This week’s book, Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?, is a lesser known Dr. Seuss book (to me at least). I have been reading it to my daughter since she was a year old. One of my co-workers gave us a bunch of the Seuss books, and we have read them all many times. When given the choice, I always choose Mr. Brown, because it’s such a blast to read aloud.
The book starts with “Oh, the wonderful things Mr. Brown can do!”, a phrase which is repeated throughout the book, along with the phrase “Mr. Brown can do it, how about you?”, begging for audience participation. Mr. Brown encourages young readers to make sounds like a cow (moo moo), a cork (pop pop pop pop), a squeaky shoe (eek eek), a goldfish kiss (pip), and my favorite to read rain (dibble dibble, dibble dibble, dopp dopp dopp).
The illustrations in Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? are typical Seuss, with each page containing some picture of interest, be it a cat drinking milk, or a guy playing a funny “Seuss-shaped” horn, or a hippopotamus chewing gum, not to mention the mustachioed Mr. Brown with his brown top hat. These images, combined with the text will assure you the attention of even the most squirmy of little readers.
I was going to give this one three sippy cups because I’m always slightly unsettled by the illustrations in Dr. Seuss books for some odd reason. The Cat in the Hat, while still a great book, gives me the willies a little bit. However, upon thumbing through Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? I have to say the drawings in this one don’t bother me at all. That, combined with how much fun it is to read this book, I’m going to have to give this one four sippy cups. If you have never read this one, I say give it a try. You will like it, and before you know it, your little one will be able to moo, just like Mr. Brown.
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I have to agree about reading this one aloud. I’m a professional actor and this book lends itself to many vocal exercises. I love it when the kids ask me to read it again… but if I use a different inflection then what they’re used to they tell me I’m reading it wrong.
Ahh, gotta love ‘em.
This is the first book my three year old daughter learned to completely “read” (memorize). Good stuff.
Dave – thanks for the comment. Kids do notice everything, huh? I guess they want consistent performances
Chuck – very cool!
This is a good one. Our favorite is Fox in Socks, which I have memorized. And Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book. And The Sneetches. All of which could probably give someone the willies–but we’re not averse to those. Delicious creepiness! (Of course, my kids are older than yours.)
I also love dibble dibble dopp dopp dopp. Rain does sound like that. I just did not realize it until Mr. Brown pointed it out.