Click, Clack, Boo!

The latest in author Doreen Cronin and illustrator Betsy Lewin's popular series—which began with the 2000 Caldecott Honor-winning Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type—this holiday-themed iconographic-animated adaptation of the 2013 picture book features narration by the drawling Maurice England. Here, grouchy Farmer Brown is definitely not looking forward to Halloween. He hears creepy noises and imagines nightmarish witches, shiver-inducing pirates, and spooky jack-o-lanterns. In the barn, however, the livestock and other creatures are having a grand old time partying with cool costumes (think: cat with bat wings, a princess mouse, a vampire duck), and they hatch an idea of how to help their provider to loosen up a little. Although much shorter and not as imaginative as other entries in the series—including the original short (VL-3/02), Giggle, Giggle, Quack (VL-5/04), and Duck for President (VL-3/05)—this should still be considered a strong optional purchase. Aud: K, P. (J. Williams-Wood)