Keeping A Family Cow

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New cow owner

Keeping A Family Cow

Keeping a family cow

Convinced me to leave the city and buy a cow!

Worth reading just to savor the first couple of chapters.

Keeping A Family Cow
Joann S. Grohman
Manufacturer: Coburn Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Family Cow (A Garden Way Publishing Book)

The Untold Story of Milk: Green Pastures, Contented Cows and Raw Dairy Products

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Barnyard in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, and Cows

ASIN: 0963181440

Customer Reviews:

New cow owner.......2007-03-09

Even though my cows are beef and not dairy I found this to be one of the most valuable books I have read. Easy to follow information that applies to anyone thinking of raising cattle on a small scale. Highly recommend !!

Keeping A Family Cow.......2007-01-19

Great Book. Very helpful with first time cow owners. Go to Joanne's website also. Alot of great info. there.

Keeping a family cow.......2006-11-10

This book is an absulute must for those getting a milk cow... very helpful.

Convinced me to leave the city and buy a cow!.......2004-03-24

At the time when I ordered this book, I was living in a trailer park, and researching nutrition carefully. I am a mother of five children, and our family keeps growing, so I want to be sure that our family gets the best nutrition we can. I feel that good nutrition is something every mother should strive to give her children, no matter how rich or poor.

So, after learning that untreated milk (unpasteurized, unhomogenized) is better for your health, I went looking for a legal way to obtain raw milk for my family. I started out at www.westonaprice.org (the Weston A. Price organization is aimed at getting nutrient-dense foods onto America's dinner tables) and could not find any suppliers in my area.

I started looking at the possibility of getting my own cow to milk, and ordered this book. In the first few chapters, Joann explains the value of the cow, and untreated dairy products. Then, she goes on to explain all the how-to's of having a cow. This book alone convinced me that I wanted to leave the city and the trailer park and have some land with a cow!

Since owning the book, I have referred to it often. When my cow got bloat, I quickly referred to the book to find out what to do. I saved my cow's life because Joann's words were right there, even though she lives far away from me. I'm so glad that she wrote this book, and even more glad that I own it. Joann also has an online diary (which I LOVE to read) and an online discussion forum that has been very helpful.

Oh, and one more thing, there is nothing comparable to the taste of food that you've raised yourself, not to mention the superior nutrition and absence of hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, and herbicides. It is a wonderful life, and this book helped me to have the confidence to jump in with both feet and do it!

Worth reading just to savor the first couple of chapters........2003-06-07

Why is modern America so dissatisfied with life? We're rolling in wealth to the extent that we can afford vacations to Europe, boats, swimming pools and $100 concert tickets. We don't have to bother raising or even cooking our own food, because multinational corporations continue to discover ways to produce technologically advanced, highly processed food products at lower and lower cost. We don't have to repair our own cars, clean our own houses, or mow our own grass. We own multiple automobiles, televisions, computers and even places to live. We take advantage of a standard of living that exceeds most other countries on the planet. To quote a popular song, "The Future's so Bright, We Gotta Wear Shades." Why then are so many of us taking Prozac, seeing therapists, and finding less and less joy in our daily lives? It's difficult to contemplate, but many of us somehow feel disconnected from our daily existence. Despite being surrounded by incredible riches, we somehow long for a lifestyle that no longer seems attainable. Something important seems to be missing. No only can't we identify what's missing, we don't have a clue on how to restore it to our lives. Joann Grohman's book, Keeping a Family Cow, provides a great deal of insight into this very issue.

Keeping in character with the book's premise, the author provides a detailed guidebook for nurturing and managing a dairy cow while successfully integrating such a creature into a modern lifestyle. Presented in an easy-to-understand, straightforward manner, the book offers up a plethora of information designed to turn the most inexperienced neophyte into a competent dairyman. The book provides details on animal acquisition, feeding, disease prevention, breeding and food hygiene, and is written in such a way to offer enlightened reading to a diverse audience. Joann also maintains a free web site,..., that provides a discussion forum for cow-related issues. If you've ever contemplated adding a bovine member to the family, this book will go a long way toward helping to make this project a success.

