SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

May 23, 2012 by Betsy Bird

Top 100 Picture Books #69: Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton

May 23, 2012 by Betsy Bird   7 comments

#69 Moo Baa La La La by Sandra Boynton (1995)
28 points

I found a copy of this book in the library book sale, and bought it for my young son. When I showed the other librarians, every single mother among them started reciting it from memory – some of them with children in college and beyond. – Ann Carpenter

Oh, this is a toughie.  Not tough in terms of praise.  This is indeed one of those board book staples we’ve come to love and rely on.  No, it’s just hard to find things to say about it.  We can say that it’s currently tied with Barnyard Dance for the bestselling Boynton book of all time.  But aside from that it becomes a little difficult.  The best I can do is mention that in keeping with the 21st century, the book currently has an app.  One that actually earned itself a star in a Kirkus review.  Should a long car trip present itself, I’ll consider it.  Here’s an image from the app:

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The description of the book, such as it is, reads: “Various animals make their sounds, from the moo of the cow to the snort and snuff of the rhinoceroses.”

There was a time there where I had the greatest of difficulty hearing this title and not singing it to the tune of “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga.  This isn’t too crazy when you consider how much weirder it is that I sing her other board book Your Personal Penguin to Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus. Editor Molly O’Neill actually found great words to go with my Gaga version, but I’ve long since lost them somewhere.  Bummer.

I do love this alternate title:

Finally, the obligatory awwwwww video:

Filed under: Best Books, Top 100 Picture Books Poll

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Moo Baa La La LaSandra Boynton

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

August 2012

The Top 100 Lists Are Nigh. Nigh, I Say! Nigh!

by Betsy Bird

August 2012

Fusenews: Look for the Girl with the Caterpillar Tattoo and She's Gone

by Betsy Bird

July 2012

Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results

by Betsy Bird

July 2012

Top 100 Picture Books #1: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

by Betsy Bird

June 2012

Top 100 Picture Books #2: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Listen to Gene Luen Yang on TED Radio Hour

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Anatole by Eve Titus, ill. Paul Gadone

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Suee and the Strange White Light | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

More Mock-Newbery Titles Needed: Share June Suggestions Now

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Book Review: Code Red by Joy McCullough

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Trying Something New: SPEED ROUND w/ Marla Frazee, Doug Salati, Dan Santat, and Amina Luqman-Dawson

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Revisit 'The People Could Fly' with New Eyes Through This All-Ages Resource List | Refreshing the Canon

7 Multimodal Picks for Exploring Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' | Refreshing the Canon

7 “Stepping Up” Books for the Young Grads in Your Life | Milestones

Inmersión Profunda/Deep Dive into Science, History, and More | Spanish Series Nonfiction

3 YA Novels Sure to Delight Paranormal Fans

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gregory K. says

    May 23, 2012 at 6:57 am

    Here’s something to say about this book – I have a board version of it from 1982. Every single illustration is different. I don’t know when it was re-done, though the new version is more lively. The text is the same, and winning even back in 1982.

  2. Jennifer in GA says

    May 23, 2012 at 10:51 am

    YAY!! A book I voted for! I love this book so hard. A friend gave it to me when I was pregnant with my first baby. She’s now 14 and I still can (joyfully) recite it by heart. 😉

  3. Jed says

    May 23, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    If you haven’t seen leasthelpful.com (sister site of literallyunbelieveable.org), it’s great — and they’ve used a number of picture books and other Fuse #8-worthy things in their daily posts…including this book!

    http://leasthelpful.com/post/20588016109/warning-could-inspire-humiliating-whimsy-in-a

  4. Sondy says

    May 23, 2012 at 6:37 pm

    Once I was working in the church nursery and picked up a totally differently Boynton book to show a well-read and precocious toddler. She immediately said, “Moo, Baa, La La La!” I was enchanted.

  5. Genevieve says

    May 23, 2012 at 10:13 pm

    We read this so often I still have it memorized 12 years later. (And we read Muu Beee Asi Fue occasionally.) Have immediately recommended the app to my cousin with toddlers.

  6. Louise says

    May 31, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    Love this book. Even after we pack away the rest of our board books, the Sandra Boynton books will remain on the bookcase in the kids’ room – and this one will take prize of place.

  7. Mother Lydia says

    June 8, 2012 at 5:16 pm

    This is my favorite Boynton to give at baby showers.
    (though Doggies my favorite ever)

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023