Over In the Meadow

Written by John Langstaff

Narrated by John Langstaff

John Langstaff's endearing version of an old counting song for children is filled with the beauty and wonder of meadow life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Weston Woods
• Release date: Jan 1, 2004
• ISBN: 9780545416863

John Langstaff

The late John Langstaff was known internationally for his ability to unlock any child’s innate musical ability. He was the founder of the original Christmas Revels in 1971 and devoted his life to promoting music education and enjoyment, especially for children. 

Reviews for Over In the Meadow

[kathdavis54 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cows on a farm find an old typewriter and begin giving notes to the farmer. What ensues is a fun story about bartering. It is a very fun read aloud.

[miriahharrison · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Click, Clack, Moo, cows that type is such a great fun book. I love the imagination that it teaches the children that anything can happen. Cows don't really type but it would be interesting if they did.

[tastefullyjreef · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this book the author leads us on a journey of the animals battling the farmer through letters they are typing on a typewriter. This book makes every reader laugh as the pictures give you a real glimpse into the cows and ducks world. The author even goes as far to say on one page "The ducks waited outside by the barn all night, but not one could understand moo". The main idea that a reader could take from this is to be happy and comfortable you need to help those around you to be happy and comfortable.

[mdonley_6 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Farmer Brown's cows feel they have poor working conditions. They find a typewriter and start making demands for electric blankets. Will Farmer Brown give in? Will there be milk for him to sell? What happens when the chickens join in? A funny tale of how fighting for what you deserve may pay off. Cute for young children and adults who love cows that type.

[jrudnick-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is such a cute book about farm animals as cows getting a typewriter. The best age would be ages 4-8. It isn't a hard book to understand and fun to say for the kids to follow along.

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The cows are too cold in the barn so when they find an old typewriter, they start typing up demands for the farmer to buy them electric blankets!This is a clever, entertaining read about learning to cooperate and meet each other's needs. It could be used in a classroom setting to start talking about higher level concepts of the working world, such as unions and bargaining. It's also just a lot of fun to read aloud with all the animal sound effects and whatnot. Every child I've shared this book with ends up loving it, so it's definitely a keeper.

[rgraf1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Click, Clack, Moo – Cows That Type written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin in 2000 is a winner of the Caldecott Medal. The story is about some some cows on a farm who find a typewriter and write letters to the farmer. The technique used for the illustrations in the book is brush drawings using watercolor and tracing paper. The imaginative pictures make this story being so much funnier than it is already.

[lkartje_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is quite comical and written for young, elementary readers. It follows the story of barn yard animals, mostly cows, that find a typewriter and begin asking the farmer for electric blankets and other items. It is very entertaining and uses pictures and some repetition that helps younger readers.

[cdwilson27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a well done read-aloud for children, with an undercurrent that adults will find amusing. Farm animals learn to type, and begin to send notes to the farmer about upgrades they would like. When the farmer ignores their requests, they go on strike. Kids like the animals' crazy behavior (for animals) and adults find the underlying unionization tactics amusing.

[awhite43-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type" by Doreen Cronin was really fun book. I thought Betsy Lewin's illustrations of the cows and their love for note writing made the text even funnier. I enjoyed the back and forth arguments to the farmer's frustration and the fact that the author made the ducks a "neutral party", especially when it leads to them getting. I thought the author's theme of standing up for you rights was delivered in a hilarious way.

[ccbell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is very comical and it involves a lot of typing. Basically the animals on the farm, the cows in particular want a blanket to keep them warm. When Farmer Brown refuses, the cows go on strike. Their only way of communicating with Farmer Brown is through letters they are trying on an old type writer. The great part about this book is that it can be read-aloud very easily because when the cow are typing the reader and the kids can say "Click Clack Moo" along with the cows. This is a great book and it will keep the children laughing and engaged.

