"Moo Cow Kaboom" By: Thacher Hurd

Grade Level: First grade and above
Rating: 5/5
Illustrations By: Thacher Hurd

I really enjoyed reading "Moo Cow Kaboom". I think that this book would really get elementary students excited about the science fiction genre. This book is about how Moo Cow gets "cownapped" and is taken by Zork to the Intergalactic Space Rodeo. However, after this Earth beast is deemed too dangerous Moo Cow is sent back to Farmer George's farm. I think that this book is a perfect example of the broad range that is involved in science fiction. I think that if there is a student in your classroom who isn't particularly fond of reading or writing, this book would spark their imagination and open their eyes to new possibilities. This book personally inspired me to write my own story, and demonstrated how a book as exciting and adventurous as this one can stem from an idea as simple as a cow on a farm. I would love to use this book in my own classroom when discussing the science fiction genre. Most students don't understand what the term science fiction actually means, and I think that if they were more informed about the broad range of ideas this genre would be much more popular! I also think that this book suggests the importance of standing up for yourself. When Moo Cow doesn't respond to "Giddy Up" Zork proceeds to call him a "lazy, useless, uncooperative, unintelligent, Earthling Moo Cow!". This caused Moo Cow to "KABOOM" Zork all the way back to his alien farm. Also the language in this book is very fun to read and may inspire students to create and give meaning to their own words; which will hopefully encourage imagination and creativity in their writing. The illustrations in this book are as much fun as the story itself, and really suggests to students that when it comes to science fiction, anything goes! The use of dialogue bubble really accentuate the plot without directly telling what's going on; this allows the reader to make their own personal connections to the story.