Misery Moo

by Jeanne Willis

Another winning story from this award-winning writer/illustrator team.

There was once a cow who was always miserable, and a lamb who was always trying to cheer her up. But she was impossible to cheer up! The poor lamb burst into tears and wallowed in misery himself. Finally the cow started to miss him, and gave him the best birthday present ever -- a great big grin!

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Animals, Emotion, Storytime, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 23, 2003

About the author

Jeanne Willis was born in St Albans and trained as an advertising copywriter at Watford College. She worked for various agencies creating press adverts and TV, cinema and radio commercials. She is now a full-time writer and has published over 80 books. Her hobbies include gardening, reading (non-fiction), natural history and collecting caterpillars. Jeanne has also worked on scripts for TV, including POLLY POCKET and THE SLOW NORRIS, and a pilot TV series for DR XARGLE. She lives in North London with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Annie Wingate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book all about the friendship between two animals and their journey in finding happiness together. This book would be a great one to read with children helping them to understand empathy and the importance of making sure you’re friends are ok.

[Calypso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoy lo trajo la hija como tarea de escuela. Lo leí en un santiamén, es divertido.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

No matter how hard the little lamb tries to cheer up old Misery Moo, nothing seems to work! This big wide world is too sad for the cow whose smile keeps on fading. Eventually Lamby Poos can’t take anymore and vows to never see his miserable friend again; how can he sit by and watch his friend be so sad? However, without friendship, love and the happy face of the little Lamb, the world seems even glummer; how can Misery Moo be happy without his smiling cheerful friend? In a quest to find his lost friend, the two are reunited and happiness restored with “the biggest, sunniest smile in the whole, wide, wonderful world.”

This is a lovely story aimed at younger readers. It will make them smile and laugh whilst teaching children some valuable lessons. We learn how important it is to try and see the positive, even when things seem sad and blue. It also brings to light the importance of friendship and how comforting it is to have someone who cares about you.

Whilst learning to look on the bright side of life, we are also presented with lots of detailed, humorous illustrations. These, combined with a very tender story will keep the reader smiling … even when you feel like a misery moo!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a miserable cow meets an energetic, positive lamb, the cow's depression sends the lamb into one, too. A sweet story about "attitude changes everything!"

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fully get Misery Moo, she is glass half empty kind of gal. A fun book that tries to show there always is a bright side, and everyone needs their friends.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misery Moo is a cow who finds the downside and negative in everything Her friend Lamb tries to convince Misery Moo to see the bright side of life, but try as she might Misery Moo stays miserable. This negativity soon begins to bring Lamb down, and puts her in a funk. Now it's up to Misery Moo to do what she can to elevate Lamb's spirits.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 4 year old granddaughter. She picked it out from the 7 children books I had from the library. The story is a thoughtful reflection on friendship with the understanding it takes giving and taking on both sides. Friendship is a two way encounter.

[Stephanie Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for teaching the impact that we can have on others and the importance of being optimistic

[Claudia Naranjo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends will be together not matter what!

[Maryam Sabbar-Yates · Rating 2 out of 5]

A picture book that would be okay for a bedtime story but apart from that there wasn’t much to it.

[Charlotte Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely short story about friendship and happiness. The book focuses on two best friends happiness together.

[Riccardo Mainetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una dolcissima storia di amicizia

[skcocnaH · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a dysfunctional relationship.

[Alesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

wholesome

[Brogan Marriott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found when they stood on their heads it was ridiculous and funny

[Bookstork Buzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

MISERY MOO is a humourous, heartwarming parable about positive thinking.

Misery Moo, an inveterate droopy-headed sourpuss, cannot see the bright side to anything. Her friend, the bouncy lamb, is quite the opposite. He’s as cheerful as they come.

“What’s up with you, Misery Moo?”

And invariably, Misery Moo responds miserably.

It’s raining. Sniff. Same old view. Sniff, sniff. It’s winter. Father Christmas is too jolly! Poor Moo! Her misery is so contagious that despite little lamb’s efforts to cheer her up, and despite his sunniest disposition, he gets a serious case of the blues. He decides to never see the old cow again.

“Soon, the cow began to miss the lamb’s happy face, and went to look for him. To her surprise, he was sitting in a muddy puddle, looking very unhappy indeed.”

Remind you of anyone, Moo? A good payback and a good lesson. The next time I have the blues, I’ll have to remember how dreary a ‘dreary me’ can be.

P.S. Tony Ross’s illustrations are PERFECTLY ADORABLE!!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Stars Misery Loves company isn't that the truth! It is interesting how when one person is blue it spreads like wild fire, but happiness is a little hard to spread around. This book about Misery Moo is about a sad sad cow and a lamb that tries to cheer him up. Misery Moo is cheered up for a while then he is back to gloomy Gus! Then after awhile the lamb decides he can't be around someone who is always sad, and he becomes sad...then the Misery Moo Seeks out the lamb who is said and Misery Moo tried to cheer him up and of course they live happily (yes happily) ever after. I think there is an important message here. I hope kids would read this and have this read to them and think "Who can I make happy today who is sad?"

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mis-er-y Moo!
Open the door for your (sigh) Misery Moo...

Misery Moo is a cow who’s clearly been taking lessons from Eeyore. She roams the fields with a rain cloud perpetually over her drooping head, seeing the bad side of everything. A little lamb perpetually tries to cheer her up, but as Misery Moo loves company, soon enough Lamb is feeling low, as well. Now it’s up to Misery Moo to cheer up her friend.

This would be a nice gift for all of the Misery Moos in your life, because what we could most use is a little levity.

[Philippa Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations of the down beat cow perfectly illustrate the character of Misery Moo. It can be very irrating to have someone around you (when you are fed up) like the lamb in this tale who is a perpetual ray of sunshine - instead life has to be a balance. This is great to give to any child who is a constant complainer as they will soon see the wearing effect that constant complaining can have on others.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How cute! With a cow AND a lamb--wouldn't Mom just love it, too!? Perfect to go with my Book Time theme. But for young audiences. Probably more Pre-K. Still, a good one to use at the end if I have a little time. The pictures are just to fun and the story so cute and the message so important. I'll keep it to the side.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one. I was once this cow, er...friend (and occasionally I still am). Misery Moo had a difficult time seeing the bright side of most things, until her friend showed it to her. After a while her misery started to rub off on her friend. Can she turn things around for her friend?

[Scottsdale Public Library]

A great picture book that teaches kids about the contagiousness of moods! Misery Moo is ... well, miserable. Her lamb friend is determined to cheer her up though. Will she succeed or will the lamb end up down in the dumps as well? Read and find out!

-Lindsey D.-

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, poor,pitiful me. Totally how we all feel at some times.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about friends

[Danie P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preschool aged book about a depressed cow called misery moo that evenutally finds happiness by helping others.

[Edna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Little lamb tries really hard to cheer up her friend, Misery Moo, but his plan backfires.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book.

[Nisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should have ended in suicide. Very Depressing.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sad cow who can't seem to cheer up, until he realizes what a good friend he has. LOVE.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story about friendship and emotions! Love!