Even though these technical topics make the book worth the price of admission, I strongly believe that there is more to this book than initially meets the eye. During my undergraduate years, I stumbled upon a book called The Continuum Concept (authored by Jean Liedloff) that contrasts Western child rearing techniques with those of more primitive cultures. Even though I was not yet married, and had no interest in starting a family, I realized that there was something about her ideas that resonated with my innate sense of right and wrong. I couldn't identify why I could so easily relate to her views on nurturing infants, but it just seemed as if Liedloff had illuminated obvious truths about human nature that no one had previously discussed.

Joann's writings resonate in the same fashion. The first couple of chapters in the book seem to emanate from someone who shares Liedloff's understanding of human nature. Keeping a Family Cow demonstrates a remarkable insight into the cultural, technological and market forces that have produced the frenzied pace that we all take for granted, and demonstrates how the acquisition of a family cow can restore some of the "rightness" that seems to be missing from our daily existence. There's something incredibly satisfying about Joann's arguments to support the family cow concept, and her writings offer a glimmer of hope that we can somehow find our way back to a lifestyle that is more in tune with our expectations, our evolutionary experience as human organisms, and our hopes and dreams for the future. I can't recommend this book enough.

Average customer rating:

I dream of cows...

Keeping a cow is do-able!

Tons of information

Good Information - Well written -but somewhat dated

Everything you wanted to know about Bossy, but didn't ask.

The Family Cow (A Garden Way Publishing Book)
Dirk Van Loon
Manufacturer: Storey Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Keeping A Family Cow

The Untold Story of Milk: Green Pastures, Contented Cows and Raw Dairy Products

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All Flesh Is Grass: Pleasures & Promises Of Pasture Farming

ASIN: 0882660667

Book Description

This is the basic book for anyone who decides to keep a cow. Fully-illustrated chapters with accurate information on buying, behavior, nutrition, breeds, handling, feeding, milking, health care, calving, and growing feed crops.

Customer Reviews:

I dream of cows..........2007-03-27

I have a dream of someday owning my own cow, maybe a horse, and another pig or two. Being a city girl, I wouldn't have the foggiest notion what owmership of large domestic animals entails. This book lays it all out for you in very pragmatic terms. How much land you need, the total cost of caring for a cow as well as the potential revenue for the milk and cheese. And now, when my country friends are talking about their cow problems, maybe I can even offer a piece of profound advice! (doubtful on that), Buy it, enjoy it.

Keeping a cow is do-able!.......2007-03-09

This book encourages those of us who want to return to our farming roots and obtain the freshest dairy products possible from our own cow(s). He takes the fear out of stepping into caring for a cow for us first-timers. I can't wait to apply what I'm learning!

Tons of information.......2002-09-11

This book has everything you need to know about owning your own cow...kinds of cows and their temperaments, purchasing a cow, how to care for it, fences and barns to build for it, milking, foods to prepare with the milk, breeding and calving, you name it. Much detail is given in each subject, including drawings and pictures, but the author avoids being a bore with his dry humor. We knew absolutely nothing about cows, but now feel some confidence after reading this book!

Good Information - Well written -but somewhat dated.......2000-08-24

The book covers the subject well and is carefully written. It stands alone in that there are no other books for the prospective owner of a single dairy cow rather than a herd. Some of the information is dated; recent improvements in genetics have more than doubled milk production and changed the needs for feed. There is a little philosophizing with a '70s back-to-the-lander slant which I found distracting.

Everything you wanted to know about Bossy, but didn't ask........2000-01-25

This is a wonderfully entertaining book. It is full of essential knowledge, as well as humor. I'm the son of a dairy farmer who is the son of a dairy farmer. I will be the first person to admit that I learned a lot from this book. The subject depth that the author goes into in each chapter is great. Everything is explained in simple terms yet gets very detailed. I would compare his ability to keep a complex subject simple to the writings of Isaac Asimov. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a serious interest in small scale farming, the family farm, or simply wants to know all the essentials about cattle.

