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Farmer Brown's Barnyard Tales
Click, Clack, Boo!: A Tricky Treat
Will the barnyard animals trick—or treat—Farmer Brown? Find out in this Halloween tale from the #1 New York Times bestselling creators of Click, Clack, Moo.Farmer Brown does not like Halloween. So he draws the shades, puts on his footy pajamas, and climbs into bed. But do you think the barnyard animals have any respect for a man in footy pajamas? No, they do not. For them, the Halloween party has just begun. And we all know these critters far prefer tricks over treats. There are big surprises in store for Farmer Brown!
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2013
18 people are currently reading
847 people want to read
About the author
Doreen Cronin
121 books441 followersDoreen Cronin (born 1966) is an American writer of children's books, including Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type, a very well-received picture book illustrated by Betsy Lewin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
March 11, 2018
Farmer Brown's animals are absolutely ready for the Halloween Party. Farmer Brown was never interested in such activities. Barnyard animals do not care. They'll have their share of fun.
The surprise that awaits for Brown is worth reading.
The surprise that awaits for Brown is worth reading.
October 27, 2019
I loved the book Click, Clack Moo!. It was funny and fresh. This title felt like part of that series so I had high hopes. It wasn’t funny or cute really. I didn’t care for this one. I don’t think I’ll try more in the series.
The animals put on a Halloween party while the Farmer is scared in his house in bed. It’s a weird little story in my opinion.
The nephew didn’t think it was funny either. He said this was a boring story and nothing really happens in it. He gave it 1 star.
I was disappointed.
The animals put on a Halloween party while the Farmer is scared in his house in bed. It’s a weird little story in my opinion.
The nephew didn’t think it was funny either. He said this was a boring story and nothing really happens in it. He gave it 1 star.
I was disappointed.
June 30, 2020
It's been awhile since I enjoyed the rest of the books in this series, so I can't do a direct comparison of quality. But this reads just fine as a stand-alone, I believe. And so much fun... especially if read aloud, of course.
I do recall that some of the others were for older children, with political & economic themes.
This, otoh, is fun for pre-school, maybe even toddlers.
(I really need to be reminded of child development progression and milestones as I'm just not sure how sophisticated a three yo is... does she know what dressing up in a costume is?)
edit - see comments below, and thank you Lisa Vegan for answering my question - so, yes, this would be fine for toddlers.
I do recall that some of the others were for older children, with political & economic themes.
This, otoh, is fun for pre-school, maybe even toddlers.
(I really need to be reminded of child development progression and milestones as I'm just not sure how sophisticated a three yo is... does she know what dressing up in a costume is?)
edit - see comments below, and thank you Lisa Vegan for answering my question - so, yes, this would be fine for toddlers.
November 22, 2014
This is a fun story to read. I found it to be very cute!
We have our lovable farm animals and Farmer Brown returning to us in a fun Halloween tale.
Farmer Brown is afraid of Halloween. He does not like it. So he puts out a bowl of candy and a Do Not Disturb sign and turns in for the night. Then he hears creepy, spooky noises coming from outside. Meanwhile, the barn yard animals are having a Halloween Party in the barn. Dressed up in costumes, they are arriving (making noises) to the party.
The pictures are wonderful. I love the watercolors. And I think that they do an awesome job showing the story.
I think that this story is best for younger children, probably Pre-K through 3rd grade. But most elementary students would probably find something to enjoy. My daughters found the book to be cute and funny. They laughed a lot (especially at the ending.) I like that this is a fun Halloween story that is not too scary for younger kids.
This review as well as Cutie Pie’s rating and thoughts can be found on my blog: Her Reviews of Books, Movies, and Everything
We have our lovable farm animals and Farmer Brown returning to us in a fun Halloween tale.
Farmer Brown is afraid of Halloween. He does not like it. So he puts out a bowl of candy and a Do Not Disturb sign and turns in for the night. Then he hears creepy, spooky noises coming from outside. Meanwhile, the barn yard animals are having a Halloween Party in the barn. Dressed up in costumes, they are arriving (making noises) to the party.
The pictures are wonderful. I love the watercolors. And I think that they do an awesome job showing the story.
I think that this story is best for younger children, probably Pre-K through 3rd grade. But most elementary students would probably find something to enjoy. My daughters found the book to be cute and funny. They laughed a lot (especially at the ending.) I like that this is a fun Halloween story that is not too scary for younger kids.
