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Santa Cows
'Tis the night before Christmas and Elwood and his family are snug at home enjoying video games, TV, and a microwave meal. Suddenly, a strange mooing comes to their ears. Flinging open the shutters, they're amazed to discover a sky full of udders! Down the chimney come the Santa Cows. With dewy eyes like Liz Taylor's and radiant smiles, the cows bear wondrous gifts for one and all. It's a Christmas the family will never forget.
40 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 18, 2022
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.
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.
August 10, 2016
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).
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).
December 27, 2019
This was one of my fave Christmas books as a kid and it holds up!
May 12, 2011
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!
Although I wish the cows, being the vegetarians they are, would have given the Schwartzes a few lessons about eating healthier foods!
November 2, 2007
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
November 27, 2015
What a trippy take on "The Night Before Christmas"!
December 25, 2017
Maybe a little corny, but singing and baseball playing cows are a Christmas tradition.
December 7, 2018
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.
September 3, 2019
Great Christmas book to draw kids in, and brings family together.
December 27, 2021
I really, really, really wanted to love this book. But it was just okay.
January 3, 2022
So fun! Funny rhyming story with gorgeous illustrations! If you or yours enjoy Christmas, cows, or baseball, this book is for you.
November 30, 2022
This books rightly deserves these 4 weird, obnoxiously 90s, and udderly hilarious stars.
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December 13, 2022Udderly delightful
January 4, 2025
Night before Christmas - bovine edition.
December 20, 2025
a ridiculous holiday favorite from my childhood!
January 1, 2024
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.
January 2, 2026
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.
December 17, 2016
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.
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December 5, 2009i chuckled the whole time i read this.
December 10, 2010
# 50 Great parody to read aloud 3rd-5th.
December 17, 2012
cute book read this to my daughter
December 24, 2013
Funny book with great illustrations!
December 28, 2015
This is an amazing book. It is a different spin on The Night Before Christmas.
December 22, 2016
Cute and funny book
January 4, 2026
cows + 90s nostalgia and a creepy pizza delivery man that never leaves. i love it
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews