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Two Cool Cows
Stealing the black button-back boots from the children at their farm, cool cows Millie and Maude begin a midnight adventure of moon jumping and partying with the other cool cows. By the author of Hattie Baked a Wedding Cake.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 1995
2 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Toby Speed
18 books5 followersI'm the author of children's books, mysteries and other fun word formations. DEATH OVER EASY, my first murder mystery, is out in October 2013 from Five Star, and I am working on book #2 in the series.
My short story, "At the Corner of Night and Nowhere," is included in an anthology called MOON SHOT: MURDER AND MAYHEM ON THE EDGE OF SPACE, forthcoming from Untreed Reads. I also write poetry. I will be featured on The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly (poemsoncrime.blogspot.com) the week of 11/4/13 and have some poems soon in LIGHT magazine.
I live on Long Island, NY, but am moving soon to New England with my husband and office assistant, Kashi the Cat. And I have three fabulous daughters.
I need to get some books on my shelves!
My short story, "At the Corner of Night and Nowhere," is included in an anthology called MOON SHOT: MURDER AND MAYHEM ON THE EDGE OF SPACE, forthcoming from Untreed Reads. I also write poetry. I will be featured on The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly (poemsoncrime.blogspot.com) the week of 11/4/13 and have some poems soon in LIGHT magazine.
I live on Long Island, NY, but am moving soon to New England with my husband and office assistant, Kashi the Cat. And I have three fabulous daughters.
I need to get some books on my shelves!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 22, 2015
Two Cool Cows by Toby Speed takes the nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle and creates a fun, extended story from it. The Cows, Millie and Maude, have stolen boots from the Huckabuck kids, Kate, Doug, Doug, Daisy, and Spoon, and they take the boots to jump over the moon. After a night doing the bunny hop and having a good time on the moon with all the other cows they have to rush back to the Huckabuck farm before morning. They make it back and are happy on the farm with the Huckabuck kids.
This story uses an abundance of rhyme, it is almost hard to read because everything rhymes so much. This rhyme helps to tie together that the book is using the nursery rhyme as a basis for the plot, it has to be read, or rather recited in the rhythm that Hey Diddle Diddle is recited. This rhyme also adds an extra layer of humor to the book, all the made up words and funny references that must be made in order to make the rhymes work would be very enjoyable for kids.
The illustrations add a lot more humor to the story. While the story is kind of funny on its own, the addition of the pictures of cows wearing boots and doing the bunny hop on the moon adds a whole new level of humor to the book. The illustrator, Barry Root did a wonderful job of interpreting the cooky story and creating pictures that make the unrealistic story seem reasonable.
This story uses an abundance of rhyme, it is almost hard to read because everything rhymes so much. This rhyme helps to tie together that the book is using the nursery rhyme as a basis for the plot, it has to be read, or rather recited in the rhythm that Hey Diddle Diddle is recited. This rhyme also adds an extra layer of humor to the book, all the made up words and funny references that must be made in order to make the rhymes work would be very enjoyable for kids.
The illustrations add a lot more humor to the story. While the story is kind of funny on its own, the addition of the pictures of cows wearing boots and doing the bunny hop on the moon adds a whole new level of humor to the book. The illustrator, Barry Root did a wonderful job of interpreting the cooky story and creating pictures that make the unrealistic story seem reasonable.
April 25, 2018
The two cool cows Millie and Maude take off from with the Huckabuck kids boots. As the cows run off to the far side of the moon the Huckabuck kids follow them on their journey. Millie and Maude join the other cows on the far side of the moon. They begin to play games and have a good time while the Huckabuck kids call after them. After a while the two cool cows return home and the kids get their boots back. Because its too late to sleep the cows and the kids dance and have a party.
This book is a fun engaging book that really does not have a solid theme. However there is a big emphasis on rhymes in this book. The book also has a great display of illustrations that keeps the reader engaged in the book. Though this book has no real theme it is a funny idea that the reader will love. As a child I loved this book and for these reasons I give this book a 4 star rating.
This book is a fun engaging book that really does not have a solid theme. However there is a big emphasis on rhymes in this book. The book also has a great display of illustrations that keeps the reader engaged in the book. Though this book has no real theme it is a funny idea that the reader will love. As a child I loved this book and for these reasons I give this book a 4 star rating.
December 1, 2019
This was one of my favorite books to read to my kids when they were little. In fact, I was always the one who was excited and ready to read it again. I also took it to work and read it to my elderly residents. It's more like a song than a story now.,I've read it so many times. I've already gotten it out and ready for my new grandson who is due in a few weeks. He's a good excuse to read my favorite book but one day he will enjoy it as much as I do.
April 14, 2025
This book presents an interesting riff on the classic nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle." The narrative is lyrical, with lots of onomatopoeia. The book would be fun to read aloud, although I think it might be a bit of a tongue twister in parts. The illustrations are funky and complement the narrative nicely.