Turn Left at the Black Cow: One Family's Journey from Beverly Hills to Ireland

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Turn Left at the Black Cow
Disappointing
Disappointing
Treat yourself to this book
A family to cherish

Turn Left at the Black Cow: One Family's Journey from Beverly Hills to Ireland
Richard McKenzie
Manufacturer: Roberts Rinehart Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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At Home in Ireland : Cooking and Entertaining With Ava Astaire McKenzie

ASIN: 1570982058

Customer Reviews:

Turn Left at the Black Cow.......2005-11-16

I have read this book several times and recently got on Amazon to order several copies for Christmas presents. This book, while it discusses Fred Astaire, is actually the love story of his daughter and her husband, their journey to leave Hollywood behind by buying a cottage in Ireland and the many joyous and wonderful stories that come from that move. This is not a Fred Astaire biography by any means--but rather a touching, often hilarious story of one family, their adventures in setting up house in a culture different from their own and their personal journey with each other. It remains one of our family favorites and I would highly recommend it to anyone with their own sense of adventure.

Disappointing.......2003-05-15

Turn Left at the Black Cow offers Fred Astaire fans some wonderful anecdotes, as the legendary dancer visits his daughter and her husband in Ireland. However, author McKenzie's constant name dropping and continuous negative comments about Fred's second wife wear thin. Worth a look, but feel free to skim.

Disappointing.......2003-04-28

If you read this for tidbits about Fred Astaire, that's all you get are tidbits. If you read it seeking the feeling of Ireland, there are some nice descriptive moments in the book. Mostly it focuses on the author whose life and celebrity contacts did not make up for my disappointment in the skimpiness on Astaire and Ireland.
I recommend instead titles by Niall Williams or reread Frank McCourt.

Treat yourself to this book.......2002-01-26

I stumbled upon this book searching for books about Fred Astaire and was so glad that I found it. Richard McKenzie has such a good eye for people. I loved the stories about his neighbors in Ireland as well as the unique insight into Fred Astaire. I highly recommend this book.

A family to cherish.......2001-12-01

There are many remarkable qualities to this book, chief among them the wonderful people that inhabit it. With an engaging, almost poetic style, we are invited into a world of personal impressions and happenings that are both deft and trenchant. This is a universe that contains the likes of David Niven, Barbara Stanwyck, Hermes Pan along with the likes of Kevin O'Mahoney and countless neighbors and un-famous friends--all remembered with a discerning wit and a loving appreciation. You have to love a book that shares insights about Hollywood royalty AND the personalities of cats and cows and other assorted creatures dear to the author and his family. It is full of grace, as you might imagine, humor that might not, and a heart that will always envelope you. For my money, it's a family I'd love to be a part of--if only to meet a woman who dries her garden-fresh lettuce in the spin-cycle of her washing machine! There are many such gifts along this singular journey.

Average customer rating:

Purple Cows and Potato Chips
Mary Ann Christison , and Sharron Bassano
Manufacturer: Alta Book Center Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1882483316

Book Description

Engage your students in seeing, touching, tasting, and smelling this "udderly wonderful" collection of stimulating activities! Designed to promote language acquisition through the exploration of the primary senses, this activity and teacher resource book guarantees that experiences in the language classroom can be taken to entirely new, refreshing, and more enjoyable heights! The fifty-six unique activities are presented in four creative units:

• Purple Cows focuses on the sense of sight, offering dynamic ways to use advertisements, mysterious pictures, cartoons, and more!

• Wet Leaves examines touch and movement. Involve your class in a challenging game of charades, learn the art of origami, and even lead an aerobic workout!

• Thunderstorms deals with the sense of hearing. Discover the art of listening through ideas such as using music and sound effects!

• Potato Chips will introduce your students to the real taste of language learning through exciting "edible" exercises.

Book Description

Sandra loves ranch life. Most of all, she loves riding her pony, Chico. But a ride to visit a new calf ends in a terrifying encounter with a rattlesnake. Sandra learns an important lesson about taking care of herself and her horse—and about overcoming her fears.

