Christmas Down On The Farm

Mother Nature has frosted our landscape these past few weeks as if it's her own personal Christmas cake.  Animal tracks pattern the lawns, sidewalks, paths and roadways in the early morning hours like silver dragees.  After dark homes and nearby bushes and trees outlined with white or colored lights add to the festive atmosphere.

For nearly three hundred, sixty-five days children around the world have been waiting to welcome Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Saint Nick or Santa Claus while others emulate his spirit as in the reply to a child's letter in 1897, Is There A Santa Claus?  Christmas wishes have been made.  Trees have been trimmed.  Stockings have been hung.  Treats have been left for the visitor about to arrive.

And Duck is up to his old tricks.  Duck?!   Yes, the crew of critters making their home on Farmer Brown's acreage is back in a rollicking read, Click, clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing Division, September 22, 2015) written by Doreen Cronin with illustrations by Betsy Lewin.

Snow is falling.
Lights twinkle.
A few creatures are stirring.
It is Christmas Eve.

Farmer Brown pauses in his holiday preparations to listen to a new noise.  It sounds like Santa Claus is getting closer to his home.  What is Duck doing with spiked sandals, goggles, a rope and backpack?

Hush now!  What's that?  He's getting closer.  Or is he?  Oh, no Duck!  There's something on the roof now.  As Farmer Brown finishes and rushes to bed Duck sneaks at peak at the Christmas Eve sky.  A silhouette crosses the moon.

Of all the unfortunate luck, Duck is stuck.  Yes, the wily fowl has foiled his own plan. First one, then another, and then another get stuck.  That chimney is full of farm friends.  A jolly gentleman and his flying eight wait.

HO! HO!

Happily Christmas magic is in the air and so is a lot of soot.  Not a word is heard as they complete their task.  It's a night of good will toward one man as another leaves with new gear.


Three or four phrases grouped together start this tale of an impending approach.  Doreen Cronin by first focusing on Farmer Brown lulls us into believing one thing with her seasonal celebratory sentences.  As our attention is shifted to Duck and company with repetitive words,

HO! HO! Uh-oh.

the first of several plot twists comes as a total surprise.


When readers initially glance at the matching dust jacket and book case, greeted by a wintry scene, a bit of Christmas cheer with Duck front and center, we're not quite sure if Duck is going to be up to his old tricks or not.  To the left, on the back, on a canvas of joyful green, Duck is lifting the newcomer from Click, Clack, Peep!   I won't reveal any more because it does foreshadow one of the plot twists.  The same joyful hue is found on the opening endpapers with a jolly red on the closing endpapers.  A two page visual spans the verso and title pages with Santa-hat-wearing mice (three) dancing among the title text coming from the chimney top.

The major of the images rendered in watercolor by Betsy Lewin extend edge to edge across two pages.  You can't help but chuckle at her wordless pictures placed between the initial narrative sections before Duck gets stuck.  You will burst out laughing at the body positions and expressions on the other animals as they journey to help Duck and find themselves in the same predicament.

Careful readers will enjoy watching the antics of the three mice.  We know what they know but Farmer Brown has no clue as to the real source of the noises.  The tiny details throughout are telling stories too.

One of my favorite illustrations of many is the first wordless two pages.  On the left Duck, looking every bit like a mountain climber, is making his way up a utility pole.  A large rope extends from the top of the pole to the roof of Farmer Brown's house smaller in the distance on the right.  Numerous questions immediately come to mind along with giggles.


If you are looking for a new Christmas title loaded with catchy comedy and several surprises, Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho! written by Doreen Cronin with illustrations by Betsy Lewin is the book for you.  I had the distinct pleasure to read this to a group of kindergarten students last week on Friday.  I wish you could have heard the laughter and gasps.  Please add this title to your holiday collection and read it often.

By following the links attached to Doreen Cronin's and Betsy Lewin's names you can access their respective websites to learn more about them and their other work.  In addition to the front dust jacket and book case picture, the publisher's website has six more interior illustrations including my favorite. There are two separate links to printable pages of activities.  Have fun and Merry Christmas!

