The Grumpy Morning

A cow's moo sets off a chain reaction in which the other animals on the farm speak out in their own way to let the farmer's wife know she is late to feed them.

PreSchool-Grade 1ATalk about waking up on the wrong side of the bed! When morning arrives, a cow moos to be milked, a hog squeals for her meal, and a horse neighs for his hay. A dog, a goat, a rabbit, and the rest join in the fray, each with its own special needs. One by one, the animals voice their demands, then queue up and march into their mistress's bedroom. Faced with the grumpy group, the bewildered and sleepy farmer "...opened an eye and said with a cry,/'Is that the time? Oh, my! Oh, my!'" With greetings all around, each member of this farm family is finally cared for and fed. Warm, sun-drenched watercolors in early morning yellows and greens have a fresh and airy look. Simply rendered scenes include just the right amount of detail, including empty food dishes, long morning shadows, and a little barn owl who squeezes into each double-page spread. The simple, rhyming, patterned text begs to be read aloud or alone. A cozy story that is sure to comfort a cranky child and entertain groups.APaula A. Kiely, Milwaukee Public Library, WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

When the farmer oversleeps, it's not her alarm clock that awakens her, but a cacophony of grumpy barnyard animals. It starts with the cow, in sore need of milking. She's quickly joined by the famished dog, the starving goat, and the hungry hog. Other animals need breakfast, too. The orange cat even joins the parade in hopes of getting a hug. With all the animals crowded around her, the farmer wakes up to nuzzles and licks. She hurries to do the neglected chores, and completes the discombobulated morning with a big hug for her cat. Labrosse's sunny drawings match Edward's happy rhyme and its amiable female lead; the only aspect that may be off is the titlethe players are never discontented enough to qualify as really, truly grumpy. (Picture book. 2-5) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.