Horn Book (Fall 2008)As Cow's birthday approaches, Pig and Mouse set out to make her "the best birthday cake EVER!" Their ideas differ from Duck's, who persistently tries to include a turnip in the cake. In the end, it's the turnip that excites Cow more than the beautiful cake. The vibrant thick-lined illustrations are made up of simple shapes set against monochromatic backgrounds.Kirkus Reviews (March 1, 2008)Thomas scores again after What Will Fat Cat Sit On? (2007) with another droll crowd-pleaser for the OshKosh B'Gosh set. Scornfully rejecting Duck's hilariously persistent efforts to add a turnip, Pig and Mouse create a luscious cake--only to find themselves saddled with eating it themselves (not that they mind) when Cow obliviously falls on Duck's turnip, rapturously declaring this birthday the best one ever. Punctuated by punch-line words (usually "TURNIP") in red, the huge, pithy text is paired to simply drawn figures that spill past the edges, and often seem ready to pop right up from the page. From the calendar countdown on the front endpapers (Cow's birthday is October 17th, if you're curious) to a closing joke on the rear ones about using turnips as toothbrushes, this riotous read-aloud is guaranteed to have them rolling in the aisles. (Picture book. 4-6)School Library Journal (June 1, 2008)PreS-K-It's Cow's birthday, and Pig and Mouse decide to bake a cake. They follow the standard recipe, mixing eggs, flour, and sugar, but Duck wants to add a turnip. Outvoted, the duck nevertheless persists in trying to contribute the special ingredient, even as the others top off the finished treat with candles. A surprised Cow is overjoyed to be feted, and on seeing her friends hold up their gifts exclaims: "Is that what I think it is? Oh boy, this is the best birthday ever-a turnip." Told in simple language, this whimsical story is illustrated with somewhat abstract cartoon drawings in bright colors and strong black lines. Some of the spreads have a cluttered appearance that may be a bit confusing to the very young, but children will delight in the humor.-G. Alyssa Parkinson, Highland Township Library, MI Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. Our library story times this month are being inspired by chapters from P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins. Remember the song from the movie "I Love to Laugh"? Mary visits her uncle, who is celebrating his birthday, which makes him laugh. Hence, we began this week's "Laughing-it-Up" story time with a birthday story.All of Jan Thomas's books work well in a story time. We like "acting out" some parts of the "script". After all, the characters speak in word bubbles, with a little narration to hold it all together. So when cow and mouse make a cake we do as the narrator suggests: get a bowl (mime this) and pour in sugar and flour (mime this) and break eggs (mime this). Stir it all up, put on oven mitts, open the oven door, put it in to bake, and shut the oven door. At this point we have music cued up to goof off to while the cake bakes. (stretch, jump, turn around, etc. -- great for that needed "wiggle break"). Turn off the music, sit back down, and mime taking the cake out of the oven (with oven mitts, of course). Uh-oh. Now we have to wait for the cake to cool off before we put the frosting on. Mime kitchen clean up, or put the music back on and play some more.
What do You think about A Birthday For Cow! (2008)?
Turnip and birthday cake make for hilarious party preparation. I am such a Jan Thomas fan.
—Rachel
So funny! Surprise ending, silly characters. LOVE.
—Patricia
