Moo - by Sharon Creech (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

This uplifting New York Times bestseller reminds us that if we're open to new experiences, life is full of surprises.

Fans of Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech's Love That Dog and Hate That Cat will love her newest tween novel, Moo. Following one family's momentous move from the city to rural Maine, an unexpected bond develops between twelve-year-old Reena and one very ornery cow.

When Reena, her little brother, Luke, and their parents first move to Maine, Reena doesn't know what to expect. She's ready for beaches, blueberries, and all the lobster she can eat. Instead, her parents "volunteer" Reena and Luke to work for an eccentric neighbor named Mrs. Falala, who has a pig named Paulie, a cat named China, a snake named Edna--and that stubborn cow, Zora.

This heartwarming story, told in a blend of poetry and prose, reveals the bonds that emerge when we let others into our lives.

From the Back Cover

Zora was chasing us.

Mooooooooo. Mooooooooo.

When we reached the gate Luke scrambled up and over it instead of through it and I was trying to follow when Zora's ENORMOUS HEAD loomed up below me and bumped me into the air

When twelve-year-old Reena, her little brother, Luke, and their parents move to Maine, Reena doesn't know what to expect. She's ready for beaches, blueberries, and all the lobster she can eat. Instead, her parents "volunteer" Reena and Luke to work for an eccentric neighbor named Mrs. Falala, who has a pig named Paulie, a cat named China, a snake named Edna--and one very ornery cow named Zora.

From Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech comes a lovely and uplifting story of how a little kindness can change lives, reminding us that if you're open to new experiences, life offers surprises.

Sharon Creech has written twenty books for young people and is published in over twenty languages. Her books have received awards in both the U.S. and abroad, including the Newbery Medal for Walk Two Moons, the Newbery Honor for The Wanderer, and Great Britain's Carnegie Medal for Ruby Holler.

Before beginning her writing career, Sharon Creech taught English for fifteen years in England and Switzerland. She and her husband now live in Maine, "lured there by our grandchildren," Creech says. "Moo was inspired by our mutual love of Maine and by our granddaughter's involvement in a local 4-H program. We have all been enchanted with the charms of cows."

Review Quotes

Creech offers a memorable family story featuring an especially difficult cow... A heartfelt tale that will be embraced by Creech's fans, work well as a classroom read-aloud, and find a spot in book groups. - School Library Journal (starred review)

Newbery Medalist Creech touches on themes of loss, friendship, and belonging in this appealing tale. The book's playful use of words sets this novel apart. Fans of Love That Dog will find much to love in this story of a girl, a cow, and so much more. - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

As Reena learns that a little kindness works wonders for both people and animals, Creech's spare narrative creates vivid, emotion-packed images of landscapes, characters, and "that/ wild-eyed/ heifer," Zora, that will stay with readers. - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The quick pace and accessible narrative will win over reluctant readers, and it's an easy pick for fans of Creech's Love That Dog or animal lovers looking for a quick yet moo-ving read. - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books