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

#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:

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