Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

Composition:

Color:

Every page is balanced. If there are many words on one side of the page, the pictures to match are on the other side. The pages are all symmetric and distributed evenly. Where there are not words, a picture can be found. Throughout the book, every space is accounted for. There are no borders throughout the book and minimal white space. The readers can see white space where it is natural-looking like the ducks and the cows. We can also see white where the watercolors end near the edges of the page. Having the illustrations on the whole page makes the book more welcoming. When reading it makes you feel like you can jump onto the page and join in on the fun!

Texture:

The hue of the illustrations is on the yellow side of the scale. The colors are bright and simple. There are no complex colors that make the reader stop and analyze. The colors stay true to what they are representing like the blue in the sky or the green in the grass. The colors make it easy to see the strokes of the watercolor. The colors help make the story happy and inviting.

The tactile impression of the illustrations is soft. This soft impression is shown by using different colors of watercolor. The watercolor does not give the illustrations any defined textures. The impression of the watercolors makes the illustrations more cartoon and two dimensional, so everything is flat on the paper. The lines on the paper outline the different trees and grass that show little texture. The different strokes of paint help make the story go more smoothly. We feel like we can just jump into the story.

Shape:

The shapes in the story are simple. The readers can identify all the objects on the page. The shapes are more curved to show the nature of the animals and the farm. As readers, we can tell the shapes that are being represented because they are all outlined in bold lines. Then looking at the page the different sizes do not show any importance. The typewriter is a significant part of the story but is different sizes throughout the story. The letters are another example. Some of the letters are small, and some are big.

Line:

Caldecott Illustration

Analysis

The lines of the illustrations are different sizes and shapes. The different thicknesses in the story make the feeling within the writing come out. We can see the anger and happiness come out. In the story, lines are helping to direct the viewer's eye. All of the characters in the story have wonderful broken lines that help outline them and draw the attention of the reader. All of the different messages that the animals write is also outlined with thick lines, so they stand out on the page.

Style and Media:

The style of the illustrations has a humorous feel. The characters in the story have a naturalistic style that is slightly more cartoon humor. The animals are more exaggerated than found in real life. This style contributes to the message by making the pages funny. It makes the story light and fun. It shows how a child would feel when reading.

Basic Information:

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

Written by Doreen Cronin

Pictures by Betsy Lewin

Publisher: Simon and

Schuster

Award: Randolph Caldecott

Medal in 2001

About the book:

This book talks about how Farmer Brown's cows find an old typewriter. They start to write letters to Farmer Brown about particular demands that they want. When the demands are not met, the cows go on strike.