Click, Clack Quack to School takes this must-read series to school

Our kids grew up on the Click, Clack, Moo series of books by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. From the first one where Farmer Brown’s cows start to leave him notes, Duck runs for President to where the animals have a birthday in Click, Clack, Surprise! Happy Birthday this series of books is consistently entertaining for kids through third grade. Click, Clack, Quack to School! Is new to the series and sees all of the animals displaying their traits on center stage as they each get ready for school.

In this case it’s Farmer Brown who gets a letter inviting him to visit the local elementary school. Astute readers will notice that a very particular aspect of this letter is written in crayon. The school has a couple questions about him and they’ve also asked him to bring all of the animals. As Farmer Brown tells all of the animals about their upcoming trip they’re over the moon with excitement, especially the cows.

However, each animal is asked by Farmer Brown to tamp down their characteristic traits. After all, school is a quiet, respectful place. The cows can come, but they aren’t allowed to stomp, clomp or moo. The chickens can come too, but they can’t clap, snap or cluck. Each of the animals are in their element, wallowing in the mud, romping through the field or acting crazy in the coop.

All of them are acting like their barnyard selves should, except for the duck. The duck is sitting on a pillow in a yoga pose, looking very content and not at all like a duck should. Farmer Brown lets the duck know about the upcoming trip and simply asks that the duck not be so duck-y, to which the duck breathes in and out slowly. Astute readers will notice a yellow crown partially covered by the duck’s pillow that looks identical to the color that was used in the initial note to Farmer Brown that asked him to bring the animals to school.

Our six year-old noticed the plot devices immediately and said, ‘what is the duck doing with that’? He also laughed out loud at various parts of the book. His eight year-old brother could read the book easily, except for some of the farm adjectives, but also had a fun time reading Click, Clack, Quack to School!. This is a book that tailor made for kids three through seven. It’s a fun, quick read that makes a great-good night book. You can read it once slowly or read it even quicker the second time and your pre-K student will still laugh at the duck.

Slightly older readers will know some of the sight words. Those kids in third grade might be too old for the book, but will have great memories of duck, cow or Farmer Brown. This is one of those book series that kids in elementary school will know and love. It’s a franchise book that kids will jump into at any book, be intrigued and then read many that came before or after it-and Click, Clack, Quack to School! is great fun that will plant the reading seed in those young kids as they head off to school.