[jknuts1-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book because of the humor! First, the story was told from the point of view of the cows made it different than the usual human perspective in lots of children's books. The plot was the second thing that I liked about the book, there was conflict between the cows and the farmer, which kept a feeling of humorous tension throughout the story. There was no real moral or big idea, but I would have to say if anything that animals shouldn't be taken advantage of and they have needs and wants too!

[benuathanasia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Cute, silly, and decently illustrated.

[jessica24_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This Caldecott Award book is about a farmer name Farmer Brown that had cows. These cows liked to type on a typewriter. The hens and the cows got cold and waned electric blankets. The cws went on a strike for milk and the hens went on a strike for eggs. The farmer and animals eventually made a deal that they will get electric blankets if they hand over the typewriter. Duck, who was neutral delivered the note. They agreed, but the next morning the cows typed up another note demanding a diving board.I enjoyed this book because it was very comical. The farmer should have gotten the typewriter before he gave them their electric blankets, then they would not have been able to type another letter.In the classroom, I would ask the children how the farmer could have handled this situation a little better and create a chart with those answers. I would also create a game to role play this story.

[betsyeggers · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What I like: This book is a children's version of Animal Farm (without the violence) because the animals get ahold of a typewrite and go on strike until their demands are met. This book is very funny.What I do not like: It's too short!Recommendation: I would buy this book for my library (medium public library).

[salemsmith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Growing up, this was my FAVORITE book to read with my grandpa. This book is great for children grades K-3 as a read-aloud or independent read. I would use this book for a lesson on onomatopoeia because the words "click" and "clack" actually sound like what a typewriter sounds like. I could also use this book for a lesson on writing letters because the ducks and cows write the farmer letters.i think the kids would like this book because it is funny and is short enough to where students will not get bored when reading it.

[dannien-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mistreated by their farmer, animals in this story type letters on a typewriter demanding crazy things like electric blankets and diving boards. This story is written for younger grades, but could be funny for students of any grade to read before introducing the skill of typewriting on keyboards or even before teaching about animal cruelty and animal rights. The simple words and pictures in the text made the plot seem even funnier.

[thecajunlibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kids will love mooing along with this witty tale about farm animals protesting for better working conditions.

[shanleegusman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Click, Clack, Moo the cow’s on Farmer Brown’s typed. They demanded electric blankets because the barn was cold at night. Along with the chickens they went on strike because Farmer Brown would not give them the blankets. Farmer Brown got frustrated and decided that he would settle a deal. The cows would give him the typewriter in exchange for the typewriter. The duck whos the neutral party would then deliver the type writer to Farmer Brown. But much surprise, Click, Clack,Quack.

[squeakychu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is hilarious. The cows have an electric typewriter so they make demands on Farmer Brown by typing a note to him. Then the hens do the same thing! Along comes a neutral party--the duck, The outcome is not what you might suspect. I think it would be great fun to read this book to a preschooler because the ideas are silly, the illustrations are terrific, and the story introduces quite a few ideas to discuss. In addition, you can explain to a preschooler what a typewriter is before they all completely disappear! :D

[szanes_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fun book to read aloud and laugh with each other about! The preposterous idea of animals typing their requests and organizing strikes until their demands are met makes a clever, quirky book that your students will want to hear more than once.

[david9z · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another favorite read-aloud for preschoolers and young readers. This quirky book is laugh out loud funny. Animal sounds and the title phrase will be repeated by listeners. Emotions are clearly illustrated. The funny ending is well illustrated in the final page. Allusion, onomatopoeia, and irony are used in the story. The illustrations definitely add to and improve the story.One could discuss compromise by using this book. I find it simply highly entertaining and a popular pick for young readers and storytime use. Recommended for school and public library collections.

[mburgess_58 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Farmer Brown refused to give the cows and hens electric blankets. The cows and hens went on strike until they got what they wanted. The cows decided to exchange their typewriter for electric blankets, so Farmer Brown agreed to give them the blankets. I thought this was a cute book. It teaches you that sometime you have to be willing to sacrifice some to receive something you need.

