Summary:
Sharon Creech writes a novel in poetic verse about two young kids, Reena and Luke, who move to Maine with their parents and make a very unlikely friend. When the brother and sister are volunteered by their parents to help out the elderly Mrs. Falala, they are more than reluctant at first. To begin with, Reena recalls a number of times when she was volunteered to do something and found herself regretting her obedience. Second, Mrs. Falala is mean! She tells Luke to stop sucking his thumb! Then, the "chores" they were supposed to do seemed way too difficult! They knew nothing about cows, but they were expected to clean up after, groom, and eventually show one at the county fair! And, Zora, the cow, mooed really loudly every time they came near her and refused to follow Reena into the pen. How can they achieve the impossible task of convincing a stubborn cow to do what she's told?
There's no getting out of it, though, and what ensues is a beautiful lesson about the benefits and joy of hard work and what happens when first impressions are not always accurate. Find out what happens at the county fair and if the kids and Zora can ever get past their differences when you pick up Moo by Sharon Creech today!
Personal Reflections:
I've always been extremely fond of poetry of almost any kind, so verse novels in particular draw me in almost always immediately. Whereas this novel has segments that are more prose in nature, the flow is really quite beautiful. Moo is a fast read - with short chapters and a story line that's easy to follow. I love the simplicity of the story, although the much deeper meaning behind it is what makes it great. Creech is known also for her other verse novels, Love That Dog and Hate That Cat, both of which are popular reads in my library. Moo is recommended for upper elementary through middle school. I think people of all ages can appreciate, though. Check it out!
