MINNIE AND MOO: THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

This tenth addition to the Minnie and Moo series follows the bovine best friends in a hilarious Christmas easy reader by Cazet (Minnie and Moo and the Potato from Planet X, p. 331, etc.). His clever plot uses short rhyming sections at the beginning of each short chapter that follow the pattern of “’Twas the Night before Christmas” and help to advance the story. Minnie and Moo decide to be helpful by dressing up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus to deliver some mislaid family presents to the resident farmer’s grandchildren. They use a wheelbarrow as a sleigh and, in a laugh-out-loud twist, the chickens and a rooster serve as the reindeer, with plastic forks taped to their heads in lieu of antlers. The plot is funny enough to work as a read-aloud, and both children and adults will enjoy Cazet’s droll and sometimes sarcastic sense of humor. His illustrations also add to the fun, especially the body language and the expressions on the cows’ faces. The reading level, longer length, and vocabulary are for children reading at upper second-grade level, but both younger and older children (and adults) will also enjoy this comical view of Christmas Eve on the funny farm. (Easy reader. 5-8)