by: Mrs. Tricycle
I got to meet Doreen Cronin when she accepted an award for her contribution to children’s literature at a state library conference I planned. You know an author has the potential to be really cool when they begin an acceptance speech by reading negative tweets about their work. Doreen’s just that, not to mention also smart, witty, and extremely talented (check out a video interview with her).
Doreen Cronin is best known for Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, which was recognized as a Caldecott Honor book in 2001. Authored while she was working as a lawyer in Manhattan, once the book became successful, she quit her job to write full time. Click, Clack, Moo stars a barnyard of animals that go on strike until their demands, like electric blankets for the cows, are met by Farmer Brown. It’s not every day that you find a picture book about labor relations written for preschoolers.
The Trikester loves any book about animals, so he’s all over anything she writes. We did have to explain a typewriter to him, but once we compared it to a computer, he was all good to go. Some of the other books featuring the same cast of characters include Thump, Quack, Moo; Giggle, Giggle, Quack; Duck for President; Dooby, Dooby, Moo; Click, Clack, Boo; Click, Clack, Splish, Splash; and her newest title Click, Clack, Peep!
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Recommended Age Range: 4 to 8
My Recommended Age Range: 2 and up
Activity Sheets: Duck for President; Click, Clack, Peep; Dooby, Dooby, Moo
Because Doreen Cronin is such a popular author, Pinterest is FULL of amazing extension activities to complement her books. Two of my favorites to accompany Click, Clack, Moo are making cow masks and learning about cause and effect.
Another great Doreen Cronin series are her diary books, including Diary of a Worm, Diary of a Spider, and Diary of a Fly. The picture books are written in diary form, with each page dated and the day’s adventures recorded and illustrated. The characters find themselves in situations similar to those experienced by an average kid, like forgetting their lunch, but the books also highlights their unique plight – for example, when worms get hungry, they eat their homework. Oops!
Hardcover or Paperback or Audiobook: 40 pages
Publisher: Harper Collins
Illustrator: Harry Bliss
Recommended Age Range: 4 to 8
My Recommended Age Range: 2 and up
If you’re reading Diary of a Worm, make dirt cups for snacks or build a worm hotel!
Aimed at a younger crowd, Cronin’s movement series is designed especially for energetic toddlers – we don’t own these yet, but they really would be perfect for the Trikester! The titles include Wiggle, Stretch, and Bounce. These titles aren’t so much stories, but rather a set of rhyming directions for shaking little bodies. The illustrations feature a funny dog, among other animals.
Hardcover or Paperback or Kindle: 40 pages
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Illustrator: Scott Menchin
Recommended Age Range: 1 to 4
My Recommended Age Range: 1 to 4
A great activity to go along with Wiggle are these Waldorf hand kites or ribbon wands – perfect to shake and twirl as you wiggle.
Not limited to picture books, Doreen Cronin also authors the J. J. Tully Mysteries series, a chapter-book mystery series for elementary school students about a retired rescue dog who’s reluctantly roped into helping a couple of chickens.
The Trouble with Chickens | The Legend of Diamond Lil
Hardcover or Paperback or Kindle: 144 pages
Publisher: Harper Collins
Illustrator: Kevin Cornell
Recommended Age Range: 6 – 10
My Recommended Age Range: 6 – 10
The Trouble With Chickens includes recycling concepts and the characters use plastic bottles to solve a big problem. As an extension activity, use plastic bottles to create fun planters.
These are some of my favorite Doreen Cornin titles – any I missed that you love?
coconut / 8079 posts
We have read a few of these books and you have inspired me to look for more at our library and to pin ideas for when LO is old enough.
My favorite so far is Click Clack Splish Splash.
blogger / pomelo / 5361 posts
Diary of a Worm is one of my favorite books ever. Love Doreen Cronin.