[janetvisser · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"Click, Clack, Moo" is the goofy and engaging story about Farmer Brown and the labor dispute he has with his unruly animals. Cows that type, hens on strike, and duck (the neutral party), together with a farmer who doesn't find anything unusual about his herd writing notes demanding electric blankets make for a crazy, entertaining book. Even better, it is clear from the ending that while Farmer Brown thinks he has solved the problem for good, his troubles are just beginning.The cartoon-like illustrations add to the story and the facial expressions of the animals are especially entertaining."Click, Clack, Moo", Doreen Cronin's first book, has won numerous awards and was named a Caldecott Honor Book in 2001. It also appeared on many "Best Books" and recommended reading lists in 2001 and 2002 when it was first published. Author Doreen Cronin has published 17 children's books to date and continues to write from her home in New York.

[rebeccastevens · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a funny children's book in which the cows find an old typewriter and send Farmer Brown messages. They express their complaints and ask for electric blankets and other amenities to make their work on the farm more enjoyable. When Farmer Brown refuses to heed their communications, the animals go on strike. Duck is called in to help negotiate, but he has his own agenda.This story is cleverly written, and the illustrations tell half the story themselves. Children enjoy the drawings that look like a child could have drawn and colored them with markers. The repetitive words are fun for early readers or for read-aloud experiences.This book is a good beginner book, but it could also be a fun way to introduce children to the concept of workers organizing to present grievances and the idea of using strikes to empower workers. It is also a funny book to include in a farm lesson.

[kelli_via · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked the book “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type” by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin. First I liked the book because of the human- like characteristics of all the barn animals. For example, the cows find a type writer and know how to read and write letters. Also, the cows ask the farmer for electric blankets because the barn is too cold. The chickens and ducks also have human- like characteristics because they can read and write and they also ask for better working conditions/favors from the farmer. When the animals don’t get what they want they go on strike so the farmer has no milk or eggs to sell or eat. The human like characteristics of the barn animals makes this book humorous and fun to read. I also really liked the illustrations in this book. For example, when the farmer was upset, you could see the farmers rage in his shadow. The illustrator drew the farmers’ straw hat to appear that that his hair is disheveled and on end. The illustrator also used fun/light colored backgrounds to show the mood of the funny story of the farmer’s predicament. I think the message in the story is to treat others fairly and how you wish to be treated. Once the farmer treated the animals fairly he got the milk and eggs he needed. It was necessary for the farmer to compromise with the animals and treat them as he would want to be treated.

[mnorth2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Summary:This children's story is about these cows and hens that do not like how they are living. They are all cold at night and they decide to type up a letter which they tell the farmer that they want electric blankets or they will not give any milk or eggs. The farmer gets so mad and refuses to give them what they want. In the end, the farmer asks to trade the typewriter for the blankets which works until the duck gets ahold of the typewriter...Review:This is a very popular children's book because it is consistently funny, very imaginative, and clever. This book is aimed directly for kids, but a great thing about it is, adults appreciate and love the story too. The whole letter writing can definitely be linked into a writing lesson for elementary school students.

[laurakurtz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this funny and inspiring book, cows learn to type on an old typewriter. They demand electric blankets for themselves, and later for the chickens. They go on strike to get what they want, using the typewriter to communicate all their aims. They finally succeed, and agree to give back the typewriter in exchange for the blankets. But then, the ducks get the typewriter and demand a diving board....

[ydraughon_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Farmer Brown's cows find an old typewriter. They begin to leave him notes and demand things like blankets because it's cold. When he doesn't provide the blankets the cows go on strike. The books is very funnt and kids love it. Grades K - 3.

[cgammerman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book was great for all elementary kids to read and I really think they would enjoy reading this silly story about farm animals. The pictures are cute and the story-line is very creative. There are several follow-up activities that could be done after reading this book and it would also make a great read aloud for students.