American Poetry, Poetry - Animals, Poetry - General & Miscellaneous, Farm Animals
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Overview
This short poem, written in 1914 by beloved American poet Robert Frost, is a humorous ode to a headstrong Holstein who crashes through a stone wall into the apple orchard of a New England farm. Gorging delightedly on the fallen fruit, she drools and bellows impressively in the funny illustrations that eventually reveal an aftermath that is not so happy as the fruit ferments in her stomach and she can't give milk. Drawing on his real-life experiences as a farmer, Frost tells his tale in perfect rhyme and with a rhythmic syncopation in the style of early jazz. Amusing and playful, the illustrations present a perfect pairing of word and picture.Editorials
Bookviews
Brilliantly illustrated by Dean Yeagle . . . perfect for the child aged 4 to 7 . . . just wonderful!Library Materials Guide
Descriptive illustrations bring to life this classic poem by Robert Frost. A great addition to any library.Lincoln JournalStar
This book...was created to make the poet as accessible and attractive to children as possible.Scholastic Parent & Child
A beautiful, fantastic book . . . crisp artistry captures the humor of each moment and brings to life Frost's playful words. A perfect introduction to poetry!—Teachers' Picks: Best New Books of Fall 2005
School Library Journal
Gr 2-5-Color cartoon illustrations give a zany interpretation to Frost's classic poem. A determined bovine, obsessed with getting to the fallen orchard apples, tramples a wall in her haste, then chomps the fruit into "cider syrup." Although Yeagle's number-two pencil and computer-generated drawings do help readers interpret the words, the pictures often regress into silly animations that don't always make sense. A squirrel companion plays an odd role in observing the cow's antics, at various times waving, pleading, or getting out of the way. The farmer is frustrated about being unable to milk the cow, but her udder is anything but shriveled and dry, as indicated by the poem. There are humorous elements to this book, but overall there is a mismatch between the poem and the style of the art.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.Kirkus Reviews
The humor in this early Frost poem-about a cow whose udder goes dry thanks to overindulging on windfalls-is largely between the lines, but that's where Yeagle goes, providing Bill Peet-style illustrations of a knobby Holstein (named "Cleo") with large, long-lashed eyes and an avid expression leaping over stone walls and enthusiastically chowing down in the neighboring orchard. The poem is too short-even with the text split into a single line or phrase per spread, there are extra wordless pages-and its tongue-in-cheek tone contrasts sharply with the broad humor of the pictures. Moreover, the imbedded cautionary message about the perils of alcohol abuse (the drunken cow "bellows on a knoll against the sky" before going milk-less) will be lost on younger audiences. Susan Jeffers, Ed Young and many others have done better by this quintessential American poet. (Picture book. 6-8)Book Details
Published
September 1, 2005
Publisher
Beekman & Hathaway
Pages
32
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780975897010