Misery Moo
(Book)

Attitude-be it the down-in-the-dumps or happy-go-lucky variety-can be contagious, as seen in this warmly humorous picture book (from the creative team behind I Want to Be a Cowgirl) about a cow with a glass-half-empty view of life. The "miserable old cow" bemoans everything in her sorry existence. But for her every dismal observation, a jaunty little lamb counters with a sunny-side-up perspective. On her birthday, the cow laments her age, while the lamb extols the virtues of celebrating with a party. While winter means shivery cold to the cow, it represents joyous Christmas to the lamb. But even the cheeriest of critters is bound to suffer a comedown in the face of constant protestations. Now it's the cow's turn-in a touching turnabout-to offer her own get-happy attitude adjustment to her woolly buddy. Willis's sweet-natured story gets to the heart of the universal feelings of compassion that come with forging a friendship and changing one's viewpoint. Keeping step, Ross fills his ink-and-watercolor framed illustrations with kindly characters and comic details. Images of cows tangoing at a birthday bash, the pals doing headstands to see things anew and the red-nosed cow and the lamb knitting rainbow, hoof-friendly socks in the snow, are a hoot. Ages 4-8. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

PreS-Gr 2-Misery Moo has a dour disposition. A little lamb tries valiantly to raise the cow's spirits by throwing her a birthday party and reminding her that "Winter means Christmas," without success: "The lights were too bright....Santa Claus was too jolly." Finally, the lamb gives up and leaves the cow to her negativity. But Misery Moo finds that she misses the cheerful creature and goes searching for him. She finds the lamb in a sad state because he is incapable of making her happy. He tells her that her feelings affect his because he cares about her. The bovine is "so pleased to have a friend" that she flashes Lamby Poo her best smile, and he is thrilled that Moo has finally shaken her blues. The droll cartoon watercolors in bright hues express the duo's relationship, and readers will relate to these engaging characters. A sweet story about the power of friendship.-Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

What's up with you, Misery Moo?"" a lamb daily asks a morose cow, who sees the glass as half empty (e.g., winter means cold), unlike the lamb (winter means Christmas). Ross's comical art featuring a cow with udders sagging as if in despair forestalls any fear that this beguiling parable of friendship will turn preachy or maudlin. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Attitude-be it the down-in-the-dumps or happy-go-lucky variety-can be contagious, as seen in this warmly humorous picture book (from the creative team behind I Want to Be a Cowgirl) about a cow with a glass-half-empty view of life. The "miserable old cow" bemoans everything in her sorry existence. But for her every dismal observation, a jaunty little lamb counters with a sunny-side-up perspective. On her birthday, the cow laments her age, while the lamb extols the virtues of celebrating with a party. While winter means shivery cold to the cow, it represents joyous Christmas to the lamb. But even the cheeriest of critters is bound to suffer a comedown in the face of constant protestations. Now it's the cow's turn-in a touching turnabout-to offer her own get-happy attitude adjustment to her woolly buddy. Willis's sweet-natured story gets to the heart of the universal feelings of compassion that come with forging a friendship and changing one's viewpoint. Keeping step, Ross fills his ink-and-watercolor framed illustrations with kindly characters and comic details. Images of cows tangoing at a birthday bash, the pals doing headstands to see things anew and the red-nosed cow and the lamb knitting rainbow, hoof-friendly socks in the snow, are a hoot. Ages 4-8. (May) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

PreS-Gr 2-Misery Moo has a dour disposition. A little lamb tries valiantly to raise the cow's spirits by throwing her a birthday party and reminding her that "Winter means Christmas," without success: "The lights were too bright....Santa Claus was too jolly." Finally, the lamb gives up and leaves the cow to her negativity. But Misery Moo finds that she misses the cheerful creature and goes searching for him. She finds the lamb in a sad state because he is incapable of making her happy. He tells her that her feelings affect his because he cares about her. The bovine is "so pleased to have a friend" that she flashes Lamby Poo her best smile, and he is thrilled that Moo has finally shaken her blues. The droll cartoon watercolors in bright hues express the duo's relationship, and readers will relate to these engaging characters. A sweet story about the power of friendship.-Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.