can also find an online version of Click Clack Moo here. Try going through the book again, but see how much of the story your reader can tell you!