In this story, based on a true-life incident, young Sandra demonstrates the forthright spirit that gave her the courage and confidence to become the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Her adventure with Chico in the desert landscape is breathtakingly rendered by celebrated painter Dan Andreasen.

Customer Reviews:

Loved it.......2006-03-01

As a school librarian, I found this an excellent book to add to our collection. It is just the right length to read to a class when they visit the library. Most of the students were amazed to find out this is based on a true story. The illustrations by Dan Andreasen are absolutley beautiful and accompany every page of text.

Fear the egg-laying kittens!.......2006-01-18

Sandra Day O'Connor, Chico (Dutton, 2005)

The front cover of Chico proclaims "a true story from the childhood of the first woman Supreme Court Justice." Putting aside the slightly questionable grammar of that subtitle, the question it has to raise in your mind is: is the story contained in the book less important then the fact that it was written by the first woman etc.?". Unfortunately, the answer is yes; this is likely not a story that would have made it into a kids' book had it been submitted by you, me, or Joe Blow.

As one would expect from a woman who spent the better part of her career writing Supreme Court opinions, the actual mechanics of the story are solid; the spelling, grammar (with the exception of one painful slip near the beginning that still has me amused days later), etc. are all excellent. The illustrations are quite nice, though having a ten-year-old daughter (and a ten-year-old sister-in-law), I'd have to say the child in those illustrations looks considerably older than six. (Say, ten.) But that's a minor point.

What's really missing here is a sense of pace, or more specifically a sense of the structure that one would normally expect pace to take. In everything from Shakespeare to the latest Dan Brown potboiler, there's a conventional way to structure one's pace: there's the buildup, there's the climax, and there's the resolution/denouement (depending on the tone of your book). Well, that's quite an oversimplification, but you get the idea. O'Connor gives us a decent setup, then we wait for the climax. And wait. And keep waiting. Upon reflection, this is actually really impressive in a thirty-two page book; one usually doesn't get this much waiting without reading Ha Jin. There are a few places that seem as if they're going to be climaxes, but no such luck. Without a climax, the resolution feels oddly (wait for it...) anticlimactic. I'm wondering if kids will notice this as much as adults will; I'm thinking about having my wife (who's a day care teacher) test-drive it on her class.

Seems more an artifact for O'Connor fans than an actual kids' book. Not that there's anything wrong with that. ** ½

Generates curiosity in a child!.......2005-12-16

The illsutrations are delightful. I read this book with my niece and nephew, both New York City kids. They were enchanted by the birth of the calf, the rattlesnake, the antelope and the beautiful Chico. At the end of the reading, they said, "We want to go see where Sandra lives and look for the rainbow."

When a story generates curiosity in a child, I consider the author's mission accomplished!

An Engaging Story About A Responsible Little Girl.......2005-12-07

Justice O'Connor's "Chico" summarizes a day out riding with her horse - Chico. Hearing of a new calf, she wants to see it, and rides out far from sight of her home. Sandra finds the calf, but knows she cannot pet it because the mother is near. On the way home, Chico is frightened by a rattlesnake and Sandra nearly loses her seating. Fortunately she holds on and returns home where she tells her father about her adventure. They then return to the area in their truck, and Sandra gets to pet the calf. On the way home, Sandra asks if they can drive to the end of a rainbow - her father reminds her that they need to be home for dinner.

"Chico" also briefly summarizes the chores that young Sandra performed while living on the farm.

The Pathological Protein: Mad Cow, Chronic Wasting, and Other Deadly Prion Diseases

Average customer rating:

Concentrates on the science
A great introduction to prions!
Easily the best book of its kind
A must read for a better understanding of mad cow disease!
A must read for a better understanding of mad cow disease!

The Pathological Protein: Mad Cow, Chronic Wasting, and Other Deadly Prion Diseases
Philip Yam
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0387955089

Book Description

Prions are an entirely new class of pathogens, and scientists are just beginning to understand them. This book tells the strange story of their discovery, and the medical controversies that swirl around them.

