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Crash, Splash, or Moo!
Calling all daredevils! It's time to play CRASH, SPLASH, OR MOO!
Mr. McMonkey is your host, and your contestants are America's favorite stunt clam, Action Clam...and a cow! These unlikely daredevils face off in a sequence of challenges--and readers get to guess the outcome of all the wacky stunts. The winner gets a Golden Banana!
Mr. McMonkey is your host, and your contestants are America's favorite stunt clam, Action Clam...and a cow! These unlikely daredevils face off in a sequence of challenges--and readers get to guess the outcome of all the wacky stunts. The winner gets a Golden Banana!
48 pages, Hardcover
Published September 18, 2018
3 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Bob Shea
61 books349 followersBob Shea has written and illustrated over a dozen picture books including the popular Dinosaur vs. Bedtime and the cult favorite Big Plans illustrated by Lane Smith.
His characters and animations have appeared on Nick Jr, Playhouse Disney and PBS Kids.
Bob spends his days writing, drawing and having “conversations” with NPR.
His characters and animations have appeared on Nick Jr, Playhouse Disney and PBS Kids.
Bob spends his days writing, drawing and having “conversations” with NPR.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
November 5, 2018
Grab this to read aloud to school age kids. The participatory and funny plot will keep them entertained.
October 2, 2018
First sentence: How to Play: Fearless daredevils perform amazing stunts, and YOU guess what happens. Will they crash? Will they splash? Or will they moo? Guess right, and win a delicious banana! Guess all the stunts right, and you win the best prize in the world...the secret prize!
Premise/plot: CLAM and COW are performing stunts. It's up to YOU the reader to guess if the stunt will end in a crash, end in a splash, or end in a moo. For example,
Stunt 1: If ACTION CLAM...drives this speedy race car...into a giant tower of blocks... What do you guess will happen? Raise your hand if you guess CRASH! Raise your hand if you guess SPLASH! Raise your hand if you guess MOO!
My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It is extremely silly. But silly can be satisfying. I liked the narrative plenty. I'm not as crazy about the illustrations. The illustrations don't really make me love the book more. But I am willing to grant that I am not the intended audience. Perhaps these bright, bold, and silly illustrations appeal more to young kids.
Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
Premise/plot: CLAM and COW are performing stunts. It's up to YOU the reader to guess if the stunt will end in a crash, end in a splash, or end in a moo. For example,
Stunt 1: If ACTION CLAM...drives this speedy race car...into a giant tower of blocks... What do you guess will happen? Raise your hand if you guess CRASH! Raise your hand if you guess SPLASH! Raise your hand if you guess MOO!
My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. It is extremely silly. But silly can be satisfying. I liked the narrative plenty. I'm not as crazy about the illustrations. The illustrations don't really make me love the book more. But I am willing to grant that I am not the intended audience. Perhaps these bright, bold, and silly illustrations appeal more to young kids.
Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
December 13, 2018
A monkey narrator gives different scenarios and asks readers to guess what will happen-will there is a crash, a splash, or a moo? No tricks here, if you would expect a crash, there is a crash, if you would expect a splash, there is one. Each time you guess correctly (and the books assumes you do) you win a banana.
If you read with great enthusiasm and have your readers actually guess what will happen, I can see children enjoy this book, and it would work well for groups. The colors are very bright, and the pages are largely filled by the illustrations, which have a vibrant yellow/goldenrod background.
If you read with great enthusiasm and have your readers actually guess what will happen, I can see children enjoy this book, and it would work well for groups. The colors are very bright, and the pages are largely filled by the illustrations, which have a vibrant yellow/goldenrod background.
September 27, 2018
Really great storytime potential here!
April 3, 2019
Berry had fun with this one! An entertaining game show-style picture book with lots of shenanigans. The only drawback with this one is limited rereads without knowing the outcome.
August 8, 2019
good for school visits, interactive and fun
October 5, 2024
Hilarious read-aloud to a variety of ages! My first graders loved it!!
December 18, 2018
So fun!
December 26, 2018
Very funny and cute :) Moo!
November 19, 2020
I have a couple of friends whom I would love to see read this with a group of kids. I loved when you're told not to pick "moo" and "moo" is indeed the answer.
November 28, 2018
4.5 stars -- All the LOLz are on display on this kinetically fun book that is redolent of the manic, silly energy of classic Warner Bros. cartoons. This book is set up like the world's weirdest game show and just begs for interaction from young readers. If I have to buy any kiddie gifts this holiday season I know this one will be high on my list.
March 16, 2020
My preschooler loves this book and was devastated when it had to go back to the library. This book isn't imparting a meaningful lesson, shattering literary ceilings, or challenging norms its simply fun to read. The story line is silly and the interactive prompts had my kid roaring with laughter. It's so fun, we bought a copy. Two thumbs up. 👍👍
October 23, 2020
6/23/2019 ~ I LOVE how interactive this book is; an example of a book that breaks the fourth wall, with the narrator talking directly to the reader. I can definitely hear giggles, especially when the understated cow says, "moo."
December 20, 2018
I like this book because I am very good at being a game show host.
April 22, 2019
This audience participation story made me smile. This interactive read aloud is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
May 6, 2019
Bob Shea is just the best.
August 17, 2019
Amazing, funny, interactive read aloud - kids loved it. They had fun guessing the answer to all of the monkey's questions and "winning" all those bananas!
October 11, 2023
Bob Shea has done it again - this book is so much fun! I read it with my kids, who are 9 and 4 years old, and we had a blast. I read it in my best TV-game-show-host voice. For each scenario I asked them to guess, as the narrator Mr. McMonkey does, how they thought it would end: with a crash, a splash, or a moo. To keep up the humor even more, I always guess the wrong answer.
