Jim Aylesworth Books • Books • Books

Cock-a-doodle-doo, Creak, Pop-pop, Moo 
Retold by Jim Aylesworth
Illustrated by Brad Sneed (Holiday House, 2012)

Aylesworth, Jim. Cock-a-doodle-doo, Creak, Pop-pop, Moo. Illustrated by Brad Sneed. Holiday House, 2012. ISBN: 9780823423569		Cock-a-doodle-doo, Creak, Pop-pop, Moo is illustrated by Brad Sneed.  From the publisher: Rooster crows, Cock-a-doodle-doo Wake up, girls, And little boys, too. Breakfast ham pop-pops, cows moo as they're being milked, girls feed clucking hens, and boys split wood— wack! Rhythm, rhyme, and onomatopoeia are used to celebrate a day in the life of a family farm. This title is included on the Illinois Reads List for 2014.

Reviews: Cock-a-doodle-do, Creak, Pop-pop, Moo

"This verse celebration of a day in the life of a big farm family is rich with musical rhymes, lilting phrases, and onomatopoeic details. It begins with the rooster's crow, then breakfast... While there is certainly no shortage of picture books depicting life on a farm, this one is notable both for its diversity of activities and its bouncy narrative line; the verses beg to be read aloud, and the picturesque language draws a detailed picture of the work being done around the farm. ...Audiences and readers-aloud alike will delight in this engaging exploration of farm life."  ~ The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

" ... Crisp, clear lines rich in onomatopoeia describe a day from morning to night in this nostalgic paean to life on a farm, while stylized, retro watercolors provide a humorous look at the farm's residents, both animal and human. From start ("Rooster crows, / Cock-a-doodle-doo. / Wake up, girls, / And little boys, too") to finish ("Owl calls out / Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo. / Goodnight, boys, / And little girls, too"), this agreeable selection delivers the sounds, look and atmosphere of an old-time farm. ... strong rhymes and catchy beat ... A snapshot of country life full of sounds and sentiment." (Picture book. 2-5) ~ Kirkus Reviews

"A simple, rhyming text and energetic watercolors celebrate old-time farm life. The lilting rhymes, in brief couplets (“Cows all moo / In the milking shed. / Cluck cluck cluck. / Hens are being fed”), all focus on sounds, which adds another thematic thread. From the “yip” of a puppy, to the “buzz” of bees, to the “creak” of old stairs, young listeners will want to chime in and can begin here to learn what various sounds look like in printed form. ... A charming portrayal of rural days gone by. ~Booklist

"Rooster crows,/Cock-a-doodle-doo” and “Ham pop-pops/In the frying pan” to waken this jovial farm family as the various members launch into a rhythmic romp through a typically busy day. ... onomatopoeia describe cows mooing in the milking shed, hens clucking as they are fed, and Papa shoeing the mare, “tap, tap, tap.” Sneed uses soft lines and watercolor paintings that are full of realistic detail, evoking the feel of traditional farms from a bygone era. The realistic and larger-than-life characters are as joyful and bouncy as Aylesworth’s singsong text. By the end, readers will practically hear the crickets chirping in the night air as the rocking chairs creak on the porch. Listeners will enjoy this energetic celebration of rural family life, which is perfect for any farm-themed storyhour." ~ School Library Journal