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Clancy the Courageous Cow
The Belted Galloways are trapped in a vicious cycle. Every year their bossy neighbors, the Herefords, win the Cow Wrestling Contest. The winners get to graze on the best pasture. The losers have to wait till next year. Can a beltless Belted Galloway do anything about their plight? He can if his name is Clancy.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
3 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 16, 2022
NGL this was one of the best books I’ve ever read and no one can fight me on this one 🤠
May 31, 2013
A great book that tackles border disputes and immigration reform in the most light-hearted and justice-maximizing way.
October 3, 2012
The message in this story is one to be admired. The book teachers tolerance and acceptance to young children; therefore, by understanding this message they will hopefully appreciate everyone’s’ differences and learn not to pass judgment on others because of these differences. What makes this book more remarkable is that the author of this book wrote the book when he was just 12 years old. The story depicts a cow that is picked on and feels left out because he does not have a white line going around his stomach like all of the other cows do; he is picked on and often feels ashamed of not having this white line like everyone else. In the end, the other cows learn to appreciate him when he is able to win a wrestling match against the enemy cows. Therefore, this cow teaches all of the other cows about acceptable and that nobody should be judged because they may be different than everybody else. Teaching students about theme and acceptance by using this book to start off the unit would be a great way to use this resource.
April 20, 2019
So much to dig into here. Pairs well with Mixed by Aree Chung
June 10, 2021
One of my favourite children's books - all about difference, cross culture love, and multi-generational disadvantage, But told using cow wrestling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2026
Best book ever!
July 14, 2014
Again with the male cow; do people not understand that a cow with udders is female? That mammals rarely lactate until they've actually been pregnant at least once?
Is it unreasonable of me to expect cows to be female and bulls to be male? For bees and ants to be female? I realize that people write stories for kids all the time that use animal characters without any basis in the animal nature. I know that Little Bear's father doesn't wear an Edwardian suit. But one of the cool things about nature is all the different kinds of society there can be, and many are matriarchal. And I'm really tired of the females just not existing. Quit it. That stupid Barnyard movie got on my last bloody nerve, and don't even think about mentioning the TV show to me, I will scream.
No, anthropomorphized critters in children's story books do not have to act exactly like their real world counterparts. But let's try to get some of the facts right, okay?
Is it unreasonable of me to expect cows to be female and bulls to be male? For bees and ants to be female? I realize that people write stories for kids all the time that use animal characters without any basis in the animal nature. I know that Little Bear's father doesn't wear an Edwardian suit. But one of the cool things about nature is all the different kinds of society there can be, and many are matriarchal. And I'm really tired of the females just not existing. Quit it. That stupid Barnyard movie got on my last bloody nerve, and don't even think about mentioning the TV show to me, I will scream.
No, anthropomorphized critters in children's story books do not have to act exactly like their real world counterparts. But let's try to get some of the facts right, okay?
January 22, 2016
A very interesting story about two sets of cows who have a wrestling match to see which herd will get the better grass. In the Belted Galloway herd a boy is born without the white belt, which gives him the advantage of being able sneak across the the better grass at night without being spotted by the Herefords.
And interesting story about how an uneven playing field tends to perpetuate itself - i.e. the Herefords always win the wrestling match because they have access to the better grass which makes them bigger and stronger, which in turn gives them another year of grazing on the better grass.
Okay, if somewhat amateurish, illustrations.
And interesting story about how an uneven playing field tends to perpetuate itself - i.e. the Herefords always win the wrestling match because they have access to the better grass which makes them bigger and stronger, which in turn gives them another year of grazing on the better grass.
Okay, if somewhat amateurish, illustrations.
November 10, 2008
The belted galloways are trapped in a vicious cycle. Every year their bossy neighbors, the Herefords, win the cow wrestling contest. The winners get to graze on the best pasture. The losers have to wait till next year. Can a beltless belted Galloway do anything about their plight? (Book jacket)
Great for raising discussions about bullying, peace studies, and sportsmanship.
Great for raising discussions about bullying, peace studies, and sportsmanship.
July 14, 2009
This is a story to teach kids about bullying, war, peace, sportsmanship, being different, etc, etc...
It's not the greatest picture book every made - but it is pretty fantastic work for a 12-year-old. It probably helped that children's book writing is in the family - with Lachie's mum being Alison Lester.
It's not the greatest picture book every made - but it is pretty fantastic work for a 12-year-old. It probably helped that children's book writing is in the family - with Lachie's mum being Alison Lester.
March 20, 2010
My kids enjoyed the wrestling cows; I thought that it had a nice message about accepting the differences in others and getting along.
"Black, white, or brown, we are all cows. I say we pull down the fence and be cows together."
"Black, white, or brown, we are all cows. I say we pull down the fence and be cows together."
June 19, 2008
Silly story, but great book for addressing prejudices and showing that everyone should be treated equally.
November 28, 2009
Clancy, misfit cow. He provies himself in the annual cow wrestling match. Interesting story with clear message to not judge by appearances.
April 12, 2013
Best book ever!
August 14, 2014
My kids' new fave bed time story!
June 2, 2015
Clancy the courageous cow is an amazing book but you also have to read very careful and get a great prospective of the book.
November 16, 2016
Appreciate being different. Individuality is important.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews