Mucky Moose

by Jonathan Allen

Mucky Moose is the smelliest moose in the forest. He's so smelly, flies love him and skunks applaud him. When the biggest, fiercest wolf in the forest decides to make a meal out of Mucky, he's in for quite a challenge. He'll need a clothespin on his nose or maybe even a gas mask to get the job done. But lucky for Mucky, sometimes smelling bad can have its advantages!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and silly illustrations of Mucky Moose. Wolf keeps trying to eat him and passing out from the stench. I could see maybe reading this to very young kids. I'm sure they'll love all the stinky stuff. But I don't see reading to any of my K-6 kids as a group. Unless I just need a totally silly thing to read one day to the Kinders.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I found a library with more than one copy of this out of print book, I'd most likely steal it. Seriously. This book never fails to have kids and parents guffawing. You can really ham it up - I love it!

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mucky was the largest, muckiest, and smelliest moose in the forest. When the biggest wolf heard about the largest moose Mucky, he became determined to eat him despite being the smelliest of all the creatures.

[Camille · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like it indeed. I didn't like the illustrations and I didn't like the story. I don't know why the wolf kept coming back for the stinky moose. Didn't reach me, that's all. Although I really like moose.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Mucky Moose!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

A moose is really smelly because he lives in muck. The skunks applaud him. A wolf decides to eat him, which doesn't go so well for the wolf. Kind of an unexpected and maybe unrealistic ending.

[Daniel MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis: Mucky the moose is the smelliest moose around. It's a funny story in which skunks respect Mucky's smell and Mucky loves just chilling out around the muddy, smelly parts of the forest. When a wolf tries to eat Mucky, Mucky tricks the wolf three separate times, each time failing to achieve his goal. After the third failed attempt, the wolf gives up. The book ends with Mucky continuing to be the smelliest moose around.

Evaluation: This book was funny and even clever at times, with how Mucky tricks the wolf. Also, the book doesn't go "over the top" with the smelly/toilet humor, which makes me feel comfortable reading it to my 4.5 year old daughter, who loved it. Younger kids will certainly like the story, and of course, everyone loves when the "bad guy" loses. It's really a classic in this sense.

The only part that is bothersome to me is at the very end, when the narrator reports that the wolf, after being "defeated" in his attempt to eat Mucky, ends up becoming a service dog for the blind. This is such a common trope, but it's really insulting to dis-abled people. The implication is that the wolf has failed his task and is relegated to this "punishment" of serving the blind, something that apparently is only fitting for a "failure" like the wolf. Why are disabilities often made fun of and associated with these negative characters? I will never understand it. Why a blind person needs to be incorporated into this joke is beyond my understanding. Why can't he just become a pet or go to a zoo or something? Why service to a blind person? It certainly doesn't make it more funny, in my opinion.

[Arminzerella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mucky the moose is seriously stinky, but that doesn't stop a certain wolf from trying to eat him. Unfortunately, every time they have an encounter, the wolf is overcome by the fumes off the moose. After landing himself in the hospital (the illustration of the wolf in a hospital bed recuperating - charts and all - is hilarious), and resorting to gas masks and other techniques to mask the eau de moose, the wolf finally gives up and devotes himself to service. Mucky remains...well, mucky. Yay?

[MCPLD Youth Department]

This is a darling book about a moose who cleverly outsmarts a wolf who wants to eat him. I have revised the book into a puppet show which we have done several times at the library. The kids love the plot and the parents enjoy it as much as the children.

[Amy L. Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know what preschoolers like? Things that stink. Especially if they stink worse than skunks. Mucky Moose stinks worse than skunks and gets away with it too.

My 20 story time kids loved this, especially the wolf turning weird colors. Will definitely read again.

[The Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dex (4yo) LOVED this tale of a particularly smelly moose and the wolf who wants to eat him. He thought the wolf talking with the clothespin on his nose was the funniest thing.

Illustrations are as goofy and entertaining as the story.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read-along that I did at storytime. The clever progression of the wolf's attempts to eat stinky Mucky got the kids laughing. (Be sure to hold your nose while reading the clothespin on the wolf's nose part, and cover your mouth when reading the gas mask portion!)

[TheBookStacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.thebookstacks.com/the-tria...

[Cws]

JE-All

[Debie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids, hubby and I loved this children's book about a moose that stunk so bad that the wolf couldn't eat him.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Offspring loved this book about a moose that is so smelly that he is able to fend off a big bad wolf.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Mucky Moose smells so terrible that no one but the skunks will come near him. This works to his advantage when a wolf tries to eat him. A very funny story that kids will love to hear out loud.

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the recommended books at our local library for ages 3-5. Interesting story and ending.