Don't Push the Button: On the Farm: A Funny Interactive Book For Kids

by Bill Cotter

Larry the lovable monster from the USA Today bestseller Don't Push the Button! is back, and this time, he's going to the farm! From the brilliant mind of author and illustrator, Bill Cotter, comes a farm-tastic interactive book for children. Everyone knows farms are full of cool animals, but you have to stay on this side of the...hey, wait! The sign says don't open the gate! Now you've done it. Whatever you do, do NOT push the button and make animal noises! "There's still monstrous fun to be had in Don't Push The Button"― Parenthood.com , Don't Push the Button! "Kids have fun pushing the button, shaking the book, and scratching Larry's tummy. This is a winner for reading aloud to a group"― Atlanta Parent , Don't Push the Button!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Kids

24 pages, Board Book

Published March 5, 2024

About the author

Bill Cotter was born in Dallas in 1964, and has labored as an antiquarian book dealer and restorer since 2000. He presently lives in Austin with his girlfriend, the poet Annie La Ganga, and Travis, an inextinguishable roach who divides his time between the shower and the silverware drawer.

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember when the first don’t push the button came out. I was reading it with my three-year-old nephew on my iPad, so when he pushed the button the page would change and things would magically happen. The push the button books are about the only time I have found this style of book that can live up to Press Here. So I have a bit of nostalgia in my heart for this series. Don’t push the button on the farm was super cute and just as addictive as the original title. I only wish it had gone on longer. Change from a chicken into a cow or into a duck or Into a goose. We could’ve had a few more pages. But this short sweet, very interactive book will be loved by children whether read as a go to bed book or read and story time.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 9th in Cotter’s books about the lovable purple monster Larry, again, he is advised not to push the button – this time on the farm. And true to form, the consequences when he pushes the button are a riot!

Larry encourages his friend (the reader) to come with him onto the farm. After opening a gate (clearly marked not to), a beak appears on Larry's face. When he asks the reader to cluck, he changes into a chicken. Each time he asks the reader to do something, Larry's situation seems to get worse -until he returns to normal. Finally, he asks to push the button and make farm animal noises, when...(turn the page to see!)

As in the other books in the series, Cotter repeats his formula for engaging the reader by giving commands to do an action. Though not new and original (Herve Tullet's Press Here is a classic!), he places this on a farm for a new setting. The colors are bright and bold. It is interesting to see that there are wind turbines in the distance - which is more commonplace in the Midwest than you might imagine! Goodhearted Larry strikes again - with hilarious results.

Recommended for babies-toddlers.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those books that teach the very young that books are not static things to be stared at, but things to be engaged with and that are able to talk to you. This one has a monster welcoming us to the farm, but when he breaks in – well, he wanted us to open the gate we're not allowed to open – he turns into something else. And even though he asks ridiculous things of us, as these books have to do, things just get worse.

This is really basic, and it's part of a franchise I didn't know anything about, and it has much less for us to do than many similar books, with their 'make this noise', 'make that motion', 'do this to the page' kind of ideas, but you know what? It was still fine. It was silly, childish inanity, and it was drawn with no subtlety, and it was still really likeable. I mean, I thought that without a farmyard of kids making the noises this asked of us, so I'm really not getting the full experience of someone forced to endure this instead, but I'd give it four stars. And leave the painful experience of helping kids interact with it to other people...

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

This children's book is an interactive book, so as I read it digitally as an advanced reader copy, I was wanting to see how some of the pages were going to be interactive. However, as I read, I found that it will be similar to There's a Monster in Your Book. The interaction has to do witb the reader and the book, rather than the pages within the book.

I honestly feel as if this book could have been done better. The story line is very short, not introducing much of the farm. Since 'on the farm' was included in the title, I was wanting more than just a chicken. I feel that there is much room for improvement on this book, but can see how a child would enjoy it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more reviews and discussions, listen to my podcast The Honest Book Reviewers with Nate and Emma.

https://open.spotify.com/show/3H3ugH4...

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: Hey there! Great to see you again! I'm so excited to be visiting the farm with you. Let's go! Don't open the gate that means you!!! Oh, don't worry about that sign. It's probably nothing. Could you flip open the latch? I can't reach it.

