Fiction - Animals, Children - Fiction & Literature

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa

Name: Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa
Author: Erica Silverman
ISBN: 9780152056605

by Erica Silverman, Betsy Lewin

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Overview

A Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Book Hold on to your hats! Two new pals have arrived on the scene: Cowgirl Kate and her stubborn, but devoted cowhorse, Cocoa. Together they count the herd, ride the range, and, of course, argue till the cows come home—as only best friends can do.

With its spirited text and bright, humorous illustrations by Caldecott Honor recipient Betsy Lewin, this first book in the Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa series is bound to be a hit with young wranglers everywhere.
This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Stories)

Cowgirl Kate and her cowhorse Cocoa, who is always hungry, count cows, share a story, and help each other fall asleep.

Synopsis

The first title in the fun and fiesty new easy reader series, now in paperback!

Heidi Hauser Green - Children's Literature

Yee haw! Turn the pages of this early chapter book to enjoy four delightful stories about a clever cowgirl and her hungry horse. In the first story, Kate and Cocoa are heading out to herd cows, when Cocoa decides he is thirsty. Then, he is hungry. Then, he decides he is too full to herd cows. So, Kate decides to tell him a story. The quick-witted girl's story inspires him and soon the pair are heading out to do their herding. In the second story, Kate brings her beloved horse a surprise. Cocoa's sure he knows what the gift is, and he is impatient to open it. He acts badly and bites it, then the pair have a good laugh as the horse comes to realize just how rashly he has acted. In the third story, Kate takes matters into her own hands when a hungry Cocoa refuses to help her count the cows. He changes his mind pretty quickly, and Kate is once more back in the saddle, but Cocoa has a pleasant surprise for her. In the fourth and final story, Kate and Cocoa are getting ready to go to sleep. Like a child, Cocoa needs his bed fluffed, then something to eat, then something to drink. Kate tends to his needs, but becomes a bit exasperated. When the tables turn, and she cannot get to sleep, it is Cocoa to the rescue with a soothing cowgirl lullaby. This book is sure to be a favorite with girls and parents everywhere. 2005, Harcourt, Ages 4 to 8.

About the Author, Erica Silverman

ERICA SILVERMAN has written many books for children, including Sholom's Treasure: How Sholom Aleichem Became a Writer, illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein, and When the Chickens Went on Strike, illustrated by Matthew Trueman. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

BETSY LEWIN is the well-known illustrator of Duck for President; Giggle, Giggle, Quack; and the Caldecott Honor-winning Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, all written by Doreen Cronin. She lives in New York City.

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Editorials

From the Publisher

"Four amiable adventures . . . The genial humor and feisty horse have child appeal . . . This affable duo . . . welcomes new readers to their home on the range."—School Library Journal

"Young children will see themselves in both characters . . . A fine choice for reading aloud to small groups or for confident new readers to tackle on their own."—Booklist

Children's Literature

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Kate is a "cowgirl from the boots up," and Cocoa is her loquacious and irascible equine companion. Together they share four amiable adventures in this easy chapter book. Beginning readers learn how the cowhorse was acquired and, in the process, discover that Kate is subtly clever and Cocoa is a bit of a slacker. The stories that follow include a disappointingly inedible surprise for the horse, a test of wills and devotion while cowherding, and a sleepover in the barn that dexterously reveals their mutual affection. Simple sentences and lots of repetition make these tales accessible, while occasional cowpoke vocabulary establishes the locale. Both horse and girl have well-developed personalities that weather the ups and downs of friendship. While the narrative is somewhat lacking in excitement, the genial humor and feisty horse have child appeal. Strong black lines lend rustic solidity to the watercolor illustrations that are generously distributed throughout the text. With additional adventures in the works, this affable duo augments Cynthia Rylant's popular people-and-their-pets pairings (Henry and Mudge, Mr. Putter and Tabby) and welcomes new readers to their home on the range.-Carol Ann Wilson, formerly at Westfield Memorial Library, NJ Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Kate is a confident and resourceful little girl with her own talking horse in this easy reader written at the fluency level for children who are reading on their own but not quite ready for longer fiction. The text is divided into four short chapters that describe some small incidents in their entwined lives: Kate acquiring Cocoa; the horse reacting to the surprise gift of a straw hat; their joint effort at counting cows; and an evening together in the barn. Cocoa is a distinct personality who demands lots of food and attention from Kate, but they also swap roles as caretaker when Cocoa worries about Kate's tree-climbing or sings her a lullaby when she's nervous about sleeping in the barn. Lewin's loose watercolor illustrations are just as appealing and funny as those in her other farmyard stories, with the cows taking a back seat this time. The humorous text, warm friendship between horse and owner and captivating illustrations add up to a cowgirl and "cowhorse" with enough star power to ride the range together in subsequent sequels. (Easy reader. 6-9)