Cows!

by John Hutton, Doug Cenko (Illustrations)

Support your toddler's developing literacy with Cows!, a book uniquely designed to help families establish reading habits from an early age. Play and learn with cows of all colors, shapes, and sizes. Questions within the book provide a built-in tool for grown-ups to use while reading, encouraging little ones to expand on the story. This type of interactive reading, known as "dialogic reading," is key to developing early literacy skills.

Genres: Picture Books

14 pages, Board book

Published April 2, 2019

About the author

Dr. John S. Hutton is a pediatrician and researcher at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Reading and Literacy Discovery Center, owner/overseer of blue manatee children’s bookstore and founder of blue manatee press. His research and advocacy interests are the influence of home reading environment and shared reading on early brain development, the health effects of screen-based media, and the creation of children's books to effectively convey infant and child health information. His research was the first to show a measurable effect of home reading exposure prior to kindergarten on brain function, using functional MRI. His Baby Unplugged and Love Baby Healthy book series have been distributed to over 1 million families nationwide, often via statewide public health initiatives. A recovering novelist, he has won awards for his writing in several genres, and attended writing workshops in Iowa City and Squaw Valley, CA. He lives with his family, dogs, cat, rabbit, fish, and a whole bunch of Bees, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This small board book opens with an illustration of the nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle” and invites the reader to fill in missing words. A gently funny conversation with the reader about the usual habits of cows and other animals on the farm follows and is closed by saying goodnight to the cow that is so tired from jumping over the moon. This is a winner for shared reading with prompts to help start valuable conversation around the story. Cenko’s bright illustrations match the energy of the text. The small size is just right for one child- teachers and librarians will crave a larger trim size to share it with a group. Recommended for purchase.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cleverly written story of observation and memory, using a nursery rhyme, bright colours, and opportunity to answer questions about what's on each page. In small board book format for little hands, it is fun to read.

[Sue Mosher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interactive book for little ones. Love it!

[John Hutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hands-on introduction to dialogic reading, designed to increase conversation and fun...with cows!

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read at Reedsburg Public Library in WI