Are You a Cow? - Hardcover

Sandra Boynton is a popular American cartoonist, children’s author, songwriter, producer, and director. Since 1974, Boynton has written and illustrated over sixty children’s books and seven general audience books, including five New York Times bestsellers. More than 70 million of her books have been sold, “mostly to friends and family,” she says. She has also written (with Michael Ford) and produced six albums of renegade children’s music. Three of her six albums have been certified Gold (over 500,000 copies sold) and Philadelphia Chickens, nominated for a Grammy, has been certified Platinum (over 1 million copies sold). Boynton has also directed twelve music videos of her songs, including the award-winning “One Shoe Blues” starring B.B. King, “Alligator Stroll” starring Josh Turner, and “Tyrannosaurus Funk” (animated) sung by Samuel L. Jackson. She lives in rural New England, and her studio is in a barn with perhaps the only hippopotamus weathervane in America.

Sandra Boynton is a popular American cartoonist, children’s author, songwriter, producer, and director. Since 1974, Boynton has written and illustrated over sixty children’s books and seven general audience books, including five New York Times bestsellers. More than 70 million of her books have been sold, “mostly to friends and family,” she says. She has also written (with Michael Ford) and produced six albums of renegade children’s music. Three of her six albums have been certified Gold (over 500,000 copies sold) and Philadelphia Chickens, nominated for a Grammy, has been certified Platinum (over 1 million copies sold). Boynton has also directed twelve music videos of her songs, including the award-winning “One Shoe Blues” starring B.B. King, “Alligator Stroll” starring Josh Turner, and “Tyrannosaurus Funk” (animated) sung by Samuel L. Jackson. She lives in rural New England, and her studio is in a barn with perhaps the only hippopotamus weathervane in America.

ARE YOU A COW? [STARRED REVIEW!]
Author: Boynton, Sandra
Illustrator: Boynton, Sandra

Review Issue Date: July 1, 2012
Online Publish Date: June 13, 2012
Publisher:Little Simon/Simon & Schuster
Pages: 16
Price ( Hardcover ): $5.99
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
ISBN ( Hardcover ): 978-1-4424-1733-5
Category: Picture Books
Classification: Board Books

A bossy chicken demands that listeners introduce themselves.
A question-and-answer format challenges the toddling audience to identify with various animals. The energetic interrogation opposes questions in conventionally sized type and answers in a teeny-tiny font. “Are you a cow?” “No.” The pattern breaks when hippos lumber into view. “You are not a HIPPO. / You are small. They are big.” A perpetually grinning bear and upside-down chicken prompt negative reactions, and then a penguin appears. “Are you a penguin? You're not? But wait! / You must be YOU! Now isn't that great!” This exuberant call-and-response and mostly repetitive format keep the pages turning with brio. The wacky characters dominate each page with puzzled, endearing expressions, and cross-eyed stares add a further dollop of humor. Boynton has perfected the art of creating developmentally appropriate books for babies that keep their parents engaged too, and this is no exception.
Tots will be thrilled at the chance to use one of their favorite two-letter words (“no!”) over and over again. (Board book. 1-3)
Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2012 *STARRED