The cow's cold turns her moo into a boo, scaring all of the farm animals-and even, thankfully, a would-be predator.With the repeated refrain "the cow said, ‘Boo!' " Button's story lends itself perfectly to a preschool group read-aloud. When the ill (and therefore clumsy) cow stumbles into a clothesline and becomes enveloped in a ghostly sheet, she unintentionally shocks her fellow farm animals. Seeing her friends' terrified reactions to her greetings, the still-enshrouded cow sadly goes off by herself. But when she notices a fox creeping toward her friends, she uses her new scariness to save the farm. Button's rhyming text hits at just the right pace, encouraging participation from little readers. Kids will love being in on the joke that the cow isn't really a ghost, and the silliness of the animal sounds when they all catch the cow's cold will certainly elicit many a giggle. Carter's illustrations include subtle hints at fall and Halloween even though the text doesn't explicitly mention the season: Pumpkins dot the field, there's a jack-o'-lantern shirt on the clothesline, and leaves float across the pages. The real visual highlight, however, is the progression of frames showing the fox sneaking through the field of snoozing animals. The glow of the moonlight acts as a spotlight on the fox, drawing readers' attention to the action the animals don't notice. The rear endpapers present five illustrated steps to "wash your hooves and paws!" and keep colds away.An infectious seasonal read-aloud. (Picture book. 3-6)

Toddler-PreS What's a cow to do? She has a stuffy nose, so she sounds funny. She says "Boo" instead of "Moo." She's feeling a little clumsy, too, and gets tangled in a sheet. All the other barnyard animals think she's a ghost! She wanders away, but as she's staying away from everyone, she finds that being a scary ghost can actually come in handy, even if it means that everyone else gets her cold. The rhyming text and repeated refrain are sure to engage the smallest readers and listeners. Bright, energetic watercolors show all the action and some of the funny contrasts in the story. There are also timely suggestions for handwashing and helping others stay healthy. A terrific story time read-aloud, this works for Halloween events or any time of year. VERDICT A silly rhyming story that will have toddlers giggling along.Debbie Tanner, S. D. Spady Montessori Elem., FL