Moos, Mud, Mayhem! is a treasure from the standpoint of literacy. Young readers benefit from the predictable structure provided by the repetition of phrases like, "I have an idea!" as it helps them anticipate and engage with the story. It's fantastic for fostering early reading comprehension and confidence.
In addition to its educational value, it's just enjoyable. When Grace is eventually set free, the children cheer, giggle and guess what will happen next. While the plot teaches them how to solve problems, the humor keeps them interested. This book has the potential to become a mainstay in early literacy programs.
* Lara (Goodreads)

What a pure joy! From the first page of Moos, Mud, Mayhem!, my children and I were laughing. The humor strikes the ideal balance between being smart enough to keep parents amused and silly enough for kids. Every playful moment of the cows' adventure is captured in the illustrations, which use color and movement to bring the entire story to life.
I particularly value Deborah Aalbers' use of humor to impart valuable life lessons. Children are reminded by Ellie's "ideas" that while imagination is amazing, it's also acceptable for things to get messy. Teamwork and problem-solving skills are demonstrated through those errors. This book is definitely on my list of must-reads for 2025 as a blogger who reviews a lot of children's books.
* Doris (Goodreads)

I was mistaken to believe that Moos, Mud, Mayhem! would be another adorable farm tale. This one truly stands out. Deborah Aalbers has a talent for writing in a rhythm that is easy to read out loud. From the moment Ellie discovered the hole in the fence, my children, who are five and seven years old, were enthralled. When every cow exclaimed, Mooooove!" the laughter was priceless.
The way the book layered its message was what I found most appealing. Beneath the chaos and the humor, it teaches children how to collaborate with others and use their imagination to solve problems. Not bad for a bedtime story! My son even mentioned that Ellie built the pulley system using a "simple machine".
* Freeda (Goodreads)

I haven't laughed so hard in a long time... I liked that the story never talks down to kids. It subtly suggests that decisions have repercussions while praising creativity and teamwork. This year, we've read a lot of picture books, but this one sticks out because of how much fun we had reading it together.
* Sarah. (Goodreads)

What a wonderful surprise this book was.
* Charlie. (Goodreads)

... The humor strikes the ideal balance between being clever and ridiculous. ... This book evokes empathy through humor, which is why I adore it. On our "Storytime Picks" shelf, it has become a constant favourite.
* Ryan. (Goodreads)

... The teamwork lesson never feels forced, and the humor is perfect for children. ... I adore this book because it encourages play and imagination long after the reading is finished, in addition to providing entertainment.
* Jackie. (Goodreads)

One of the few picture books that really gets kids is this one.
* Aaron. (Goodreads)

This book was a huge hit with my students! ... I don't think I've ever heard so much laughter in one morning.
* Paula. (Goodreads)

A storytime favorite! The children were in stitches when I read this...
* Ashley. (Goodreads)

This was the best book ever! We liked the party. It looked fun. It was funny when Grace fell in the mud. It was great when the other animals solved the problem. We laughed a lot at the fart part. "Hahaha"
Thank you!