Premise/plot: This is an interactive board book in the sense that it is asking readers to participate using their imagination. (Think Blue's Clues or Dora the Explorer or the like). It is written using the second person--you. The book is pure silliness from cover to cover.

My thoughts: These books fall flat unless you're really to engage fully. I do think the book can be appealing because it is enthusiastically over-the-top silly. I think the person reading aloud can help this be an engaging read as well. (Sometimes how you read a book aloud is so important.)

I like this one, but didn't personally love it.

[Threebookworms · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to read and review this new 'Don't Push the Button' on NetGalley. My kids and I had a fun time seeing Larry on the farm in this book. It was hilarious how he turned into a chicken when he entered the farm and making animal sounds together. I would give this book 3.5-4 stars since it fell short on using the button like previous books in the series. The button only shows up towards the end to get Larry back to normal but it would have been fun to use the button to change him into animals with each press. Overall, it makes a great read aloud with kids and this would be perfect for those farm-loving kids.

[RainyDayReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5// This silly book takes place on a farm as the title suggests. A monster goes to a farm and becomes a chicken. He asks the reader to do various things to help him turn back into a monster like shake the book or make animal noises. While kids are sure to enjoy the reading experience due to these instructions, the art and writing didn't have anything special other than the silly fourth-wall breaking.

(Thanks to the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Board Book
I received an electronic ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Kids through NetGalley.
Cotter brings back his main character for a farm visit. Readers get to dance the chicken dance, flap like a chicken, search for the button and then... push the button. All sorts of fun happens when they listen and follow the instructions. A delightful laugh filled story for toddlers and preschoolers. Brightly colored illustrations capture the fun. I love the animal expressions throughout.

[Susanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am not familiar with the original "Don't Push the Button" book, so did not know what to expect here. Positives were the active participation (clucking like a chicken etc.), negatives were that apart from a chicken, no farm animals were specifically mentioned. I also found the message about ignoring warning signs and rules problematic.

[Rachel Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how interactive every book in this series is! Even young kids who aren't able to pay attention for very long, will have a longer attention span for this book because they will be busy doing the fun activities on each page. I loved how silly the monster is and my 4 year old sister asked if we could read it again as soon as we were done!

[Dominique Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter is a hug fan of the don't push the button series. This was no different my daughters favorite farm animals is a chicken. This made her laugh so hard and she as asked me to read several times. We highly enjoyed this book and I recommend it to any parent looking to have fun while reading with their children.

[Lindsay Eisel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a must read for any child who enjoys being silly! My three children were raised on book #1 being in our weekly rotation, the addition of a farm themed one is super cute for young children. Immediately after finishing my child asked to re-read it. I was given a digital ARC copy, but know I’ll be purchasing the physical book soon to add to our book rotation.

[Aleisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is perfect for a story time at the library or in the class room. It could work well as a bedtime story to get those last minute wiggles/sillies out. The story is very simple but kids will enjoy participating and dancing around while making animal noises.

[Holly Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC reader for NetGalley

This is such a cute interactive picture book that engages little listeners and gets their imaginative little cogs working. My 6 YR OLD daughter LOVES these books. They never fail to make her giggle and ask to have it read to her over and over again.

[Shelby Casto · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun interactive bedtime book for young kiddos! My son loves all things farm and animals so this book was a win. I wish there was more !!

My only criticism is the book name, seems like it should be called don’t open the gate.

[Jennifer Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book!! my kids have and love the Easter book like this and really like it. They get a little wild while reading it though lol I couldn't get it to load properly on my Kindle though so it was kind of hard to read

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books like this where there’s an activity on almost every page. Cluck like a chicken, dance like a chicken, make animal noises, etc. It’s one of the best ways to get my kiddo to use his energy before nap/bedtime

[Megan Wrye · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute. It asked you to interact as different animals and make different animals. It was fun watching him flap and bock like a chicken.

[Carmen Zadnichek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book. My 3 year old son loved it due to its interactive components! I thought the story was a bit weird personally but perfect for kids!

[Lyn Gow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book from Bill Cotter, inviting 2-5 year olds into the book to join his adventure. A ball of fun, sure to become a favourite with preschoolers.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Alison]

A favorite of my nephew!

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly as entertaining as the first one. This one will fall flat unless the reader is super enthusiastic.

[Kelly Boggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book to get kids to make animal noises and follow the actions of the character (flap wings, push button, etc.)