Daisy

by Brian Wildsmith

A cow's dream of seeing the world comes true, but it doesn't bring her happiness.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

47 pages, Hardcover

First published February 12, 1984

About the author

Brian Wildsmith (1930-2016) was raised in a small mining village in Yorkshire, England, where, he says, "Everything was grey. There wasn't any colour. It was all up to my imagination. I had to draw in my head..."

He won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art where he studied for three years. For a while he taught music at the Royal Military School of Music, but then gave it up so that he could paint full time.

He has deservedly earned a reputation as one of the greatest living children's illustrators. In 1962, he published his first children's book, ABC, for which he was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal, Britain's equivalent to the Caldecott Medal. He was also a runner up for this medal for The Owl and the Woodpecker.

Wildsmith has said: "I believe that beautiful picture books are vitally important in subconsciously forming a child's visual appreciation, which will bear fruit in later life."

In 1994, the Brian Wildsmith Art Museum was established in Izukogen, a town south of Tokyo, Japan. Almost one and a half million people visited a traveling exhibition of his work in 2005. Eight hundred of his paintings are on loan to the museum.

Brian is married, has four children, and currently lives in the south of France.

— Source

Reviews

[Jane]

Daisy is a sweet little picture book written and illustrated by Brian Wildsmith. The story is about a cow with wanderlust who escapes the humdrum farm for the glitz of Hollywood only to eventually discover that she misses the farm after all.



It's the illustrations here that really shine; they're enchanting with lots of detail in many of the scenes -- perfect for little readers who like to make up their own backstories for the goings on in the background. A pleasant little read that is just the right length.

Thank you to NetGalley and Star Bright Books for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book.

[Carla]

This is a cute story that is basically a "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" story. Daisy is a cow who wants to see the world. This is caused by her watching television through the window of Farmer Brown's house. When she gets her wish by becoming a Hollywood star, she realized it is not everything she dreamed about and wants to go back home to her field. This is an open the flap book which is well done. The illustrations are wonderful and you could spend a lot of time just looking at all the thinks on the pages. My grandson enjoyed the story, but was a bit young to understand the message. A great book for a primary/junior classroom or school library. Because of the detailed illustrations, a large group read would be difficult to get the most out of this book. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via netgalley.

[R.A.]

This was a cute read about a cow named Daisy who wanted to see the world! The illustrations were great. :)

*I received a copy of this book from its publisher on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

[sweet orange books]

A re-edition of a classic from 1984, this book is about a cow named Daisy who grows tired of her farm and wants to see the world. The colors of the illustrations were absolutely stunning, but I didn't like all that Daisy had to go through to please the producer/farmer and film movies. The writing didn't age well.

Thank you NetGalley and Star Bright Books for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Read and reviewed: 2018-12-06

[Ryan]

This is an interesting story about a cow and his farmer, and how they want just a little bit more out of life than they have now. Daisy, the cow, ends up a movie star, but soon realizes that there are some nice things back home as well. I enjoyed this book, but to be honest, I doubt it would be something i would read a second time.

[Ariel Webb]

Thank you Netgalley for the copy of this book. While the illustrations were beautiful, this book just didn’t do it for me. I love a great story about exploring beyond your own backyard so to speak but I was a bit uncomfortable with some of what Daisy went through. It also would have been great if Daisy could have seen more of the world instead of just Hollywood.

[Elizabeth Ellis]

Thank you #netgalley for giving me a copy of #Daisy to review. The illustrations are gorgeous. I love that this is a flip book where you get to see one part of the page and then flip part and see something else going on beneath. The story of Daisy's adventure into stardom was cute. This is a book I would get for my kids more than a book I would get for my classroom.

[Lili]

It was pretty good

[Jennifer]

Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all. A bit too long for my storytime kids but adorable story, just the same. Would make a great gift.

[Marilyn]

Daisy, the Cow, becomes famous. Glorious colors.

[The Endless Unread]

The story is okay but nothing to write home about. The cow had to go through too much in order to please the farmer. An animal being pushed to its limits. Not entertaining.

[Julie]

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the illustrations in this book. A story about a traveling cow. Daisy learns a lot about herself on the way.

[Amy]

Daisy wants to experience more of the world that she has seen on TV. One day when she has a mishap and ends up on the TV herself, she finds an opportunity to experience more than she ever expected.

I really enjoyed the inner flip book style this book had. Each illustration has a small flap that reveals more illustration and dialogue with the same background illustration. The story was just okay, but would probably be entertaining for younger kids.

I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez]

3.5 - The split page illustrations in Daisy are so cool! The pictures are so well done you almost can't see them.
This is a simple story about Daisy the Cow who is tired of living in the same old field and is dreaming of places far away from home. When she finally gets her chance to leave she does and in the process she finds herself on television.
After the farmer refuses a film producer's offer to buy Daisy he ends up letting her go to Hollywood to become a film star.
Daisy lived the good like for awhile but eventually the weight of missing the farmer - and her home - starts to take its toll.
The story ends just as it begins - only with Daisy - and maybe the farmer - more enlightened than before.

[Betsy]

My obsession with Brian Wildsmith deepens...

[Rida]

Funny!

[***Book Lady ***]

This children's book has gorgeous illustrations, and is about Daisy, the cow, who wants to see the world. Her owner rents her to a Hollywood studio. At first Daisy loves being in films, but then grows very homesick for her fields and food. She really doesn't see much of the world, but finds "there's no place like home".