Santa Cows

by Cooper Edens

On Christmas Eve the Santa cows arrive to give Elwood and his family a Christmas that they will never forget

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1991

Reviews

[DivaDiane SM]

Just arrived in Montana for Christmas and found this book on the coffee table. Instead of Santa and his reindeer, a small herd of cows arrive at the house fulfilling the patriarchs wish that they would return one day. Otherwise, it would’ve been a rather sad Christmas Eve. They brought strange but wonderful gifts, which, I suppose is fitting.

The poetry is in the same rhyme scheme and meter as The Night Before Christmas and echoes that famous poem quite a bit.

The illustrations remind me a bit of Norman Rockwell; realistic, settings of home.

All in all a sweet modern offering for Christmas.

I have no idea why my brother has this. His son is 23.

[Madison]

This to me was one of the creepiest books of my childhood. I seriously was frightened by all of the pictures and the general plotline kind of gave me chills.

This to me was also one of my favorite books of my childhood. It was like my "secret thriller." You know- that book or movie that you should completely hate because of how weird or frightening it is, but you just can't because some part of it speaks to you. This book was that for me.

Looking back now, it's probably because I grew up not all that far from farms. Farms with cows. So the thought that come Christmas Eve night they may be floating through the sky like big mutant reindeer was unsettling to say the least.




The story basically is a twist on The Night Before Christmas. There is nothing "classic" about the retelling though. Instead of being nestled snug in their beds, the children of the story are plunked down in front of the TV on Christmas Eve. And I'm pretty positive that the original tale did not include the reindeer (aka Cows) playing baseball in the sky.

I must say that while the pictures were creepy, they were also wonderful depictions. The colors and style really set the tone of the story and I just couldn't look away as my parents read the book to me every night.



Yes, I said every night. This, along with its sequel, Santa Cow Island were my answer to "What do you want to read tonight?"


Actually, we read it so many times that the front covers fell off. I think the book is out of print now, but perhaps I should check out Ebay or Amazon to buy a used copy (thanks to blogger The Cat in the Hat for that info (and pictures).

I would recommend that if you can find this, buy it. Pick up the second one too. I'm positive that you and your children will be just as enamored with it as I was (Christmas time or not).

[Emily]

This was one of my fave Christmas books as a kid and it holds up!

[Peacegal]

The Schwartzes are a very stereotypical Midwestern family who are enjoying their mountains of junk food and wall of TVs when a herd of very special visitors drop in, set up a baseball diamond, and get the couch potatoes off their rears.

Although I wish the cows, being the vegetarians they are, would have given the Schwartzes a few lessons about eating healthier foods!

[Tikvah Kurrus]

you know how 2 year olds make you read books 100 times in a row? well, i am STILL not tired of reading this one! its still hilarious and disturbing

[Leah]

What a trippy take on "The Night Before Christmas"!

[Janet Keeten]

Maybe a little corny, but singing and baseball playing cows are a Christmas tradition.

[Lisa Brown]

A silly retelling of "Twas the Night Before Christmas," told with Santa Cows instead of Santa. My kids really liked it, and it was fun and quirky.

[Victoria Garcia]

Great Christmas book to draw kids in, and brings family together.

[Amanda Murphy]

I really, really, really wanted to love this book. But it was just okay.

[Susan Reyna]

So fun! Funny rhyming story with gorgeous illustrations! If you or yours enjoy Christmas, cows, or baseball, this book is for you.

[Madelaine Pope]

This books rightly deserves these 4 weird, obnoxiously 90s, and udderly hilarious stars.

[Sharon Bradshaw]

Udderly delightful

[David]

Night before Christmas - bovine edition.

[Katie]

a ridiculous holiday favorite from my childhood!

[Beth]

At the recommendation from a friend, I purchased this book to gift to my granddaughter. Of course, I read it first. It's a fun twist to the Night Before Christmas poem and the illustrations are beautifully done.

[Brooke Bitzan]

Such a fun silly goofy picture book! My uncle found it at a bookstore his daughter dragged him to when they were on vacation and bought it for one of my other baby cousins. We read it at the family Christmas party which really added to the ambiance.

[Joanna]

Beautifully matched to the cadence of A Night Before Christmas, this silly picture book reimagines Saint Nick's visit and gently lampoons a junk food eating tv watching family with a message about togetherness through the healing power of.... baseball? lol. Super fun and I am glad I finally took the time to read it aloud. My favorite page: "'As lovely as angels,' the family agreed,/ And Elwood, so helpful, bamed each by its breed./ 'Look, kiddies, a Holstein, a Brown Swiss, a Jersey,/ And here comes a Hereford, an Angus, a Guernsey.'" Lovely.

[Echo]

i chuckled the whole time i read this.

[Marcie]

# 50 Great parody to read aloud 3rd-5th.

[Brandi Streeval]

cute book read this to my daughter

[Shawn]

Funny book with great illustrations!

[Cari ☾]

Cute!

[Kelly]

This is an amazing book. It is a different spin on The Night Before Christmas.

[Madison]

Cute and funny book

[pepper]

cows + 90s nostalgia and a creepy pizza delivery man that never leaves. i love it