This review as well as Cutie Pie’s rating and thoughts can be found on my blog: Her Reviews of Books, Movies, and Everything
December 9, 2018
It's Halloween, and Farmer Brown retreats to his house, frightened of everything to do with the holiday. The animals on his farm, by contrast, are having a blast at their party in the barn. The crunch-crunch-crunching of the mice, as they scurry across the field to the party; the creak-creak-creaking of the sheep, as they open the barn door; the tap-tap-tapping of the cats, as they knock for admittance - all of it keeps the good farmer up. But when he hears a knocking at his door, and then a suspicious quacking, he decides to investigate, finding himself a surprise prize-winner at the party...
Like so many of its predecessors, Click, Clack, Boo! is a humorous, goodhearted delight of a picture-book, pairing an engaging tale from author Doreen Cronin with appealing artwork from illustrator Betsy Lewin. The animals on Farmer Brown's farm continue to amuse, with their independent ways, and scheming Duck (always my favorite character!), manages to once again inveigle Farmer Brown into his plans. I continue to enjoy these stories about the animals of Farmer Brown's barnyard, which is no small feat, considering that this is the eleventh title I have read in the series. Recommended to anyone looking for fun Halloween picture-books, as well as to those who have enjoyed other stories about these characters.
Like so many of its predecessors, Click, Clack, Boo! is a humorous, goodhearted delight of a picture-book, pairing an engaging tale from author Doreen Cronin with appealing artwork from illustrator Betsy Lewin. The animals on Farmer Brown's farm continue to amuse, with their independent ways, and scheming Duck (always my favorite character!), manages to once again inveigle Farmer Brown into his plans. I continue to enjoy these stories about the animals of Farmer Brown's barnyard, which is no small feat, considering that this is the eleventh title I have read in the series. Recommended to anyone looking for fun Halloween picture-books, as well as to those who have enjoyed other stories about these characters.
September 29, 2019
Farmer Brown does not like Halloween, so he puts a bowl of candy on the porch and goes to bed. But something seems to be happening down at the barn. When he hears someone on the porch pounding on the door, will he have to courage to investigate?
Strengths: This is a light fun read for younger children who aren't ready for more spooky stories. The text is short with plenty of sound words to read and have children mimic. And there is a slightly mysterious element to the story, who is the vampire? Not to hard to figure out but younger children will get a kick out of it.
Weaknesses: Doesn't have as much charm as some of the previous books
Strengths: This is a light fun read for younger children who aren't ready for more spooky stories. The text is short with plenty of sound words to read and have children mimic. And there is a slightly mysterious element to the story, who is the vampire? Not to hard to figure out but younger children will get a kick out of it.
Weaknesses: Doesn't have as much charm as some of the previous books
September 18, 2013
Farmer Brown does not like Halloween. Jack o'lanterns are creepy, witches are frightening, and the crunch, crunch, crunching of their feet on the lawn, the creak, creak, creaking of the barn door, and the tap, tap, tapping on the window make the holiday even more scary. The animals like it, though, and cook up a Halloween party in the barn.
This benign offering will satisfy young ones, but it lacks the humor of the original, Click, Clack, Moo.
This benign offering will satisfy young ones, but it lacks the humor of the original, Click, Clack, Moo.
October 29, 2017
So cute!
December 15, 2018
Very cool. I kinda look like the farmer. Need to remember for potential Halloween costume.
October 15, 2018
This is one of my all time favorite children books. It's a classic and Doreen Cronin makes this Halloween tale fun for all ages. I teach third grade and I read this to the kids every year and they love it. We make up motions for all the onomatopoeia's that are throughout the book every year and we do them every time they come up. We also use this book to talk about Halloween and why Farmer Brown doesn't like Halloween. We come up with ideas on how to help him get over his fears on Halloween which hits the social and emotional aspects of our standards. The students come up with ideas of playing board games at home, going to Church trunk or treating, meet up with a group of friends and simply just teaching Farmer Brown that Halloween is make believe. I thought my first year teaching third grade this book would be "not cool" enough for the kids but boy was I wrong. I love how you can get the class actively involved with hand or body motions. I also use this book as a great way to introduce what an onomatopoeia is and we practice using them in our Halloween writing later in the week. Great book and I would recommend it to any K-3rd grade elementary school teachers!
December 30, 2017
It’s Halloween and Farmer Brown doesn’t like it. He puts out a bowl of candy on the porch, locks up the house and puts out a “Do Not Disturb” sign, then he goes to bed. Little does he know that while the animals in his barn love Halloween and are having a party, a dark, spooky creature is heading towards Farmer Brown’s house. When Farmer Brown hears a tap, tap, tapping on the front door, he opens it and sees the bowl of candy is gone. But there’s a note on the door, and there’s lots of noise coming from the barn. What could his barnyard animals be up to on Halloween night? A big surprise for Farmer Brown?
