I Want Your Moo: A Story for Children About Self-Esteem
Marcella Bakur Weiner and Jill Neimark, authors
JoAnn Adinolfi, Illustrator
Magination Press, Fiction, 2010
Suitable for Ages: 4-8
Themes: Animals, Self-esteem, Sounds, Turkeys
Opening: “Toodles the Turkey did not like herself. Her legs were like sticks. Her head had no hair. Her feathers were brown. But most of all, Toodles hated her sound. Gobble-gobble. Gobble-gobble. What a horrible noise!”
Synopsis: Toodles doesn’t like the sound of her own voice and goes searching for a new sound. She want’s Cathy the Cow’s strong “Mooo-oooo-oooo.” She wants Paris the Pig’s “Oink” and Harry the Horse’s “Neigh,” and the cat’s “Mee-oow.” They all refuse. But, Ralph the Rooster invites Toodles to join him in a duet of “Cocka-cocka! Doodle -doo!’ But, that didn’t go over well and Toodles runs away. Defeated, Toodles runs into the very wise Omar the Owl “Whoo-whoo” gives her advice. She wanders back into the barnyard, just in time to save the day with her Gobble-gobble. Will Toodles ever be happy with her sound?
Why I like about this book: Kids will have fun making all the wonderful animal sounds. Weiner and Neimark have written a lively and lyrical book that will captivate young children. This is a great book to add to your collection to boost your child’s self-esteem. Adinolfi’s bright and colorful illustrations explode off each page. The expressions she captures of the animals are hilarious. Jill is also the author of Toodles and Teeny, which I reviewed last spring.
Resources: There is a forward and back pages for parents talking about building a child’s self-worth and offering practical advice for guiding children toward self-acceptance. This book offers so many teaching moments. Have children act out the animal characters and draw pictures of Toodles and the other animals. It is also a great classroom book.
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
What a cute, brightly coloured book. A fun book with a hidden message. Such a gem you have found, Pat. Great choice and I am sure a popular one. Have a great weekend.
This is a fun story about a turkey not satisfied with herself. Great book to learn about self-acceptance.
Yay! A turkey story that isn’t tied to Thanksgiving…or IS it? Must read this one Pat!
Not related to Thanksgiving. But a very funny that packs a good message.
You say it’s not related to Thanksgiving… but I say isn’t it? A child who is learns self-worth and self-acceptance has a lot to be thankful for! Take it from someone who wishes she could sing, I’ve learned to be happy with my own gobble-gobble!
I surrender! You got me. Learning about self-acceptance is something to be thankful for! Yes, I lost my singing voice and many other things too, and had to get used to a different gobble-gobble.
Great message for children AND some adults! 🙂
Yes, it is a great message for anyone. And a fun read. Jill also wrote Toodles and Teeny.
That cover is soooo funny! A great way to get a good message across. I’ll have to check this one out!
It is a great cover — begs to be read. It is very funny.
Yes, yes, YES! I finally have one of your recommendations already on my shelf! And I agree with everything you said. LOVE this one. Happy Thanksgiving; I’m grateful for you!
You made me chuckle! I love this one too. Jill is good with humor, but getting a message across.
What a wonderful message for kids! Will look for this book at the library. Terrific review, Pat!
Thanks Robin! I’m glad you enjoyed Jill’s book. Check out my review of her latest book “Toodles and Teeny.”
Will do. Thanks!
Definitely a message to be thankful for. So appropriate. Thanks!
I love the comments today. People are really focusing on a message to be thankful for!
Pat this looks like a great one with a wonderful message. From the opening line, I’m wondering is that a narrator or do the animals “talk” or use a combination of words and sounds? I will try to find this one. Thanks.
Stacy, the animals talk to Toodles. No animal wants to give away their own special sound. They each refuse her in their own funny way :-). When the rooster offers to give part of his cocka doodle do it doesn’t work out too well…he and Toodles don’t harmonize and the sounds come out wrong…but Toodles soon learns the power of her own gobble. And learns to value and like herself
Thank you!
There is narration. Toodles talks to the animals, but don’t want to give away their own sounds. Jill has answered your question. There are sounds and the animals speak their thoughts through bubbles off to the side. For instance in the opening the narration “Toodles the Turkey did not like herself. Her legs were like sticks.” And then you see bubbles containing Toodles thoughts…”Brown feathers! So ugly! Stick legs! Not hair! Yuk! I can’t stand the sound of my voice!” Very clever.
Thank you !
Thank you so much for reviewing this, Pat. I am honored to find my work on your wonderful blog again. I do know some librarians who use Moo around turkey time as a fun read-a-loud and a few who use it as the basis of puppet shows.
Jill, it was a pleasure to review your book. I had fun with it. The more I think about it, I could see it being used around turkey time. Although, I first thought that she wanted another voice, so she didn’t end up dinner. But, you surprised me. My sister-in-law saw my review in her e-mail, and sent back a note that “Harvey” one of their Heifers said “Mooooo.”
Love the message that we all have our own unique sounds. Self-acceptance in the barnyard – yeah!
Yes, you would like self-acceptance in the barnyard. Fun read with lots of sounds.
This sounds like a great book, but wouldn’t Toodles the Turkey be a boy? That’s a gobbler, not a hen… I like the idea of the book! 😀
It is a great book! You got me — Toodles is a girl — and she gobbles. Thought all turkeys gobbled. Take it up with the author! 🙂
Yeah! 😉 I think they all gobble, but hens cluck more, and gobblers… gobble more… and loudest… 🙂
Thanks for the lesson. I didn’t know that.
Glad I could be of use (and that I remembered that from my 2 day hunting safety course.
That title won me over, but I look forward to experiencing the hilarity you describe.
The title and the cover grab your attention. You will enjoy the hilarity. Jill is member of some of our writing groups.
Great stuff! I once had a book a very long time ago (it was a present for my daughter, then 6) called The Learning Tree, I’m glad I’m me. It was such a lovely story. Sometimes the simple wisdom is the stuff that sticks in your mind and heart for all of your life.
Your words are always so poetic and create an image in my mind. Lovely offering! Thank you Niamh!
The book sounds delightful. Clever idea–a turkey unhappy with herself, especially her voice. What a problem for Toodles.
Thank you for your comments Freeda! It is a book that children will have great fun with. And, it full of hilarity!