Moo Hoo

Ryan and Lowery follow their frog-and-bunny show, Ribbit Rabbit (2011), with another tale of beastie besties. Cow and Owl, who love superheroes as much as their predecessors loved robots, are inseparable: “They fix things together. Moo hoo. Glue shoe,” and they share a double “Boo!” on Halloween. “But when Kangaroo shows up, Moo hoo. Roo new. They don’t know what to do. Moo hoo. Who you?” Despite Kangaroo’s plea to join them (“Roo too?” the newcomer asks), Cow and Owl look the other way. Only later does it dawn on them that a third party might enliven their pastimes. Lowery combines screenprinting and digital techniques to craft rough-hewn, childlike illustrations on flat, muted backgrounds; as Cow and Owl look for Kangaroo, tracing a dotted line through a treed backyard, Ribbit Rabbit’s joined-at-the-hip duo makes a cameo appearance to shrug, “Roo who?” Ryan’s monosyllabic conclusion—“Moo Hoo Roo. New True Crew”—serves as the happy wrapup. Emphasizing simplicity and sound, Ryan and Lowery cover the basics of friendship. Ages 3–6. Agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Deborah Warren, East West Literary Agency. (Apr.)