October 26, 2023
LFL find that would appeal much more to my inner child and would have to young me, rather than to adult me. A magical musical word-play that is akin to nonsense verse, a good fit for the nonsensical plot about a big party, for cows only, on the moon.
June 4, 2017
Nice, quirky illustrations, story sort of nonsense.
May 21, 2019
Millie and Maude, two cool cows from Huckabuck farm are wearing the Huckabuck children's boots, and looking for a good jumping off place to head for the moon where fun, and frolic await them.
December 28, 2020
My husband's favorite kids book to give to new parents. This one has a nice poetic rhyming flow to the story.
October 28, 2022
Toddler liked it will enough until the dog distracted him. Quite the tongue twister.
July 1, 2023
so cute and the words were fun to say. can’t wait to read this to my future kiddo :)
October 10, 2020
Two Cool Cows is a really good read! I liked the rhyming it contained. The illustrations aid the humoristic side of the story and make it much more enjoyable.
November 18, 2024
The Hey Diddle Diddle song turned out to be the bedtime Mother Goose song about a cat with a fiddle violin and a farm dairy cow along with Luna, the male moon and a little hilarious dog and a plate dish with a spoon. The Two Cool Cows By Toby Speed Illustrated By Barry Root book had to look kinda like the too cheerful example within the beautiful moonlit night sky because something meant that Toby Speed imagined how the farm dairy cow would jump over the Luna moon in the bedtime nursery rhyme Mother Goose story, Hey Diddle Diddle. Millie then Maude had to steal the Huckabuck children’s new black boots while they wore their too great sunglasses and the Huckabuck children’s boots to their party to be located upward on the Luna moon. They went on a journey to look for greener pastures when they went out to venture to the Luna moon. They went on their journey from the Huckabuck Farm on the planet, Earth in order to go over the hills of Hillimadoon and Willimadoon and Rattamadoon and Hattamadeen and up the river and down the river and over the river bridge then around the bend and over the rickety pickety fence then down through the buggity bog then straight through the wickedy thickety woods then into the fishety pond to the mountaintop located on the far, far side part of the Luna moon and go jump over the Luna moon to go higher into the night sky. They found a green and great green and wide meadow located on the well-known other side for dairy cows on the munch and dairy cows by the bunch, ever so many eating their good picnic lunch and dairy cows in the moon craters and dairy cows and their cousins and dairy cows on vacation and dozens and dozens of dairy cows. They did the bunny hop dance, together, until the Huckabuck children who chased after Millie then Maude had to shout out loud to Millie then Maude by calling them home to milking time while they wanted Millie then Maude to bring the boots back to them. Millie then Maude completed the party then they went back to the Huckabuck children on the mountaintop in order to return the boots to the Huckabuck children. The two cool cows handed the boots back to the Huckabuck children and they ran a race to beat the Luna moon on their journey back to the Huckabuck Farm. The Luna moon got home to be located ahead of the two cool cows and the Huckabuck children. The two cool cows and the Huckabuck children did the bunny hop dance throughout the mission to let Kate play the fiddle violin and let Doug laugh and let Daisy run off with Spoon. The two cool cows were back at the Huckabuck Farm while they thought about their next mission to go jump right over the Luna moon again in the next night.
March 25, 2015
Two Cool Cows, by Toby Speed, is an adorable twist on the nursery rhyme of the Cow Jumps Over the Moon. But in this version, two cool cows named Millie and Maude run off in the children's boots and their sweet shades to jump to the moon. They eat and play on their little vacation, but eventually come home and dance with the children all night long.
This book is definitely one to be read aloud, its filled with silly words and onomatopoeia. It is also written with a rhythmic bounce as it plays on the words from the nursery rhyme like, "Hey, diddle diddle, moon be bright/ Let's jump tonight." Even the children, like Kate and Spoon stem from the original tale of the cat that plays the fiddle and the spoon. Overall it is a fun read that any child can enjoy and get the reference while laughing at the silly cows.
What was my favorite part had to be the illustrations, especially of the cows on the moon. Like a cow Coachella, these drawings depict a place of laid back cows, surrounded by grass, good vibes, and weird instruments. Every page is busy with fun designs and colors, adding to the whimsy in every page. These cool cows are too cool for there simple old farm, so the head to the hill covered in swirls that will lead them to the party. But even though the pages can be busy and crazy, the reader can always spot the cows. So, as a whole, the illustrator, Barry Roots, does a great job of bringing the text to life and accompanying the writing to make this book too cool for school.
This book is definitely one to be read aloud, its filled with silly words and onomatopoeia. It is also written with a rhythmic bounce as it plays on the words from the nursery rhyme like, "Hey, diddle diddle, moon be bright/ Let's jump tonight." Even the children, like Kate and Spoon stem from the original tale of the cat that plays the fiddle and the spoon. Overall it is a fun read that any child can enjoy and get the reference while laughing at the silly cows.