Customer Reviews:

Concentrates on the science.......2006-10-25

While the book begins with a nicely written human interest story, this work concentrates on the science, and the picture is somewhat muddled even today. For one thing, the prion protein has deep evolutionary roots, which should mean it is critical to life, yet genetically engineered mice without prion proteins seem to thrive. The protein is involved in copper utilization but there are biological alternatives in place. There are still a few respectable scientists who are skeptical about the prion infection theory, and Yam points out one piece of definitive evidence is lacking: the ability to create a misshapen prion protein which is conclusively free of any possible viral contamination, and use it to infect an organism. If there is an infectious virus, it would have to be very small and rather unique. There are several hereditary forms of prion disease each of which involves a slightly different mutation of the gene; the disease can have sporadic (randomly occurring) as well as hereditary and infectious (mad cow disease) causes. Only humans with certain alleles of the prion gene are susceptible to mad cow, but 37% of Caucasians, for example, have that allele. No one knows why mad cow disease hasn't clustered more in particular families or regions. Use of human based biologicals in repairing wounds was a prime cause of disease transmission at one time, and we think the blood supply is probably safe primarily because if it weren't, there would be more cases (although the Red Cross does try to screen out potential carriers).

Yam does a good job in emphasizing and explaining the important scientific issues. He also involves the reader in the mysteries as they historically unfolded. Occasionally, he enumerates very detailed findings in a chronological manner when a more enlightening approach could have been used.

A great introduction to prions!.......2006-01-05

This book is a balanced, engaging introduction to the prion diseases. Philip Yam does a great job of presenting the varieties of views on BSE, CJD, and Kuru, and makes it clear to the reader that there are many riddles yet to be solved, and there is still a great deal of controversy surrounding these diseases.

However, he does not spend the entire book focusing on the controversy, and proceeds to delve into the details of prion theory, and possible therapeutic options.

Yam does a wonderful job of presenting the topic, and continues to provide stimulating and novel information on every page!

Easily the best book of its kind.......2004-03-26

Philip Yam's book The Pathological Protein is easily the best book of its kind. Written in clear, simple language for the non-specialist audience, The Pathological Protein is a thoroughly comprehensive, concise and, above all, scientifically accurate review of BSE and related diseases. Yam has been writing and editing for Scientific American since 1989 and this, his first book, demonstrates the high standard to which all science writers ought to aspire.

The first chapter of The Pathological Protein describes, from a very human perspective, the effects of variant Creutzfedt-Jakob disease on one victim, 19 year-old Stephen Churchill, and his family. From this tragedy, Yam then goes on to review the history of CJD and the mysterious diease 'kuru', which reached epidemic proportions amongst the Fore people of Papua-New Guinea because of their cannibalistic funerary rites. After discussing the hereditary transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) of humans, outlines what is known of the TSEs of animals. Philip Yam's reviews of scrapie, BSE, transmissible mink encephalopathy and chronic wasting disease are up-to-date, interesting, and extremely readable.

There is an interesting episode related in the book. Carlton Gajdusek had been searching, unsuccesfully, for the cause of kuru. William Hadlow, and American scrapie researcher on a secondment to the United Kingdom, visited the Wellcome Medical Museum in London to look at a display on kuru that Gajdusek had prepared. It was Hadlow who first noticed the very close resemblance between kuru and scrapie. The similarities in epidemiologic features, general clinical pattern and the neurohistologic changes led him to the realisation that these diseases were probably mmebers of the same family. As a result of Hadlow's insight transmission experiments were started which, eventually, led to our current understanding of the TSEs

This book covers the hypotheses for the origins of BSE, the evidence for the link between BSE and vCJD, current methods and problems of diagnosis of the TSEs, and the search for cures. Philip Yam clearly is thoroughly versed in the scientific literature of the TSEs, but also interviewed a broad range of scientists, consumers advocates and regulators. So, he knows what he is writing about, and this is made evident by the clarity and accuracy of his explanations. Although there is no 'dumbing down' of a difficult and complex subject, the author has written a book which makes his subject easily accessible to the non-specialist reader. The book is referenced, well indexed, has a useful glossary and also suggests sources for further information, including the more useful web sites and organisations providing suport and help for families of CJD victims. While the book is written for the interested lay person, I would have no hesitation in recommending Philip Yam's The Pathological Protein to veterinarians and colleagues who want an interesting, thorough and current review of these fascinating diseases.

