Gollub (The Jazz Fly) aims for a song-and-dance flight of fancy in his latest picture book, but this tale of a cow's ballet dream never quite reaches the heights. Inspired by the actions of tutu-clad Farmer Beth (who pliés across the yard in between chores) and the night's bright full moon, Katie the cow expresses her desire to "wear a tutu for a change of pace/ and dance on moonbeams up in space." Before long, the duck and the turkey rig up a rocket and the whole barnyard bunch blasts off for the moon, singing the refrain: "Gobble-gobble, moo-gobble, gobble-haw quack. Moo quack-a quack-a moo. Just like that." After cutting a rug on the moon, the animals arrive home just in time for lunch ("Our life's the best life ANYWHERE!" they proclaim). Gollub's rhyming text exudes a buoyant energy, despite the often forced rhymes. His no-place-like-home and grass-is-always-greener themes will surely ring familiar to youngsters. Love's limber animal cast cavorts, squawks and munches feed with much enthusiasm (though open-mouthed, starry-eyed expressions give them all a dopey look) through scenery both bucolic and galactic. Ages 2-8. (Apr.)
FYI:An audio CD featuring Gollub's narration of the text with musical accompaniment is bound into the front cover of the book.
