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Sakes Alive! A Cattle Drive
Two cows, Mabel and Molly, take the farmer's truck and go for an eventful joyride into town.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published July 6, 2005
1 person is currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Karma Wilson
105 books523 followersKarma Wilson grew up an only child of a single mother in the wilds of North Idaho. Way back then (just past the stone age and somewhat before the era of computers) there was no cable TV and if there had been Karma could not have recieved it. TV reception was limited to 3 channels, of which one came in with some clarity. Karma did the only sensible thing a lonely little girl could do…she read or played outdoors.
Playing outdoors was fun, but reading was Karma’s “first love” and, by the age 11, she was devouring about a novel a day. She was even known to try to read while riding her bike down dirt roads, which she does not recommend as it is hazardous to the general well being of the bike, the rider, and more importantly the book. Her reading preferences were fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, etc…) and historical fiction (L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc…). Those tastes have not changed much.
Karma never considered writing as a profession because her mother was a professional writer which made it seem like mundane work. At the age of 27 she realized that she still loved well-written children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels. By that time Karma was a wife and the mother of three young children. Trips to the library with her kids were a combination of emotions…a good book meant fun for all! But so many of the books weren’t what her children wanted to listen to.
Then a tax refund changed everything. With the money the family decided to invest in a computer. Karma was forced to learn to type. Combining her desire to make the expensive computer pay for itself, her new-found typing skill, and her love of children’s literature, Karma started writing for children. She wanted to put a few more good books on the library shelves and pay off that computer! Countless rejections and three years later Karma was finally accepted by book agent Steven Malk (who had already rejected her once, which she never lets him forget). Her first book, Bear Snores On, was released in 2002. The computer was paid for!
Since then Karma has had more than 30 books accepted for publication. Many of those are on the shelves of libraries and bookstores around the world. Her books have received numerous state and national awards, been translated into dozens of languages, and a few have made an appearance on the New York Times bestseller list. Karma sincerely hopes that her books bring joy to children and families everywhere.
Karma writes humorous, rhythmic picture books for the very young, and humorous and wistful poetry for the primary grades.
These days Karma lives with her handsome husband Scott, and her three not-so-young-anymore children, two dogs, two chickens and one cat on some modest but lovely acreage in NW Montana. Her hobbies include reading (of course), photography, baking, yoga, and a passion for Mixed Martial Arts.
Playing outdoors was fun, but reading was Karma’s “first love” and, by the age 11, she was devouring about a novel a day. She was even known to try to read while riding her bike down dirt roads, which she does not recommend as it is hazardous to the general well being of the bike, the rider, and more importantly the book. Her reading preferences were fantasy (C.S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, etc…) and historical fiction (L.M. Montgomery, Laura Ingalls Wilder, etc…). Those tastes have not changed much.
Karma never considered writing as a profession because her mother was a professional writer which made it seem like mundane work. At the age of 27 she realized that she still loved well-written children’s books of all kinds, from picture books to young adult novels. By that time Karma was a wife and the mother of three young children. Trips to the library with her kids were a combination of emotions…a good book meant fun for all! But so many of the books weren’t what her children wanted to listen to.
Then a tax refund changed everything. With the money the family decided to invest in a computer. Karma was forced to learn to type. Combining her desire to make the expensive computer pay for itself, her new-found typing skill, and her love of children’s literature, Karma started writing for children. She wanted to put a few more good books on the library shelves and pay off that computer! Countless rejections and three years later Karma was finally accepted by book agent Steven Malk (who had already rejected her once, which she never lets him forget). Her first book, Bear Snores On, was released in 2002. The computer was paid for!
Since then Karma has had more than 30 books accepted for publication. Many of those are on the shelves of libraries and bookstores around the world. Her books have received numerous state and national awards, been translated into dozens of languages, and a few have made an appearance on the New York Times bestseller list. Karma sincerely hopes that her books bring joy to children and families everywhere.
Karma writes humorous, rhythmic picture books for the very young, and humorous and wistful poetry for the primary grades.
These days Karma lives with her handsome husband Scott, and her three not-so-young-anymore children, two dogs, two chickens and one cat on some modest but lovely acreage in NW Montana. Her hobbies include reading (of course), photography, baking, yoga, and a passion for Mixed Martial Arts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 15, 2011
What does the phrase "cattle drive" conjure up for you? Unless you have read this book or you are Karma Wilson, you are probably wrong. This isn't like any cattle drive I've ever heard of. Two cows, Mabel and Molly, filch the keys to the farmer's truck right out of his pocket and go on a joyride. Joyful for the cows, the people in the town, and the reader. It's a fun-filled rhyming book with hilarious illustrations that show the surprise and the amusement at seeing a truck with two cows careening through the town.
December 10, 2014
This is a great book - I love the illustrations and the cadence of the story. It's the story of the cows escaping and going for a wild ride through town in Farmer's truck.
December 28, 2015
The five stars is a personal preference.
For Story-time this is a three star book. My kids don't get the humor, because they have no idea what a cattle drive is.
For Story-time this is a three star book. My kids don't get the humor, because they have no idea what a cattle drive is.