A must read for a better understanding of mad cow disease!.......2004-03-07

An easy read even for people without a scientific background. The author takes you through a thorough exploration of the threats of mad cow and other related diseases. You may never look at beef the same way again.

A must read for a better understanding of mad cow disease!.......2004-03-07

The Smallest Cow in the World Book and Tape (I Can Read Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Happy Mom

The Smallest Cow in the World Book and Tape (I Can Read Book 3)
Katherine Paterson
Manufacturer: HarperFestival
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 0694700363

Book Description

Moving is not easy.

Rosie is the meanest cow in the world -- and Marvin's best friend. When his family moves to a new farm, Marvin is sad and lonely . . . until he finds Rosie again. But now she's making a lot of trouble for everyone. Will she and Marvin ever adjust to the changes of a new life in a new place?

Customer Reviews:

Happy Mom.......2000-06-13

I really enjoyed this book and felt like it dealt well with some real feelings children might have about moving. I liked how the parents handled their childs way of dealing with his problems.

Average customer rating:

Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry

Manny's Cows: The Niagara Falls Tale

Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060541520
Release Date: 2006-06-13

Book Description

At first, everything goes smooooothly. But . . . Flossie gets bus-sick. Goldie goes AWOL. Bathroom breaks are a nightmare. And the whole herd storms the gift store like bulls -- er, cows in a china shop!

Niagara Falls will never be quite the same. If Manny doesn't find a way to get these cows back on the farm, the vacation may turn into an udder disaster!

Customer Reviews:

Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry.......2006-06-19

Sometimes a new children's book author/illustrator feels like a given. Well OF COURSE Suzy Becker has written a picture book. Sure, her only books until now have been "All I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat" and a humorous retelling of her own battle with cancer. But pick up, "Manny's Cows: The Niagara Falls Tale" and it feels like you've slipped into a comfortable pair of silly cow-related shoes. Becker is an ideal children's book illustrator. Her books are incredibly amusing, brilliantly penned, and now they've been oh-so-slightly tweaked to fit the picture book format. I don't know why it took Becker this long to bring us a book as wonderful as "Manny's Cows" and I don't care. What matters is that the book exists now. And it's wonderful.

You know what day Manny hates more than any other? The last day of school. "They should just cancel it", he grumbles. You see on the last day of school his teacher always asks the kids what they're going to do over their summer vacation. His answer? "Well, you can `t exactly go on vacation when you have five hundred cows". But when his teacher jokingly suggests he take the cows with him this year, Manny hits upon a plan. At first the cows are a little reluctant but once Manny's packed them into ten buses, they get into the swing of things. After the usual rest stops and ill-fated sing-a-longs the crew arrive at Niagara Falls. Unfortunately, one of the 500 cows is missing, so while the others go on a tour, Manny sets out to locate the missing bovine. She is, of course, parked in the bus enjoying the tiny television sets there. Unfortunately, this means that the remaining 499 cows have been raiding the gift store and Manny hasn't the pocket money to cover their purchases. It will require some ingenuity on the part of Buttercup and Bossy to find a way to cover their debts and arrive at home in style.

It's fun to keep track of the exact moment a book wins you over. For me, it was Page 2. While Manny explains to his class that cows require constant attention the page shows four different scenes. One is "My summer vacation", another, "My fall vacation", another, "My winter vacation", and finally, "My spring vacation". In each shot we see Manny milking a cow in the exact same position as the seasons change around him. And then there's the factual cow information sprinkled about the book. We learn that a cow must be milked two times a day and, in the course, of that milking, produces ten gallons of milk. Cows spend fourteen hours chewing and eat 100 pounds of food a day. These facts pop up at moments appropriate to the plot. So not only do you have an amusing book on your hands but you've also a (gasp, faint) learning experience to boot. Cow facts. Gotta love `em.