This is a fun Halloween book, especially for kids who might be a little nervous about all the costumes, and decorations associated with it. The text is lighthearted, with repetitious sound words adding to the spookiness throughout the story. Lewin’s watercolor illustrations, in the colors of Halloween, along with her goofy costumed animals add to the fun of Farmer Brown’s big surprise at the end.
This is a fun Halloween book, especially for kids who might be a little nervous about all the costumes, and decorations associated with it. The text is lighthearted, with repetitious sound words adding to the spookiness throughout the story. Lewin’s watercolor illustrations, in the colors of Halloween, along with her goofy costumed animals add to the fun of Farmer Brown’s big surprise at the end.
October 18, 2019
I chose this book because there is a Jack-O-lattern on the book cover. I knew it is about Halloween. First, Farmer Brown does not like Halloween, because he feels scared. He puts candy on a porch and hides in his cover on his bed. Then he sees a black dark creature, and hears scaring sounds. The animals in the barn are having a Halloween party and have contest on whose costume is the best, who eats the most candies, and whose voice is the loudest. Farmer Brown gets out of his bed, walks onto the porch and finds the candy bowl is gone. At last, farmer Brown goes to the barn, and finds out all the sounds are actually coming from all his animals. The black creature was Farmer Brown’s duck, who has Farmer Brown’ candy bowl. Farmer Brown is not scared any more. The story tells me that sometimes we feel scared, but actually it is not scary.
March 5, 2024
Doreen Cronin is a hilarious genius that conveys crazy stories in an entertaining way that all children enjoy. With Halloween around the corner, reading this book during story time gets the children in the Halloween mood (not that they aren't already in the Halloween mood, but they become even more excited about it after and love talking about what costumes they are going to wear).
August 13, 2013
Seems like a forgettable cash-in in comparison with the delightfully witty "Click, Clack Moo."
October 12, 2017
Farmer Brown, who doesn't like Halloween, is summoned to the barn to investigate strange noises and finds a big surprise in store waiting for him.
March 16, 2019
Farmer Brown does not like Halloween; so he tucks himself in bed, pulls the covers up to his chin, and tries to sleep.
But he keeps hearing creaking, crunching, and tapping noises; so he gets up to investigates.
I am disappointed by this one though. It could have been a perfect addition to the series but it is really just a letdown.
The girls and I kept waiting for something to happen. Well, it didn't!
As my little Victoria likes to say: "This is not fun, Miss Meg!"
Victoria, you are so right! It was not fun!
There is really no magic, in this Halloween story; and the illustrations just pale in comparison to the other stories.
But he keeps hearing creaking, crunching, and tapping noises; so he gets up to investigates.
I am disappointed by this one though. It could have been a perfect addition to the series but it is really just a letdown.
The girls and I kept waiting for something to happen. Well, it didn't!
As my little Victoria likes to say: "This is not fun, Miss Meg!"
Victoria, you are so right! It was not fun!
There is really no magic, in this Halloween story; and the illustrations just pale in comparison to the other stories.
October 29, 2021
A cute story with darling illustrations for emergent readers.
Read
November 1, 2022Happy Halloween from this farmer and his farm animals that are very determined to stress him out.😂🎃🎃
November 1, 2020
Not as fun as the original, but still cute. This definitely focuses more on the holiday aspect and doesn't really stand out otherwise.
October 25, 2022
I read this book to Julianna over the weekend. It was okay; not as cute as another book we read in this series that we loved. Julianna not with me now, so I would say we give it a 3.
November 1, 2023
there’s better Halloween books
November 5, 2019
Book Title: Click, Clack, Boo! A tricky treat
Author/Illustrator: Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
Reading Level: 2.3
Book Level: K-3
Book Summary:
Farmer Brown does not like Halloween and just wants to hid in his bed all night. The farm animals have a party for Farmer Brown in his barn, and plan to make sure that he attends.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits
Word Choice – The words used in the book are very descriptive for the reader. As you read the story you can almost hear the “crunch, crunch, crunching” or “creak, creak creaking” of the different objects in the story. This evokes the more sensory images into play, so that the readers feel like they are at the farm hearing what Farmer Brown hears.
Conventions – The author uses correct capitalization and punctuation which makes this book more reader friendly. The note written to Farmer Brown and the posters in the pictures for the party all use proper grammar.
