Boo! Baa, la la la!

Outdoors one Halloween night, a cow calls, "Booo!" and hears an answering "Baa!" Who was that? Four lovable drawings suggest possible choices: a pig, a duck, a chicken, or a sheep. Again, the cow calls "BOOO!" and hears the same response, "Baa!" Climbing a high hill, she calls out once more. Varied animals appear, all crying "Booooooooooooooo! (That's 'Happy Halloween to Yoooou!')." This sequel to Boynton's classic board book Moo, Baa, La La La! offers a simple storyline, cartoon pictures of animals, and opportunities for making animal sounds. Amusing rather than scary, this board book is a read-aloud treat.

"On Halloween, the cow says Boo." But who is the "someone out of sight" replying "Baa"? This nighttime-set board book stars the beloved animals and animal sounds from Boynton's classic Moo, Baa, La La La! and boasts Boynton's signature cartoon style. The follow-up works well on its own, though devotees of the first book (i.e., most toddlers) will delight in recognizing familiar characters and phrasing. The clueless cow contemplates the mystery, wondering, "Who might it be..." After a cacophony of familiar noises (meow, quack, snort, snuff, etc.), the cow climbs up "the tallest hill. / She calls out Booo! / Then all is still." Skilled narrative pacing makes the final spread especially satisfying, featuring an answer to the mystery, a well-earned reunion, and a "Happy Halloween to yoooou!" Kitty Flynn September/October 2021 p.50(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.