Review by Booklist Review
Pals Cow and Owl, perpetually accompanied by their superhero dolls, enjoy playing together, making music ( Moo Hoo. Two Coo ), fixing things, and trick-or-treating. However, they're none too enthused when Kangaroo, also carrying a superhero doll, wants to play ( Roo New ), so they ignore Kangaroo till Kangaroo leaves ( Roo Blue ). But Cow and Owl start having second thoughts after all, they did have things in common and when they finally find Kangaroo, it's Three is better than two. À la the author and illustrator's Ribbit Rabbit (2011), this deftly and delightfully incorporates spare text, simply rendered art, and a supportively portrayed, kid-resonating topic. Short, descriptive sentences accompany rhymes and refrains, while cartoonish, childlike illustrations, in muted hues, depict engaging animals and scenarios with playful touches, like crayons handily held in Kangaroo's pouch. Subtle elements reinforce the theme, as pairs from the number of rhyming words to little visual details become trios. Overall, this is an enjoyable read (and read-aloud) with a positive, well-conveyed message, which highlights the more the merrier nature of friendship.--Rosenfeld, Shelle Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Ryan and Lowery follow their frog-and-bunny show, Ribbit Rabbit (2011), with another tale of beastie besties. Cow and Owl, who love superheroes as much as their predecessors loved robots, are inseparable: "They fix things together. Moo hoo. Glue shoe," and they share a double "Boo!" on Halloween. "But when Kangaroo shows up, Moo hoo. Roo new. They don't know what to do. Moo hoo. Who you?" Despite Kangaroo's plea to join them ("Roo too?" the newcomer asks), Cow and Owl look the other way. Only later does it dawn on them that a third party might enliven their pastimes. Lowery combines screenprinting and digital techniques to craft rough-hewn, childlike illustrations on flat, muted backgrounds; as Cow and Owl look for Kangaroo, tracing a dotted line through a treed backyard, Ribbit Rabbit's joined-at-the-hip duo makes a cameo appearance to shrug, "Roo who?" Ryan's monosyllabic conclusion-"Moo Hoo Roo. New True Crew"-serves as the happy wrapup. Emphasizing simplicity and sound, Ryan and Lowery cover the basics of friendship. Ages 3-6. Agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Deborah Warren, East West Literary Agency. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Ribbit Rabbit, 2011). Being what they are, the words moo and hoo spin freely in their orbit and trigger like words depending on what they are doing. They fix things together: "Moo Hoo. Glue Shoe." They trick-or-treat together: "Moo Hoo. Boo! Boo!" Although Ryan fills in some narrative context, it is these tiny, rhymed sound-words that express the emotional range of the story, which is whopping in its brevity (aided and abetted by Lowery's dear, spindly creatures, with their disarming gestures and primitive toys). When a young kangaroo enters the scene--"Who you?" "Roo new"--Cow and Owl are standoffish. Roo wants to join in--"Roo too?"--but no deal. "Roo blue." It breaks your heart. Cow and Owl do see the error in their ways, and Kangaroo enters the fold. "Woo hoo!" A winning display of finding the high ground and paved with particularly sweet verbal compression. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