What was my favorite part had to be the illustrations, especially of the cows on the moon. Like a cow Coachella, these drawings depict a place of laid back cows, surrounded by grass, good vibes, and weird instruments. Every page is busy with fun designs and colors, adding to the whimsy in every page. These cool cows are too cool for there simple old farm, so the head to the hill covered in swirls that will lead them to the party. But even though the pages can be busy and crazy, the reader can always spot the cows. So, as a whole, the illustrator, Barry Roots, does a great job of bringing the text to life and accompanying the writing to make this book too cool for school.
March 1, 2015
Two Cool Cows by Toby Speed is a sort of fractured fairy tale that plays off of the Hey Diddle Diddle nursery rhyme. It shows the journey of the "two cool, too cool cows," Millie and Maude. They have to go on an adventure to get to the moon and back over it before the sun rises and the moon sets. It is and exciting take on the nursery rhyme that is super entertaining.
One textual element that was really amusing in the book is the rhyming. There are so many whimsical words that make the book exciting. The words that Speed uses to rhyme are not always real words, but they work so well! The words also play off of what is in the original nursery rhyme, which adds a fun little twist. For example, one of the farm boys is named Spoon and one of the kids plays the fiddle.
The illustrations done by Barry Root are really colorful and fun! Each cow's face has a different expression and it is really cool to go back through and look at all of the different cows. The illustrations are also realistic to the situation. The party scene with the cows is so funny because it portrays a fun little get together in such a relatable manner that it creates more humor. Overall, this book is just really fun to read with anybody because of its liveliness.
One textual element that was really amusing in the book is the rhyming. There are so many whimsical words that make the book exciting. The words that Speed uses to rhyme are not always real words, but they work so well! The words also play off of what is in the original nursery rhyme, which adds a fun little twist. For example, one of the farm boys is named Spoon and one of the kids plays the fiddle.
The illustrations done by Barry Root are really colorful and fun! Each cow's face has a different expression and it is really cool to go back through and look at all of the different cows. The illustrations are also realistic to the situation. The party scene with the cows is so funny because it portrays a fun little get together in such a relatable manner that it creates more humor. Overall, this book is just really fun to read with anybody because of its liveliness.
February 13, 2013
From the creators of the equally delirious Brave Potatoes come Millie and Maude, "over the hills of Hillimadoon and Willimadoon and Ratamadoon and Hatamadeen" - if your brain starts to fog over at pronunciation like this, then Two Cool Cows is probably not for you. On the bright side, they do steal off with children's cowboy boots just because, wear shades, and go clubbing on the moon. Hey diddle diddle. Everyone needs to blow off some steam.
October 30, 2009
My favorite read-aloud book, but it's not much of a "read to yourself" book. I saw it several times before I read it to my kids and discovered the music in the words. I have a friend who asked me to read it to him when he was in his twenties. There's just something about it. It's kind of hard to find, but worth it.
April 6, 2011
This story plays off of the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle". Its a an interesting story about 2 cows that plan to jump over the moon. You may have students that have never heard the nursery rhyme before so you might want to introduce it to them first but either way its still an entertaining story.
November 15, 2012
PB:42 Two Cool Cows. I really did not get into this book at all especially from the start. I do like the rhyming words, which can be quite challenging to children. The illustrationsmade this book, not the story. This is more so a read aloud book to children because when you read it to yourself it is quite boring.
October 8, 2008
Ellen gave us this book when it first came out; it was so nice to have a children's book that had such fun rhyming word play. Our boys both really enjoyed it when they were little, but I will admit I don't know if they recall it now.
April 29, 2011
I admired the rhymes in this book as well as the two cool cow’s sense of style. Children will like this book too especially if there are familiar with the 'Hey Diddle Diddle Nursery Rhyme'. This story would be a great read aloud.
December 29, 2011
if this one is red with a good sense of rhythm and tempo, it can be an awesome bedtime poem! It's all in the way you read it, but the pictures definitely make you think of the moon and cows some of the kids favorite things.
August 3, 2016
I didn't really get into this book. Reading it by yourself it is boring. I didn't really see the point of the story, the illustrations are what made this book exciting. The one thing i did like was the use of rhyming words and that with the words it went to the tune of "hey diddle diddle."
April 24, 2008
This is another pre-school and up book. It's just poetic and cute, a very unique book.
May 12, 2008
I enjoy reading this book to my daughter as much as she loves hearing it read to her, maybe a little more. Definitely stands out from the pack of children's lit.
May 21, 2008
The story just didn't flow smoothly. I'm not sure what kind of story this is meant to be. It was like a bedtime story told in freeform.
November 12, 2009
Cool cows on the moon? Read about a night time escapade on the moon. Made connections to the nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle.
April 14, 2010
Great to use when working with nursery rhymes and rhyming. Also a good book to use when working on word choice.
November 15, 2011
I enjoyed reading this book. It is an excellent choice to read to children because of the rhyming words. Some children tend to pick up on the rhymes easily. The story is also a child favorite.
December 10, 2011
Read it with the Christmas Cows books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews