The Cow Who Clucked (by Denise Fleming)

As the clucking cow approaches each different animal, her question is the same but the response varies: "Glub, glub," says the fish, "Quack, quack," says the duck, and so on.

Young kids especially will love the silliness of this book, which has a very narrow plot but a kind of repetitive language reminiscent of Old McDonald and his farm. Younger kids will enjoy mimicking the animal sounds and will laugh at the idea of a cow that clucks. Older kids might question how the cow lost its moo or how she got it back, which is not explained. All readers, kids and adults alike, will love the illustrations.

Beginning with the inside cover that's painted in the mode of Van Gogh's "The Starry Night," the pages are filled with color. Influenced by pulp painting and paper-making techniques, unique textures blend with stenciled outlines to produce captivating artwork that makes this book remarkable. Subtleties hidden in the background will emerge. Even when families tire of the story, they'll be drawn back to this book by its artistry.