Other Suggestions:
Classroom Use: I would use this book in the classroom to show students how strong verbs can be used to make a story more descriptive. Have students close their eyes while reading the story and after each page with the strong verb (“He hears the crunch, crunch, crunching of leafy footprints heading toward the house.”), have the students draw what they picture in the mind from that sentence. Then have students come up with a short story of their own using strong verbs and drawings to support the sentence.
Author/Illustrator: Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin
Reading Level: 2.3
Book Level: K-3
Book Summary:
Farmer Brown does not like Halloween and just wants to hid in his bed all night. The farm animals have a party for Farmer Brown in his barn, and plan to make sure that he attends.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits
Word Choice – The words used in the book are very descriptive for the reader. As you read the story you can almost hear the “crunch, crunch, crunching” or “creak, creak creaking” of the different objects in the story. This evokes the more sensory images into play, so that the readers feel like they are at the farm hearing what Farmer Brown hears.
Conventions – The author uses correct capitalization and punctuation which makes this book more reader friendly. The note written to Farmer Brown and the posters in the pictures for the party all use proper grammar.
Other Suggestions:
Classroom Use: I would use this book in the classroom to show students how strong verbs can be used to make a story more descriptive. Have students close their eyes while reading the story and after each page with the strong verb (“He hears the crunch, crunch, crunching of leafy footprints heading toward the house.”), have the students draw what they picture in the mind from that sentence. Then have students come up with a short story of their own using strong verbs and drawings to support the sentence.
December 2, 2019
This is a cute story about Halloween. These silly farm animals are always up to no good as it seems, and poor Farmer Brown has to see what they are up to next. It appears this time - there is a Halloween costume party.
This book, like all of Cronin's, are easy to read and engaging. She uses repetitive language and rhyming words to get the audience engaged. Children love when they can say the words along with the reader.
This text can connect with any ofCronin's other texts as well as any themed Halloween texts.
"There is a tap, tap, tapping, and the cows go to the window to let the cats in."
This book, like all of Cronin's, are easy to read and engaging. She uses repetitive language and rhyming words to get the audience engaged. Children love when they can say the words along with the reader.
This text can connect with any ofCronin's other texts as well as any themed Halloween texts.
"There is a tap, tap, tapping, and the cows go to the window to let the cats in."
December 7, 2017
Not quite the complete story of the original Click, Clack, Moo but still a serviceable, fun, and richly illustrated Halloween themed follow up. Farmer Brown does not enjoy Halloween but that will not stop the barn dwelling animals from celebrating. Again, a work my children enjoyed and while not the classic of the original, this is a fun enough holiday tie in that my kids recall and ask for throughout the year.
March 22, 2018
Farmer Brown does not like Halloween so he tucks himself in bed, pulls the covers up to his chin, and tries to sleep.
But he keeps hearing creaking, crunching, and tapping noises; so he gets up to investigates.
I am disappointed by this one though. It could have been a perfect addition to the series but it is really just a letdown.
There is really no magic in this Halloween story and the illustrations just pale in comparison to the other stories.
But he keeps hearing creaking, crunching, and tapping noises; so he gets up to investigates.
I am disappointed by this one though. It could have been a perfect addition to the series but it is really just a letdown.
There is really no magic in this Halloween story and the illustrations just pale in comparison to the other stories.
September 9, 2019
These books are so fun to read! I love the illustrations and how the animals come to life. It would be fun for students to imagine what animals are doing on Halloween night. I think this book would make a great read aloud with all of the noises and sound effects! The twist at the end of the story also added some humor to the book!
March 25, 2020
Farmer Brown doesn’t like Halloween for many reasons, but his farm animals are throwing a Halloween party in the barn. Farmer becomes scared because of all the noises the animals are making, and there is a creepy creature lurking outside his house. He finds out it is just a duck in a vampire costume, and he joins the party.
March 31, 2020
Modern Fantasy
K-1st grade reading level
If you loved click clack moo then this is the book for you. The funny twist on halloween makes it fun for a halloween party. An activity you can do with this book is to clam the kids down with a book but not just any book a HALLOWEEN BOOK!!! Finding spooky but not scary books are hard to find for the younger ages but this book is perfect for it!
K-1st grade reading level
If you loved click clack moo then this is the book for you. The funny twist on halloween makes it fun for a halloween party. An activity you can do with this book is to clam the kids down with a book but not just any book a HALLOWEEN BOOK!!! Finding spooky but not scary books are hard to find for the younger ages but this book is perfect for it!
October 18, 2017
This is a really cute story about a farmer who is afraid of Halloween but the animals in the barn are thrilled and have a big party. There is not a lot of text and it isn't too scary so it would be okay for a younger group!
August 15, 2013
I love this series, but this book isn't as good as the rest.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews