Sixteen Cows

Sixteen Cows

From School Library Journalreschool-Grade 2--A fun bovine read-aloud, told in singsong rhyme. Cowboy Gene and Cowgirl Sue live on adjoining ranches and each have eight cows and a "come-home" song to round up their herds. Their animals always respond with a chorus of "Moo." When an Arkansas wind blows down the fence that divides the pastures, the cows mingle and roam and get mighty confused by the dueling songs. The ranchers call a truce and actually meet face to face. They admire one another's herds and, "Come that fall, those two cowpokes exchanged their wedding vows. Who served as honored bridesmaids? No less than sixteen cows!" The playful illustrations replete with chaps and kerchiefs reflect the setting, and a full-page spread captures the hoedown reception with the guests dancing under udder-shaped balloons. The repetition of the cows' silly names and the ranch-style dialogue will spark a smile or giggle. Libraries looking for books in rhyme or with Western settings will enjoy this title.Helen Foster James, University of California at San DiegoCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.Cowboy Gene and Cowgirl Sue happily live side-by-side on their own farms with their eight cows, but when a tornado removes the fence and mixes all the cows together, Gene and Sue have to find a way to figure out which in the herd belongs to whom. Jr Lib Guild. 30,000 first printing.From BooklistAges 3-7. Preschool crowds will cheer for this rhyming cowboy romance from the author of Sailor Moo: Cow at Sea [BKL My 1 02]) and Wool Gathering: A Sheep Family Reunion [BKL O 1 01]. Cowboy Gene, "long and lean," and Cowgirl Sue, "smart and true," graze their cows on adjacent ranches. When a wind blows down the fence between their properties and the herds blend together, the two cowhands battle over ownership of the livestock--until they think of a truce: Why not get hitched and combine the herds? Wheeler's text bounces along with an irresistible rhyme and rhythm using words and phrases straight off the ranch, while Cyrus' smooth, brightly colored paintings capture the story's humor and farce with rakish angles and uncluttered detail that bring onlookers up close to the cowbell-clanging action. Great for rowdy story hours. Gillian EngbergCopyright