Boo and Baa Have Company

I love the humor in this book, in the text and the drawings! I wasn't sure my 3 yr old daughter would get the humor (we got the book mostly b/c autumn is coming and the book also takes place in autumn) but now at random moments she calls out: "Phew says boo!" and starts laughing hysterically, and also "Lousy ladder says boo!". Also, Boo and Baa are a boy and girl, and they are portrayed as equals. Both are enterprising, both can get a little scared or apprehensive, and they are not slotted into doing "boy things" and "girl things" respectively, but both can do everything, as opposed to many other children's books. I am going to the library to get all the other boo and baa books!

This pair of Swedish sheep are the heroes of several much-beloved books... This is the only one I've seen, but it's a favorite around our house, and I look forward to tracking a few more of these books down and checking them out. Here, Boo and Baa are out doing some yardwork when a little black-and-white cat gets stuck in a tree, and when they try to get it down, Boo winds up a tree himself. The most captivating thing about these books is the kooky sense of humor: it's very, very subtle, but very, very sweet. Also, for those of us looking for nonviolent entertainment that isn't completely bland, this is a wonderful option. This is best for the littlest readers, but parents will appreciate the nuances of Landstrom's artwork, and the gentle, calming vibe of the story. Recommended. (ReadThatAgain!)

I'm a teacher and writer who collects children's books, and I bought this book because it was so incredibly well reviewed by the Spring 2007 Horn Book Guide. I have to agree that it's a little masterpiece. The illustrator can do things with facial expressions that I've only ever seen two other places: Mo Willems's stuff and the Wallace and Grommit films. Plus the story has a quiet humor worthy of a Charlie Chaplin interlude. I suggest you meet Boo and Baa!