I can see doing this with a preschool class, and taking some time to count how many kids raise their hands for each possible outcome. You could ask why they answered the way they did, and when they see the answer you could talk about whether they were right or wrong.
...Or you could just read it for the fun of it, because it's sure to make everyone laugh.
I can see doing this with a preschool class, and taking some time to count how many kids raise their hands for each possible outcome. You could ask why they answered the way they did, and when they see the answer you could talk about whether they were right or wrong.
...Or you could just read it for the fun of it, because it's sure to make everyone laugh.
August 17, 2020
It's time to play Crash, Splash, or Moo! You, the reader, are a contestant in this game show in which a daredevil clam and cow perform death-defying stunts. You get to guess the outcome: will it be a crash, splash, or moo? Guess correctly and you just might win a mysterious prize! This hilarious book is a great choice for a classroom read aloud, especially if you can do a good game show host voice! The illustrations are full of bold colors and shapes, varied font sizes and placements, speech bubbles, and exaggerated facial expressions are a perfect fit with this energetic story. Lots of fun for everyone!
February 22, 2019
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! It would make the most amazing storytime (truth be told, I sat alone in my apartment and read it a second time, aloud, just for the joy of hearing the words spoken). I'm a little jealous of all my friends who still do storytimes, as this would be so perfect. And little phrases and touches throughout killed me. Calling someone "Frankie Two Bananas?" Or "Smarty Banana Pants?"
March 24, 2019
I get what this book is trying to do, and suspect it would even work with the right audience (and no, I am not part of the target audience). But, this one is just not my cup of tea. It is too noisy and chaotic visually for me. And, now, as I would have been as a child, it bothers me that there are no real bananas, as well as the assumption that I would even want any bananas. I do not particularly like them...
July 21, 2019
Mr. McMonkey is your game show host for the evening and you're the lucky participant! There will be five stunts and before each stunt you need to vote what will happen: Will it crash, splash, or moo?
The hilarious banana-obsessed monkey host, the call to participate, and the thrill of each stunt will quickly put this book into the coveted "class favorite" spot.
Reviewed by: Miss Kelsey, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
The hilarious banana-obsessed monkey host, the call to participate, and the thrill of each stunt will quickly put this book into the coveted "class favorite" spot.
Reviewed by: Miss Kelsey, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
March 19, 2025
In a style similar to Lane Smith's The Happy Hocky Family, comes a silly, interactive picture book that includes amazing stunts, a TV gameshowesque presentation, a cow, and some bananas. Hard to explain, just read it and see for yourself...
Themes: humor, animals
Ages: 1st-4th grade+
Pub year: 2018
Themes: humor, animals
Ages: 1st-4th grade+
Pub year: 2018
April 28, 2025
My go-to picture book for an instant laugh. When I do it for a storytime I like making the announcer sound like a fast-talking reporter from an old movie. I can't tell you why but I will never do it any other way.
This (very) interactive picture book posits a stunt game show where the audience gets to guess the resulting sound effect all for the chance to win...a lovely banana. That's literally it, and yet the potential for hilarity is weirdly limitless. Bob Shea at his wacky best.
This (very) interactive picture book posits a stunt game show where the audience gets to guess the resulting sound effect all for the chance to win...a lovely banana. That's literally it, and yet the potential for hilarity is weirdly limitless. Bob Shea at his wacky best.
June 10, 2025
Set up like a game show. The reader is supposed to guess if it's crash, smash or Moo! This would be a whole lot of fun with a toddler who is going to guess with you.
It's got that zany energy going for it and you can hear the announcer in your head.
The artwork is bright lights and high entertainment. Kids resisting bed will love this.
Young kids will have fun with this silly book.
It's got that zany energy going for it and you can hear the announcer in your head.
The artwork is bright lights and high entertainment. Kids resisting bed will love this.
Young kids will have fun with this silly book.
September 30, 2018
A great addition to "interactive" books. As a cow and a clam compete in various stunts, readers guess whether they will crash, splash, or moo. Perfect for storytimes where you want your audience to shout out the answers. The bold colors of within the illustrations helps to make the action really pop and draws your attention as well; even those who would be in the back row.
October 24, 2018
I really, really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading it to my older storytime kids. There are a lot of opportunities built into the book for interaction between the reader and the audience, which I really like. Overall this is a superb book. I look forward to looking for ways in which to incorporate movement and activities with this book in storytime.
December 7, 2018
This cracked me up. I like the prediction element. That makes it a good book for reading with a group. I also liked that it is an interactive book but doesn't require any kids to actually touch the book---so it would work well for an interactive book to use with a class or storytime group without it being complete chaos.
January 6, 2019
children's picture book (preschool - 2nd grade)
This is probably hilarious when read out loud (I would use a deadpan cow voice--moo) but I haven't tried it with an audience yet. Could be a great one for sharing on class visits, especially great for kinder preschool/kinder kids who are learning to raise their hands before speaking.
This is probably hilarious when read out loud (I would use a deadpan cow voice--moo) but I haven't tried it with an audience yet. Could be a great one for sharing on class visits, especially great for kinder preschool/kinder kids who are learning to raise their hands before speaking.
April 15, 2019
Age: Preschool-2nd grade
Mr. McMonkey is your game show host for the evening and you're the lucky participant! There will be five stunts and before each stunt you need to vote what will happen: Will it crash, splash, or moo?
The hilarious banana-obsessed monkey host, the call to participate, and the thrill of each stunt will quickly fit this book into the coveted "class favorite" spot.
Mr. McMonkey is your game show host for the evening and you're the lucky participant! There will be five stunts and before each stunt you need to vote what will happen: Will it crash, splash, or moo?
The hilarious banana-obsessed monkey host, the call to participate, and the thrill of each stunt will quickly fit this book into the coveted "class favorite" spot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews