In a rollicking barnyard tale designed to create noise, an inquisitive bovine wants to know why the other farm animals don’t moo. As the cheerful cow greets each creature, it urges each to moo: “Good morning, Duck. Say Moo! Say Moo! If I say Moo, why don’t you?” All around the farm, from sheep to horse, the animals patiently explain the unique sounds they make. Their cumulative responses form a rambunctious chorus, as each newcomer vocalizes its particular sound, the others join in with their own signature calls. It is Owl’s ingenious explanation that resolves the dilemma for the perplexed heifer. Phillips’s lively tempo keeps the pace moving, inexorably drawing readers along to the cacophonous conclusion. En route, readers gain an introduction to a bevy of familiar creatures and their calls. Young children can exuberantly join in, Old Macdonald–style, on the chorus. The large figures of the animals in Lamut’s lush oil paintings are finely detailed and realistically rendered. Included in each spread is an additional, smaller illustration done in soft pastels depicting the featured animal’s favorite habitat: a grassy field (sheep) or a hollowed-out tree on a moonlit night (owl). These illustrations are framed by the animal’s sounds; e.g., “quack, quack, quack” . . . surrounds the duck picture. The overall effect offers readers plenty of learning opportunities while having fun. A boisterous tale featuring some preschool favorites that will have most read-aloud sessions sounding like a bustling farm. (Picture book. 3-6)
