Books like Click, Clack, Moo — picked by fans

I have to admit that books about kindness can often be a tad preachy. This is emphatically not one of those books. In fact, it’s hilarious—but sneakily profound at the same time.

George the Dog has to reckon with the impact of his impulsive behavior, and he learns how to make amends and set intentions to do better in the future. These are the first steps any of us have to take in learning how to be kind and ethical people. Good job, George!

This is my all-time favorite read-aloud. And not just because it features a veterinarian! George the puppy’s mom is disappointed with him because he doesn’t bark. She brings him to the vet for help. On each page, the vet asks George to bark, but instead he makes an incorrect animal’s sound. When George “meows” the vet reaches down inside of George and pulls out a… Yes, you guessed it – a cat! Kids can anticipate and call out which animals the vet will extract from poor George on each page turn. Hilarity ensues. And, in the final spread, something completely unexpected and unexplained happens, perfect for a great post-book discussion. This one never fails to captivate a group of kids—which is really why I adore it.

At storytimes, I see firsthand the value of a good page turn. There’s anticipation. And excitement. And…then…the…page…turns… Oh! Is there a surprise? Something funny?  

Everybody Says Meow has the best page turns. The story starts with a cat talking to the reader. He’s standing with his cat-friends and explains that it’s time for everybody to say meow. “Ready?” he asks. 

On the next page, all the cats are happily saying, “Meow!” BUT—there’s also a dog, peeking around the edge of the page. With a smile and a friendly wave, he says, “Woof!” 

The story continues with these page-turn surprises, and the kids eagerly await the next animal to peek around the page. I love how I have to pause my reading and wait for the laughter to quiet down.

I love Jan Thomas’s books! This one starts with three charming cows who are excited to see a red sofa. “Look!” they say. “It’s chicken’s sofa!”

Why are they excited? One page-turn later and PLOP! The cows are all squished together, sitting on the sofa. “Is everyone ready for fun?” they ask. 

Turns out, the cows have lots of plans for this sofa. Jumping! Dancing! Wiggling! Poor chicken tries to get them to stop, but these fun-loving cows don’t notice the effect of their “fun” on chicken’s sofa. 

I love having the kids act out each scene of jumping, dancing, wiggling, and the final satisfying page. Books that get kids engaged, whether with a catchy refrain or physical actions are fun. (And like those cows, we are ready for fun!)

This book is a favourite of mine to read aloud to young children.

The writing is musical with a predictable rhythm that young children enjoy. The story has a repetitive chorus that children instinctively chant along to. As children repeat the chorus, they feel like they are reading, which gives them a sense of achievement.

The story is full of fun onomatopoeia words that children love saying, such as swishing, squelchy, and stomping. This language also allows children to act out the words using their whole bodies, which adds to the reading experience.

The story is full of anticipation and just the right amount of suspense for this age group. This book will keep children engaged from beginning to end.

This is one of my favourite books to read to a child at bedtime.

Its rhythm and rhyme have an almost lullaby effect with a soothing tone. So many children are fascinated by big trucks, bulldozers, and building sites, but this story is different as the busy, noisy site is going to sleep. The loud machines are quietening down, giving the child the message that it’s time to settle down, as the world is now going to sleep.

The illustrations painted under a night sky are another way the book projects its time to sleep. Each machine on the building site is packing up and going through a bedtime routine that reinforces to the child that the day is ended and it's time for bed. Even the most energetic child will be calmed by this comforting book.

I love this book for the way it grabs a child’s interest from the very start by using the big question of who sank the boat?

This question is repeated on every page, giving the story rhythm and predictability. Children love guessing who sank the boat and are engaged throughout the story. The reader can involve the child by asking questions like "Who do you think sank the boat and why?"

The story gains momentum with subtle suspense leading to the big reveal of who it was that sank the boat. The answer is both surprising and humorous.

I love this story through its use of tension and suspense.

Children are hooked on the fact that there is a hungry bear on the prowl. The story engages the child, causing them to listen intently. The reader can ask the listener to predict what will happen and what they might do in such a situation. Children also love joining in the bears' growling at the predictable times in the story.

The book has a wonderful surprise and a sense of relief at the ending.   

When it comes to discussions about meat, wouldn’t you like something balanced rather than strident? Denis and Gail Hayes offer a well-researched and well-written look at the role of cows in our history and diets. The book’s appeal is that it is both too radical for most cowboys (except the couple hundred ranchers actually doing it right) and too honest about the important role animal protein played in human evolution for the vegans. Cowed also delivers an array of quotable facts, such as “Eating a pound of beef has a greater climate impact than burning a gallon of gasoline.” 

I love a good, oblivious character, so I think Cow is great in this story!

Kids love being in on the joke, so after reading about one or two seasons, they like guessing what Cow will do next.

I like how it works as a fun read-aloud, but easily can work with preschoolers to talk about seasons, clothes, and making predictions (Will Cow finally get it right by the last season?!).