Moo-Moo, I Love You!

Moo proves an extremely malleable term of affection in text co-authored by the late Krouse Rosenthal, also written and illustrated by previous collaborator Lichtenheld (Duck! Rabbit!). “Moo-moo, I love you,” declares an exuberantly cartooned cow to her calf. With a big hug, the two launch into a day of improvised “moo” words, with every oo filled in for emphasis. They celebrate a shared love of “pizza with extra moo-zzarella” and “farm hu-moo-r” (cut to a chicken crossing the road). Mom’s love is even evident in watching her calf confidently “sch-moo-zing” with friends at the bus stop—a lovely example of how a parent takes pride in a child’s navigating the greater world. Leaving no room for doubt, Mom declares her love is as big as a “Moo-se,” which gives Lichtenheld the opportunity to cover two full spreads with a hugely antlered, deadpan critter (“You can moo-ve now,” says the slightly annoyed calf, peeking out from behind the enormous animal). Printed on kraft colored paper and drawn with thick black crayon-like outlines and punctuations of warm color, it’s a book that has the feel of a cherished homemade valentine from a devoted parent who is fond of wordplay. Ages 4–8. [em]Agent: Amy Rennert, the Amy Rennert Agency. (Sept.) [/em] Correction: This review has been updated for factual accuracy.