Books for Preschoolers - Click, Clack, Moo - Cows That Type
🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop
- 🌍 World Knowledge & Background Knowledge — Nonfiction and information-rich picture books build background knowledge that accelerates reading comprehension — children who know more about the world understand more of what they read across every subject area.
- 🎵 Phonological Awareness — Books with rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, and wordplay directly develop phonological awareness — the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in language — which is the strongest single predictor of reading success at school entry.
- 🎭 Dramatic Expression — Hearing books read aloud with expression — character voices, varied pacing, dramatic pauses — models the prosody and emotional range of language that children internalize and bring to their own reading and speaking.
- 📖 Pre-Reading Foundations — Handling books, tracking print left to right, hearing stories, and connecting spoken words to written text directly builds the print awareness and phonological knowledge that formal reading instruction builds on.
Click Clack Moo - Cows That TypeWritten by Doreen Cronin
Illustrated by Betsy Lewis
From the Book
"Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears click, clack, moo. Click, clack, moo. Clickety, clack, moo."
About the Book
Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type is a humorous story about cows who find a typewriter in Farmer Brown's barn. All day long the cows type out their demands of Farmer Brown. The poor cows are cold, so they demand that Farmer Brown give them electric blankets. When Farmer Brown refuses, the cows go on strike! And when the hens demand electric blankets and get refused, too, they join the cows' strike.
The cows come up with a deal for Farmer Brown. They will exchange the typewriter for electric blankets. Farmer Brown believes this is a good deal and gives them electric blankets. This satisfies the cows and hens, but guess who's making demands for a diving board?
From the Correspondent - Stacey Lloyd
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type is a hysterical story to be loved by all. This book will have you and your preschooler laughing. Farmer Brown's frustration with the situation is even funnier than the items the farm animals are demanding. The twist at the end is the best. I love the illustrations! The story is original, clever, and gives you a good laugh - all the components of a good children's book! This is a must-have book for every preschooler's book shelf.
My son and I give
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type four out of four typewriters!
Buy Click Clack Moo: Cows That TypeWatch this story come to life on video and rent it from Netflix.com!
Book Details
Title:
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That TypeReading level: Ages 4 - 8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (February 1, )
Language: English
ISBN: 0689832133
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Helpful Tips for Parents
- Children's picture books are not dumbed-down literature — the best ones (Where the Wild Things Are, Charlotte's Web, Goodnight Moon) reward re-reading across decades.
- A library card is the most valuable free resource a family can have. Regular library visits — every week or two — build book culture at zero cost.
- Read nonfiction books alongside fiction. Nonfiction expands vocabulary with domain-specific words that fiction rarely delivers, and builds informational reading habits.
- Wordless picture books (The Snowman, Tuesday, Flotsam) develop narrative comprehension, story structure understanding, and visual literacy — without any words at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books should I read to my preschooler per day?
The volume is less important than the consistency. Even one book per day, read with engagement and followed by brief conversation, delivers significant developmental benefit. Many families read 3–5 books at bedtime plus additional books throughout the day — this is excellent and associated with the strongest reading outcomes. If you can only manage one daily reading session, make it consistent, engaged, and joyful rather than perfunctory.
When should I switch from picture books to chapter books?
Chapter books don't replace picture books — they extend the reading menu. Most children enjoy having a chapter book read aloud starting around age 4–5, even before they can read independently. Picture books remain appropriate through childhood (and adulthood — they're literature, not a developmental stage to be exited). When introducing chapter books: choose ones with short chapters, interesting characters, and immediate plot engagement. The Magic Tree House, Frog and Toad, and Flat Stanley series are reliable first chapter book series.
Related reading: See also our read-aloud techniques guide and our library tips guide for more ideas on this topic.
