Metropolitan Cow

by Tim Egan

Bennett Gibbons is a very fortunate calf. His parents are prominent members of their herd and noted socialites. They live in a beautiful apartment and give Bennett everything he could want. Indeed, young Bennett is the luckiest little calf in the neighborhood. Problem is, he's the only little calf in the neighborhood. Bennett is happy to become friends with Webster, a young pig who lives next door. But when his parents forbid the friendship Bennett runs away, and his parents soon learn the value of a good friend.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If having dignity means I can’t play with Webster, then I don’t want any. He’s my best friend.”

Bennett Gibbons is a lucky little calf. His biggest problem in life is that there aren’t any other calves around to play with. There are some pigs around his age, but they play in the mud and Bennett’s parents don’t want him playing in the mud. “Besides, cows didn’t play with pigs.”

One day, the Anderson family move in next door. They are pigs with a son about Bennett’s age. Bennett and Webster instantly become friends. But Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons are a little uncomfortable with this friendship. Pigs are just so unsophisticated, after all. And when Bennett jumps into the mud “in a moment of pure recklessness,” they decide that Bennett will not be allowed to play with Webster anymore. So Bennett runs away and it’s only Webster who knows where to find him.

A good message for students.

[Bridget Walswick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book showed the differences in types of animals but could also be compared to humans. It showed that cows were proper and dignified while pigs were unsophisticated and dirty. The two young boys Bennett and Webster became no matter their differences. when Bennetts parents don't let him play in the mud with webster he gets upset and runs off, when webster is the only one that knows where to find him. Bennetts' parents learn the benefits of a good friendship, then all the cows and pigs play in the mud together. the pictures are very colorful and can give the young readers an idea of what the story is about without reading the words.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bennett Gibbons lived with his parents who were very prominent and noted socialites. He wanted a friend his age to play with. When a family of pigs moved in next door, Bennett, and Webster became fast friends. Bennett's parents aren't very happy about Bennett, and Webster's friendship. Their attitude is changed when Webster helps them solve a problem.

[Kasandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome illustrations. I loved this story set in the big city of a friendship between a cow and a pig. Refreshing and quirky. May keep this instead of giving to my niece...

[Melissa Ganka-Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about two kids (well a cow and a pig really) that come from different backgrounds, but find friendship.

[Megan Goss · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book deals with the differences between economic classes; the elite versus the middle class. This book can also be interpreted as "racial" difference because "cows don't play with pigs." I like how the children don't know their social differences; the preconceived notions are held by the adults. So adults and cows hold the power in this story. At the end, the children end up teaching the adults that they really do have a lot in common and it doesn't matter if they are pigs or cows. The pictures look like they are painted and the text looks formal. The illustrations and the text are separated from each other with vertical or horizontal lines. Both the illustrations and the text are framed with a double-line border which makes it seem like we are watching the events from a window.

[Jose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seem quite bizarre because it made me think of social issues. The main character becomes friends with the new next store neighbor, however his parents seem uneasy about the new friend. The book made me think of race in a way because of the cow and pig character differences. The main characters in the story seem unaware of their differences, but the parents do. I think this book teaches children to accept everybody, regardless of their appearance and that there is a possibility that the two individuals have stuff in common. The illustrations in this book is great and entertaining, in my opinion.

[Vanessa Arredondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does an amazing job about discrimination. It uses cows and pigs as a way of representing how people or animals can think their a better than others. The cows thought they were better than the pigs just like people think they are better than other races. The story is easy to understand and the pictures go well with the text. There are warm colors which attracted me into looking at the pictures. After the first page, the text is always on the left side and the illustration on the right. Kids will enjoy this book because there are animals in it and the story is very common. There is a white border around the pages which makes the illustration stand out.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young cow and pig become fast friends, even though the cow's parents consider pigs to be "beneath them." After an argument between the young cow and his parents, the youngster runs away. Only with the help of the pig family do they find him again and discover that the pigs aren't that different from them.

Cool illustrations.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book and everything, thus far, that we have read by Tim Egan! This book emphasizes how children see no difference with others, while adults sometimes do. It was Tim's delightful, dry sense of humor that we love along with a sweet lesson in the middle of humorous drawings an ideas. It didn't hurt that one of the main children's character names was Webster <3

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bennett is the only young cow in an area with many cows. Webster, a young pig, moves next door. They become friends even though Bennett's parents find this as an odd friendship. The families find a balance between mud bathing and croquet.

[Anna Wanderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one must have struck a nerve with our three year old because I've read it every night for two weeks. The characters are just right and both the overall story and the small details are well done.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as Serious Farm, but still a good book!

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

You don't see many picture books that deal with prejudice between social classes.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture actually traces the idea of racism. I think younger kids will get it and it might work as a middle reader?

[Powers Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this story of acceptance.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Egan's artwork is, as usual, fabulous. I also like the simplicity of the story here about a young cow and a young pig learning to get along.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Egan's quirky style both in illustrations and text.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

sweet story about friendship, nice illustrations

themes: cows, friendship, pigs, racism

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really great book by Tim Egan!