But wait. It gets better. It doesn't hurt in the least that Suzy Becker knows exactly how far to milk (ho ho) a joke. All the cows have very cow-like names, like Bossy, Clover, Flossie, Buttercup, etc. As you read the book through you also begin to get a sense of their personalities. Goldie (so called for the ring in her nose) loves the little TVs on the bus. Bossy has the cowbell around her neck and is in charge (insofar as that goes). Personally, my favorite moment was when the cows decide to sing, "Old MacDonald Had a Farm". They're pretty good at the cow part but when they get to the pigs they still say, "With a moo-moo here and a moo-moo there". Manny tries to inform them that pigs say "oink", sheep say "baah", and roosters say, "cock-a-doodle-doo". This proves to be too much for the cows. They collapse in hysterics. You have a full page shot of them yucking it up and calling to one another, "Bahkee Doody Doo!" or "Oinky Doodles to you!". Even by the end of the book, when they're riding home in their sweet cow-spotted rides, you can still hear them chortle, "Bahkeedoinkledoo!" to themselves. I loved that.

Summing up time. Let's see... you have wonderfully detailed pictures with amusing characters and a fabulous plot. Humor in abundance. A great premise AND factual information on the side. Yes sir, I dunno how you could pass this puppy up and I don't want to know. The next time some well-meaning parent or teacher comes up to me wanting non-fiction books on cows, I'll get them the information they want. But you can betcher bottom dollar I'll be sneaking in a little, "Manny's Cows" on the side. The best of the bovine, bar none.

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Music in the Barn!
Daddy Played Music for the Cows
Bring back the memories of being a farm girl . . .

Daddy Played Music for the Cows
Maryann Weidt
Manufacturer: Windward Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0893170607

Book Description

This beautifully illustrated tale present a daughter's tender memories of growing up in rural America - from chasing mourning doves across shafts of sunlight and playing hide-and-seek between the cows to swinging from a rope into a featherbed of hay. At the center of her memories are the songs her father played for the cows and the love he showed for his daughter.

Customer Reviews:

Music in the Barn!.......2004-10-31

Sometimes it was polkas, sometimes it was Sinatra, sometimes it was Elvis, and sometimes it was the Sons of the Pioneers. The music was different, but the experience, the memories, everything that this wonderful book brings to mind is appreciated. There are so few books that kids can read about family life on the farm -- this is a favorite at our house.

Daddy Played Music for the Cows.......2000-05-19

Daddy Played Music for the Cows is a perfect blend of writing and illustration. Both are warm, joyful, and inviting. Congratulations to Weidt and Sorenson for producing this genuine delight.

Bring back the memories of being a farm girl . . ........2000-04-22

If you grew up on a dairy farm, this is a great book to read to your kids! I related to this story completely, and when I shared this book with my sisters and old farm pals they wanted to know where they could get a copy. While city kids played in well manicured playgrounds and had a pet, the barn and cows were my playground and pets from the day I was born. In our barn, the radio was always playing - maybe not always music, but also baseball games, farm reports and Paul Harvey.

Book Description

Laloo the calf lives on the farm with her mother, Mamoo. One day she looks around and sees the same old--everything. "I want something n-e-w,” Laloo says to her mama. Then she slips through a broken place in the fence and runs away. When Laloo and Mamoo are reunited, Mamoo promises that her child can go exploring again another day s-o-o-o-n.

Customer Reviews:

There's Nothing to D-O-O-O-.......1999-12-21

I love the rhyming in this picture book. The theme of children wanting to explore, but realizing home is best is great for the younger children. It contains excellent color illustrations. I highly recommend this one for students from K through the 2nd grade.

Great story, great pictures, a real delight!.......1999-04-28

"There's Nothing to D-o-o-o" is a wonderful children's picture book. The story is gentle and fun, something children and adults will love. The pictures are terrific and perfectly match the text, adding charm and depth. This book is a delight to read silently and to look at, but will also be a delight to read out loud. I loved it.

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