Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Author: Doreen Cronin; Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows have just found an old typewriter in the barn, and much to his chagrin, they’ve learned how to use it. Unhappy about how cold it is in the barn at night, the cows hammer out a note. ‘Dear Farmer Brown,’ it says. ‘We want electric blankets.’{MORE}
When Farmer brown refuses their request, a furious written exchange ensues. As the chickens get in on the act, too (’No milk. No eggs,’ the note reads.), Farmer Brown is left with little choice: he agrees to exchange electric blankets for the typewriter.
But when the Duck, who has some ideas of his own, is asked to act as the middleman in the exchange, Farmer Brown suddenly finds himself with another note. ‘Dear Farmer Brown,’ this one says, ‘The pond is quite boring…’
I’m not entirely certain which is funnier, the story in Click Clack Moo, or the fact that the kids I read it to have no idea what a typewriter is. I literally have to bring one into school and show them what it is, and what it’s for. You should see their eyes light up. They look at me as if I invented it myself.
Still, once they understand what the contraption is about, kindergarten and first grade kids always enjoy this story. I think it’s because they are, themselves, just learning how to use the written word to communicate their ideas and wants, and they feel an affinity for the cows struggle against the odds.
In the case of Click, Clack, Moo, this is an affinity that educators and parents can put to good use. While this book is a great, fun read, adds to the already well documented canon of Farm Books, and has lessons to teach about conflict resolution and compromise, its strongest lessons, I think, are those it teaches about writing.
Many young children question why they must study academic subjects, and simply don’t see the point behind learning to write down what they can so easily say aloud. Click, Clack, Moo models for them the power of the written word, how writing is used to communicate from afar and is a great tool to use in getting the things that you want. That lesson alone makes it a worthwhile read.
Read-Aloud Tips
- One thing all kids get into when reading this book is making the ‘Click, Clack, Mooo!’ sounds. Be sure to give your child plenty of opportunity to ham it up as the cows type.
- Betsy Lewin’s children’s book illustrations are a hoot, especially when she’s showing Farmer Brown as he reads those notes from the Cows and Chickens. Play up on how red-faced and angry Farmer Brown looks by reading his notes with your best ‘Dag-nabbit,’ upset farmer voice. Your kid(s) will love it.
- Be sure to discuss the written notes exchanged in the book. Talk about the formalities used (the salutation, body, and sign-off) in letter writing and touch upon the utility of note writing for communication.
Comprehension Questions
Pre-Reading
- Read the title. Where do the sounds used in the title come from? What sorts of things make sounds like that?
- Look at the cover picture. What is that thing the cows are sitting in front of? What is it for?
Post-Reading
- In the story, Farmer Brown was very upset at the idea of getting electric blankets for the cows. Why do you think he was so bothered by this idea?
- Do you think the cows did the right thing by using the typewriter to ask for blankets? Do you think they deserved blankets?
Literacy Activities
Writing
- Have your child write a letter to a friend or member of his family using the cow’s letters in the book as examples. Explain the purpose of each part of the letter (salutation, body, sign-off) and have them do it for themselves.
Be sure to have your child label an envelope, stick a stamp on it and mail the letter to the recipient. Too often, we ask children to complete assignments with no ties to how we use writing in the real world. Penning and mailing a letter gives writing a solid, practical edge. - The cows in this story ask Farmer Brown for electric blankets. What else could the cows have asked for? Draw and write about another silly request the cows could have made.
- The authors show us what they thought cows would ask for if they could type. What do you think the horses would have asked for? What if the panda bear in the zoo got a typewriter? What if your dog got a typewriter? What would those animals ask for? Draw and write about it.
Phonemic Awareness
- Dear Dows … The cow’s typewriter is broken and their letters don’t sound right! Read the following animal names to your child and challenge them to give the sound that SHOULD be at the start or end of the word.
Beginning sound: dow, luck, bicken, reep, torse.
Ending Sound: cog, dub, chickev, sheem, horb.Note: Remember that phonemic awareness is a very different skill from identifying the letter needed to spell a word. Phonemic awareness is concerned only with a child’s ability to orally manipulate the sounds in words. If you say DOW, and your child makes a /K/ sound to make COW, this is phonemic awareness. If you say DOW, and your child says ‘the letter C,’ that’s phonics. Both are important skills.
Phonics
- Pen Pals: The animals at the zoo and the animals at the farm have decided to write each other letters. Lay out a selection of letter cards (you can print ours) face down. Pick one player to be the farm animals and another to be the zoo animals. The farm player picks a letter card, and must think of an animal whose name starts with that letter. If they can’t think of one, play goes to the other player, who must think of a zoo animals whose name starts with that letter. For fun, use a notepad and a pen and try recording the names of the animals you name!
Fun
- Trade Ya’, Farmer Brown: This works well if you have more than one child. Each child gets two minutes to look through the things in their sibling’s room. After two minutes, the children barter to swap an item for one hour. Just be careful not to break it!
- Couch Barn: I remember building elaborate forts using couch cushions, blankets, sheets, and broom sticks as a child. We would stick a fan in one end of the fort and the air would both cool us off and billow the sheet roof up, up, up. Good stuff.
Help your child build the same experiences by making a couch BARN with sheets, pillows, cushions, etc. Then crawl around inside like animals in a barn!
If you found these activities helpful, please consider supporting our efforts by purchasing Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type from Amazon through our link.
ryan » June 5th, 2008 at 12:11 pm »