Sixteen Cows

Rating:
Summary: A rootin'-tootin' good read!
Review: "Sixteen Cows" is one of those rare children's books that is not only fun for the kiddies, but may actually be more amusing for the adult reading it.

Lonely Cowboy Gene and lovely Cowgirl Sue share a fence, but despite their neighborliness and like herds of eight humorously named bovines, a bit of competition keeps the two at odds. The deus ex machina of a tornado rips down the fence and the cows do the rest, intermingling hopelessly, while refusing to hear the calls to come back to their respective sides. Forced to cooperate, the rival cowpokes finally drop the competition and work together. Can love be far behind?

Clearly there is plenty to like in the book. Many kids' picture books fall down in the text, but not here. Lisa Wheeler's long rhymes capture the reader's heart and flow nicely, complemented well by the sprawling, glowing, watercolor images of Kurt Cyrus. Together there is a synergy that makes this book oddly compelling. Little humorous touches abound - such as the cow names and the items tossed up by the tornado - that may mean more to adults than kids, so while my toddler son likes the book, his dad enjoys it even more. (At the cost of a star, the backstory of the book may be lost on the very young, who may not fully grasp love stories and weddings.)

With its large illustrations and silly/sweet story, this paean to the prairie is clearly designed to be read out loud and often. So pick out your best West Texas drawl, mosey on up to your favorite lil' pardner, and share the fun of "Sixteen Cows."

Rating:
Summary: Sixteen Cows is aswesome!
Review: I am not sure who enjoys this book more...me or my children! I love reading the rhyming verses and getting my kids involved by "Mooing". It's fun, the illustrations are great, and it's easily become a favorite book in our house!!!

Rating:
Summary: Sixteen Cows is aswesome!
Review: I am not sure who enjoys this book more...me or my children! I love reading the rhyming verses and getting my kids involved by "Mooing". It's fun, the illustrations are great, and it's easily become a favorite book in our house!!!

Rating:
Summary: A Rootin' Tootin' Good Time.....
Review: Meet Cowboy Gene Biddle and Cowgirl Sue Waddle, neighbors and cow lovers, living peacefully on the western prairie. Each went about their daily ranch chores until it was time to call their cows home. Then with a loud and strong voice, each would sing their "come-home song," calling every cow by name. "Now Waddle Ranch was on a hill and sat right next to Biddle./And where each ranch's pasture met, a fence ran down the middle./So Biddle cows and Waddle cows were not in any danger/of getting mixed at grazing time and dining with a stranger." That is, until a fierce Arkansas wind blew that old fence "plumb clean away." Now with their cows all mixed up, what are a couple of cowpokes going to do to separate their herds and bring them home..... Lisa Wheeler's spirited and engaging, happily ever after, good-time story, complete with western dialogue, begs to be read aloud. Her entertaining, rhyming text is full of energy, humor, and wild west fun. Kurt Cyrus' bold and busy artwork captures the story beautifully, and is rich in expressive and charming detail. Together this duo have authored a playful and silly "love story" that is sure to keep your little cowpokes smiling and giggling to the very last page. So find out how sixteen cows finally brought these two lonely ranchers together, and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: A Rootin' Tootin' Good Time.....
Review: Meet Cowboy Gene Biddle and Cowgirl Sue Waddle, neighbors and cow lovers, living peacefully on the western prairie. Each went about their daily ranch chores until it was time to call their cows home. Then with a loud and strong voice, each would sing their "come-home song," calling every cow by name. "Now Waddle Ranch was on a hill and sat right next to Biddle./And where each ranch's pasture met, a fence ran down the middle./So Biddle cows and Waddle cows were not in any danger/of getting mixed at grazing time and dining with a stranger." That is, until a fierce Arkansas wind blew that old fence "plumb clean away." Now with their cows all mixed up, what are a couple of cowpokes going to do to separate their herds and bring them home..... Lisa Wheeler's spirited and engaging, happily ever after, good-time story, complete with western dialogue, begs to be read aloud. Her entertaining, rhyming text is full of energy, humor, and wild west fun. Kurt Cyrus' bold and busy artwork captures the story beautifully, and is rich in expressive and charming detail. Together this duo have authored a playful and silly "love story" that is sure to keep your little cowpokes smiling and giggling to the very last page. So find out how sixteen cows finally brought these two lonely ranchers together, and enjoy.