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Well, I don't think one needs to know American Idol to appreciate the audition jokes. Or the characters' resemblances to Durante or Freud or whoever. Those are just for the adults. What *I* didn't care for was how dependent the book is on the reader's ability to say or imagine the sounds. I mean, yes, picture-books benefit from sound-effects - but this was just too much, for me. ( )

When Hilda Mae Heifer's trademark "moo" starts sounding even worse, the other animals decide she is lonely and hold auditions to find her some singing partners.

Palatini, M. (2009). Boo-Hoo Moo. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.

9780061143762

Poor Hilda Mae Heifer (a cow, in case you culdn’t tell by her last name) is sad. She has a case of the boo-hoo-moo blues, wishing she had someone to sing with. Some of the other animals on the farm decide to try and help her find a singing partner and friend.

However, the audition process becomes complicated when the farm animals begin to fight over who would be the perfect partner to do a duet. Before the argument can continue for too long, the farm animals come up with an even better plan to help Hilda Mae musically.


Activities to Do with the Book:

Boo-Hoo Moo could be used in many different ways. It could introduce young students to farm animals and the sounds they make. It could be used to trigger a lesson on music (including terms like baritone, soprano, downbeat etc.) and the blues, or simply to discuss feelings of loneliness.

Young students could also act out the book, doing the motions and sound of the various animals included. They could consider what it’s like to try-out or be a judge (and how to give positive feedback instead of negative). Students could also consider how to find their own individual talents.


Favorite Quotes:

“Hilda Mae Heifer was down in the dumps.
Feeling low. Sounding like it too.
Even her moo was blue.”

“I believe Hilda is lonely,” said the cat. “I don’t think she likes singing solo.”

“Uh, just a minute there, fuzz face. If any of us is going to have a sing-along with the cow…it’s yours truly.”

“My honking is legendary.”