"Another romp with nary a dull nor serious moment; welcome back, girls." (Illustrated fiction. 9-11)
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"A good bet for kids who discovered the characters when they began reading and are ready for longer books. With amusing dialogue, expressive black-and-white drawings, and a chapter called 'Race of the Port-A-Potties,' fans won’t be disappointed."
— Carolyn Phelan, Booklist
"The bovine stars of several picture books and early readers (and the 2003 chapter book Minnie and Moo and the Seven Wonders of the World) make a raucous return as hosts of the “First Annual Hoot, Holler, and Moo Talent Festival.” Take-charge Moo announces that she and Minnie will judge the show, explaining, “Scores will be based on whim, impulse, and passing fancy.” A long chain of performances makes up most of the book: early on, Elvis the rooster hogs the stage and croons, “I’m a Cocka Doodle Dandy/ That doodles up the sun./ No one starts the day/ Till I say it’s all begun,” while the Poulettes, a troupe of cheerleading chickens, lay eggs onstage (“We were motivated!”). Minnie’s trademark worrying is warranted, as her suspicions that hyenas, weasels, and coyotes are up to no good are comically validated when they organize a port-a-potty race and get their paws on the show money box. Cazet’s b&w illustrations pump additional energy into this loony down-on-the-farm story."
— Publishers Weekly
"The words are perfect for a young reader just getting into chapter books. The illustrations are hilarious and fit perfectly with the story."
-- Book Reviews by Tima
"Cazet rolls out a tale equally rich in urbane innuendo and slapstick hilarity, cast in well-spaced lines of fluent prose and illuminated with lots of comical monochromatic ink-and-wash views that feature expressively posed animals in casual human dress or, in aptly named Elvis the rooster’s case, a “white luminescent jumpsuit.”
"At just under 200 pages, it is definitely a step up to chapter books for early readers. I would say it really more of a 2nd grade level, due to the length of the book. But it is really funny and a great book to read out loud for younger readers, as well. It would be great ffor Summer reading, as it has 20 chapters, so you could easily read 2-3 chapters every week, and make sure your child keeps up on their reading over the Summer. The story is engaging and perfectly suitable for girls and boys alike! The illustrations are welcomed for young readers, and help bring extra humor to the story! Miss Grace was enchanted and we'll be picking up more books in the series for her!"
--Bless Their Hearts Mom reviews
"Author Denys Cazet was a teacher for 25 years, and he really knows how to entertain middle readers. Wow, does he ever have a terrific sense of humor! Minnie & Moo: Hooves of Fire pure wit and slapstick makes it a laugh-out-loud read. With hilarious poetic verses, tongue-and-cheek dialogs, bathroom humor and cartoon-like illustrations, readers stay engaged and are eager to finish the story. The poetry in the book is so amusing, it just might inspire readers to write some of their own, and the story is so imaginative it is sure to stir up every reader’s creativity. Super silly stories for children that are written just for pure entertainment are just as important as purely educational books, because they prove that reading can be fun. Prose this witty can be enjoyed by all (from the reluctant to the avid) middle readers and equally by yours truly."
--Smart Books for Smart Kids reviews
"A few tips for reading this book:
1- Read this book yourself before reading it to your children otherwise you’ll start laughing and forget to read aloud.
2- This is not a bed-time story, unless your children can fall asleep giggling.
3- Buy this book — you’ll want to read it again & again!"
-- Hott Books Reviews
"Kids will find Minnie & Moo: Hooves of Fire fun, funny, and frivolous in a good way. This is the kind of story a teacher could read aloud, one chapter at a time, with students eager for the next chapter. If these two moos are not the stars of a third book, I will miss them."
-- Kid Lit Reviews
"Cazet is no stranger to elementary school humor, having been a teacher himself for 25 years, a school librarian, and an elementary media specialist. His b&w illustrations of cows in togas, chickens in dresses and heels, and a stare-down between a bug-eyed snail and an Elvis-impersonating rooster, are very amusing. His words even more so. There’s drama, comedy, magic, and even a touch of romance, when Don Juan del Toro, the bull, asks Moo to dance The Hooves of Fire.
Teachers should note, there’s also a downloadable Curriculum Guide."
--Good Reads with Ronna