October 19, 2019
Creative, fun and filled with puns, the rhyming text makes for a rollicking read aloud that my story time audience loved. The illustrations capture the humorous chaos that ensues when a pair of cows steal farmer's keys and take his truck on a wild joy ride.
September 25, 2017
Cows steal a car and have a drive, creating a whole lot of ruckus.
January 28, 2018
This is an extremely sweet read-aloud rhyming book for little ones. Highly recommended!
March 19, 2018
I'm not crazy about this one, but it would be funny for the kids.
August 8, 2018
A laugh out loud funny ride about two cows stealing the farmers keys and going on car ride through town. preschool and up
July 28, 2024
Mable and Molly, two cows, steal the farmer's keys to his truck and go for a cattle drive into town. A gleeful rhyming joy ride.
January 20, 2025
Cute book that I think kids would really enjoy.
August 21, 2012
Sixty children attended our "Stars Out West" story time, which was launched with this rollicking story. Here's a sample of the dialogue our dynamic performer streamed to engage the group.
(Pointing to the cover of the book)"Who can tell me what these cows are doing?" "This story is called SAKES ALIVE -- Can you say that with me?" "We're going to be saying that a lot in this story."
"Can you wave to the farmer?"
...
"They didn't stop at the stop sign! Is that a good choice?"
"What does the siren sound like?"
...
"Do we have cows in our parade?"
"Can you neigh like a horse?"
"What would you do if you saw a cow driving a car?"
The children absolutely love being involved in the story this way.
After the story's conclusion the performer led them in this action verse:
Did you ever see a lasso, a lasso, a lasso?
Did you ever see a lasso swing this way and that?
Ride tall in your saddle,
And herd up the cattle!
Did you ever see a lasso swing this way and that?
(Shared in the Oct/Nov 2002 issue of the Preschool Mailbox Magazine on page 56 by Emily Lloyd of the Dolley Madison Community Library in McLean, VA).
(Pointing to the cover of the book)"Who can tell me what these cows are doing?" "This story is called SAKES ALIVE -- Can you say that with me?" "We're going to be saying that a lot in this story."
"Can you wave to the farmer?"
...
"They didn't stop at the stop sign! Is that a good choice?"
"What does the siren sound like?"
...
"Do we have cows in our parade?"
"Can you neigh like a horse?"
"What would you do if you saw a cow driving a car?"
The children absolutely love being involved in the story this way.
After the story's conclusion the performer led them in this action verse:
Did you ever see a lasso, a lasso, a lasso?
Did you ever see a lasso swing this way and that?
Ride tall in your saddle,
And herd up the cattle!
Did you ever see a lasso swing this way and that?
(Shared in the Oct/Nov 2002 issue of the Preschool Mailbox Magazine on page 56 by Emily Lloyd of the Dolley Madison Community Library in McLean, VA).
May 1, 2012
Being avid Karma Wilson fans, my kids and I always look forward to a new discovery of hers. This one is cute, funny, rhythmic, etc. like many of her others. My problem is that the feel of the book is preschool-kindergarten, but the humor depends in part on kids having a firm grasp of the word plays (like "cattle drive"). So, a fun read aloud, but some humor goes over their heads.
October 2, 2014
Looking for a book that has cute illustrations and words that both have rhythm and rhyme? Well, then this is the book for you! It plays around with what people traditionally think of as a “cattle drive” and gives it a twist. Plenty of repetition and rhyming can be found throughout the book, something that is appealing and great for younger readers.
November 13, 2015
Close to being too long for storytime, but good for use with older kids in preschool storytime. The kids loved the silliness of the book and looking at the pictures to see what the cows were not understanding (like the red sign--the kids read "stop" for me).
March 24, 2008
One of my favorite stories to read during storytime.
September 5, 2008
Andy LOVES this one
February 16, 2009
Hilarious! Great rhyming book.
April 10, 2009
I read this to Emily's 1st grade class and they loved the cows driving the truck. The illustrations are lovely and the story is cute. Great book to read aloud.
April 16, 2009
literally. The cattle drive the truck to town.
January 15, 2010
Chaos ensues when two cows go joyriding.
September 13, 2010
The town go crazy when they see Molly and Mabel, the Farmer's cows, driving his truck right through town. Hilarious story and very cleverly written.
October 6, 2010
My kids really enjoyed this one.
December 8, 2010
This book is fun for kids to repeat the main line as they read a book about cows that took the car for a drive! It rhymes and repeats the main line, which kids will enjoy saying as they read!
March 31, 2011
This is a great book for storytimes about parades, cowboys or farm animals!
October 22, 2011
This book is full of mini-lesson opportunities. Curved lines, a variety of picture placement, repeating lines, humor, and a funny, satisfying ending.
August 13, 2016
"I like the cattle drive."
March 21, 2012
A funny, great read aloud for you and your kids. The rhymes are fantastic, and the situations are hilarious. My son laughed through the entire story.
August 24, 2012
Cute and hilarious, will be using this for story times this fall!
October 7, 2012
Read this to my daughters preschool class for story time and they LOVED it. Great rhythm, cute characters, super fun refrain that can be parroted by the kids.
July 26, 2016
Borrowed again January 2014
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews