Bibliography:
Cronin, Doreen. 2006. Dooby Dooby Moo. Ill. by Betsy Lewin. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0689845073.
Plot Summary:
Readers may remember the farm animal characters from the first book, Click Clack Moo, by this author and illustrator duo. The cows, sheep, and pigs, and the duck are up to something again, but this time they are not trying to take over the farm. Farmer Brown hears them making curious noises in the barn, which he mistakes for a form of snoring. However, the animals are practicing for the county fair talent show, and led by Duck, the animals rehearse their song and dance in an effort to win the top prize.
Critical Analysis:
Dooby Dooby Moo, as well as Cronin’s other books that feature the same farm animals, are not exactly a series, but they are also not independent of each other. Having read the previous books (Click Clack Moo or Giggle Giggle Quack), the reader is better equipped to immediately understand why Farmer Brown is keeping a close eye on the animals at the beginning of the book and continues to suspect that they are up to no good throughout the rest of the book.
Humor prevails over plot details in this story. Cronin doesn’t have the characters do anything unless it is funny. Children will delight in the text and images depicting the animals singing and dancing. The fine-print that appears on various pages and reads like legalese will probably not be noticed or understood by children, but adults will have some additional laughs.
The illustrations, which consist of simple watercolor pictures with bold outlines, are detailed just enough to show details such as facial expressions and gestures, which provides additional comprehension of the humor.
Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal – “Comical watercolor illustrations provide the punch lines to many jokes within the well-paced text.”
Booklist – “The clever, deadpan story is fun, but the droll illustrations, strong strokes of black lines washed with watercolors, ratchet the comedy up a notch or two.”
Connections:
- Have children sing the songs that the farm animals were singing.
- Read other books by Cronin and Lewin: Click Clack Moo, Giggle Giggle Quack, & Duck for President. Discuss with children how or Duck is a stronger character than the other farm animals.
- Or read other books that feature personified farm animals such as The Little Red Hen, Chickens to the Rescue, or The Cow Who Clucked.