THE COW WHO SAID...WOW!
by John Perkinson illustrated by Ken Woodall
A cow explores a farm and encounters animal friends in Perkinson and Woodall’s debut board book.
As she roams her farm, a friendly cow watches other farm animals in their natural habitats—a running colt and a horse, a “lamb jumping a fence,” “piglets playing in mud,” and ducklings swimming and splashing in a pond. The cow even watches as chicks hatch. Lastly, she comes across a farmer and his son riding a tractor. The bovine is visibly enthralled by all she sees, and upon each encounter, she says: “Wow!” Woodall’s lively, graphic illustrations are charming, featuring bold colors. Many pages include wide expanses of textured green grass juxtaposed with a blue sky. All animals depicted have similar cartoonish eyes and cheerful smiles. The pictures also include fun details, like a reoccurring airplane flying in the sky. Although barnyard scenes are commonly featured in children’s literature, the interactive elements here make the book more unique. The book includes a red sound button that emits the word “Wow” when pressed. The story ends abruptly after the cow’s encounter with the farmer and his son; it would’ve been satisfying to see the cow and her animal friends gather together at the end. Still, the sparse text using simple language and repetitive phrasing (“and the cow said…Wow!”) will appeal to very young audiences.
A fun storytime pick that emphasizes child participation and sensory skill development.