Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

Author/Illustrator: Doreen Cronin/Betsy Lewin

About the Author:
http://www.doreencronin.com/www.doreencronin.com/Home.html
Doreen was born in NY and grew up in Long Island with her parents, two brothers and sister in a red house.  Her first grade teacher introduced her to writing and she loved it.  She graduated from Penn State in 1988 and St. John's University School of Law in 1998. Her book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, was published when she was practicing law in Manhattan but quickly left her job as an attorney to stick to writing and thanks her first grade teacher for that!

Genre: Fiction, Caldecott Honor Book

Grade Level: K-1
Theme: Typing

Synopsis:

This book is about cows on a farm that know how to type.  They send messages to Farmer Brown about wanting electric blankets because the barn is too cold.  When the farmer tells them no they go on strike and do not produce milk.  The farmer gets angry and the next note he receives is that the hens want blankets too.  He says no again and the hens go on strike and will not give him eggs.  They reach an agreement by having the cows hand over the typewriter as long as they and the hens get electric blankets.  The farmer agrees and the cows are to send the typewriter back with the duck.  The duck in turn writes his own note to the farmer requesting a diving board for their pond because it was boring!

Pre Reading Activity:

Activity:
Ask the students if they have ever seen or used a typewriter.  Bring a typewriter in to share with the class.  Have them become familiar with it and explain how to use it.

Post Reading Activity:

Activity:
After reading the story, have students choose an animal they would want to be on Farmer Brown's farm and use the typewriter, with your help, to write their own note about something they would request from Farmer Brown! 

Reflection:

I think this is a great book to use because it is kid-friendly and funny as well.  You can have the students imagine how silly it would be for ducks to use a diving board and cows and hens to have electric blankets.  It is a cute book to share with kids because you can also introduce them to a typewriter as well as typing on a computer.