Down On The Farm

If you were to ask your readers how many have ridden on a wagon pulled by a tractor, depending on your location, you might receive a favorable response.  When asked how many have had the pleasure of actually riding on the tractor your numbers will probably diminish.  Factoring in their ages the amount who have actually driven a tractor will be even less.  Having done all three myself, I can say in all honesty, after the third option, with the broken barn door as evidence, I was delegated to the open fields.

Life on a working farm is busy with long days of work; the epitome of there never being a dull moment.  When it's Farmer's Brown's place laughter is a given. Click, Clack, Peep! (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, February 10, 2015), the newest installment in a much-loved series written by Doreen Cronin with illustrations by Betsy Lewin, is a rousing rendition by the famous animal crowd.

Click, Clack, peep!
Farmer Brown stuck his head out the window.
The farm was too quiet.

There is not a sound to be heard because all the critters are gathered around a straw nest.  In the exact center is an egg ready to open.  There's one crack, two cracks, three cracks, four, five, six and seven cracks.  A furry, fuzzy yellow baby duck pops out.

This little duck is so happy to be hatched it laughs, waddles, plays and peeps.  It peeps a lot.  And it keeps on peeping when all the others are yawning.

Each of the animals, the chickens, the cows, and the sheep, draw on their maternal instincts trying without success to get the baby duck to quit peeping and sleep.  They all leave the barn, even the mice, to get much needed rest.  Baby Duck keeps on peeping.

As you are well aware Duck is no ordinary duck.  This Duck always has a plan.  This time it involves earphones, Farmer Brown snoozing in his hammock, a bucket, a blanket and seat belts.  This is one ride you won't want to miss.


The beat began in the barn continues throughout the story with the playful use of words by Doreen Cronin.  Each animal's voice is repeated as are the title words among all those peeps.  Repetition of phrases in different portions of the narrative is a warm welcome for participation.   They are also great building blocks to a hilarious conclusion as only Duck can provide.  Here is another sample passage.

Not a moo.
Not a click.
Not an oink.
Not a clack.
Not a baa.
Not a cluck.
Not a thing.
Then...a crack.


Rendered in watercolor the unmistakable line work of Betsy Lewin is evident from the dust jacket (I'm working with an F & G).  There is liveliness in every brush stroke.  Her full color palette is a reflection of life on the farm no matter the time of day.  On the back, to the left, on a canvas of pale yellow, there appears to be the very tractor I drove in days long past.  Not an inch of space is wasted as Lewin starts the story before the narrative begins with the cows and Duck waiting for a delivery, the truck arriving, and Duck receiving a box tied with a bow.  These are placed on a page before the title page, on the title page, verso and dedication page.

Her image sizes are a mix of single pages, double pages and small vignettes clustered on pages to highlight the text and supply pacing.  At times we view the scene as a whole or we are moved in close for emphasis.  One thing is apparent with every page turn.  The details on the animal faces (and Farmer Brown) are loaded with emotion.  We can't help but burst out laughing.

One of my favorite illustrations is of the chickens singing a lullaby to the baby duck.  One is rocking the little peeper.  Three others with beaks wide open are creating a chorus.  Of the four mice pictured, one is running away and another is plugging its ears.  Two others are looking on with what I am sure is hope.  Lewin uses a purple wash to generate the evening hour.


Click, Clack, Peep! written by Doreen Cronin with illustrations by Betsy Lewin is not to be missed.  Use this for a unit on life on the farm, to demonstrate the art of writing with rhythm, to show how humor is infused in writing or as a bedtime treat.  I think it would make a delightful reader's theater.  I can already hear the voices joining in as words are read aloud.

To learn more about Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin and their other books access their websites by following the links attached to their names.  At Reading Rockets are video interviews of Betsy Lewin.  If you follow this link to the publisher's website you can find some activity sheets.