Boo Cow - Hardcover

Baehr, Patricia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 158089108X ISBN 13: 9781580891080

Publisher: Charlesbridge, 2010

Synopsis

Mr. and Mrs. Noodleman don't know what to do. They've left city life behind and moved to the country with hopes of being farmers. But their dreams turn grim when nightly visits from Boo Cow scare the Noodlemans' hens so much, they won't lay any eggs! These first-time farmers are at a loss. Why is Boo Cow haunting them, and how can they banish this ghostly bovine visitor? Baehr's fun and accessible text make this book a great read-aloud. With unexpected twists and turns, BOO COW keeps readers guessing as they attempt to solve the mystery on the Noodlemans' farm.

About this title

About the Author

Patricia Baehr is the author of eleven books for children, including MOUSE IN THE HOUSE (Holiday House) and SCHOOL ISN'T FAIR! (Simon & Schuster). She lives in Bayville, New York.

Review

The Noodlemans dream of agrarian paradise is nearly thwarted by a haunted henhouse. The novice farmers can t figure out why their 552 chickens aren t laying; neighbor Farmer Hackett tells them it s Boo Cow, who haunts the farm [e]very night at the stroke of twelve. Sure enough, at midnight they hear, "Thump...Creaaak...Clink-clunk! Clink-clunk!...MOOOOO." Children who have read the sepia-toned prologue page will not be as surprised as the Noodlemans are to learn that Boo Cow isn t nearly as malignant as her reputation has it, and Farmer Hackett s handlebar mustache may clue them in as to the real culprit in the missing-egg mystery. This not-so-frightening ghost story is just right for the Scooby-Doo set, with its appealing greenhorn protagonists and deliberately paced story. Apple s soft, bucolic illustrations gently milk the situation for all its available humor. --Kirkus Reviews

First-time farmers Mr. and Mrs. Noodleman are thrilled with the purchase of 552 brand new chickens. "By tomorrow... we'll be up to our eyeballs in eggs!" Mr. Noodleman exclaims. To their dismay, the barn is visited each night by Boo Cow, a bovine ghost whose "soft but unmistakable moo" is so terrifying that the chickens cannot lay a single egg. The Noodlemans devise all sorts of schemes to solve their haunting problem, including a consultation with a psychic, a pink fluffy nightgown for each chicken, and even a confrontation with Boo Cow herself ("Stop it, Boo Cow!... Your ugly mug has frightened its last chicken! Scram! Hit the road! And don't come back!") But is Boo Cow really the cause of the commotion? The Noodlemans' determination to have eggs for breakfast, no matter what, is tempered by the book's overarching messages of protection and forgiveness. A mix of mystery and hilarity, Baehr's (Mouse in the House) story is made far from frightening by Apple's (Little Goose) soft pencil illustrations, as well as an ending that will leave children assured of Boo Cow's gentle nature. --Publishers Weekly

In this humorous and sweet but rarely scary ghost story, Mr. and Mrs. Noodleman realize their dream of being farmers by restoring a derelict farm, purchasing 552 chickens, and opening the Chicken Noodle Farm. The only problem is that the farm is haunted by a ghost cow that seems to frighten the chickens so much they refuse to lay. Later, however, the culprit is revealed to be a neighboring farmer with his own egg business. Boo Cow, in fact, helps the Noodlemans apprehend the villian, and the family, chickens, and ghost cow live happily ever after. Softly rendered with pencil and muted pastels and featuring cartoonish characters, the illustrations play up the humor with a ghost that looks soft and cuddly and anything but menacing. With a text chockful of action and playful words, this offbeat story will be popular for storytimes. --Booklist

About this edition

• Publisher: Charlesbridge
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 158089108X
• ISBN 13: 9781580891080
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Apple Margot