Only Cows Allowed

by Lynn Plourde, Rebecca Harrison Reed (Illustrator)

Once uPUN a new New England farm, the cows refuse to let the other farm animals mooooove into the barn. ONLY COWS ALLOWED! But the hens, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, and geese aren't about to let those bossy cows get their way. The first-time farmer doesn't side with the cows either. Animal after animal after animal moves into the barn. But when the farmer throws an all-night barn party to celebrate his new farm, the cows leave without uddering a word. Where will they finally find some peace and quiet?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

I write kids' books--talk about a FUN job! I worked for 21 years as a speech-language therapist in Maine schools. When I got married, I got 3 & 4-year-old stepsons as part of my ready-made family. I read the boys picture books at bedtime. They fell asleep after 2 or 3 books, but I kept reading stacks and stacks of picture books and started to dream . . . maybe I could write picture books. I was already writing educational books (listening & speaking ideas for the classroom), but PICTURE BOOKS--that was different!

Different, and sloooooow! I had 13 years of rejections before getting my first book published, Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud, and I still get more rejections than acceptances--even after having more than 40 books published. So I'm still an author-in-training--learning to be a better author all the time.

I LOVE writing, the whole creative process. I also LOVE sharing my books with kids at schools: doing interactive readings, turning one of my books into a play, and teaching students how to plan and write different kinds of stories (i.e. problem stories, character stories, graphic novel scenes, fables) modeled after my books.

I love to try new kinds of writing such as poetic stories, a biography, a graphic novel, and more. Writing new kinds of stories is a challenge, but it makes writing fun and keeps me interested in the process.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a new New England farm, the cows try to claim the barn for themselves. They settle in and erect a sign to alert everyone else to this. However, no one seems to listen and the farmer finds favour with all the other animals. When an all-night party to celebrate the last of the animals arriving occurs, the cows exact their revenge and it is bittersweet for all. Neo laughed at how the cows thought they could be bossy and yet no one liked to listen to them.

[Tricia Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a cute book by the title. A new farmer begins bringing his animals to his new barn. The cows come first and put up a sign that says "Only cows allowed." More animals start arriving: hens, horses, cats, sheep, goats, etc. But each time the cows refuse to have anyone else in the barn with them. Each time they say "moooooooove" out. (That's about the only funny part.) In the end the cows leave and "no one even missed them." Where the cows go I won't say! I thought for a child reading this book there could have been a bit more "learn to get along" theme in the story. I really didn't like the cows! I did like the illustrations - the animals were very cute.

[Destiny Dawn Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the illustrations quite a bit. And I liked some of the jokes in the story, but I think that a few of them are likely to go over the heads of children. Particularly the ones about how the first time farmer thinks he's amazing...

It felt a little bit too wordy. I also think that sticking to the classic structure of three episodes would have been adequate (there were at least 4 days of animal arrivals, which just made things drag a little).

I also wasn't entirely sure about the message it sends to kids. It seems like the cows are the protagonists in the story... except they exclude others and kind of act like bullies.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a new farm with a new farmer, the cows are the first to be added to the farm. They claim the barn by writing a sign that says "Only Cows Allowed?" When the other animals arrive, they gradually take over the barn, scoffing at the sign and asking, "How do you know we're not cows in (chicken, horse, pig, etc.) disguises? When a party in the barn occurs, the cows slip out and take over the farmhouse, posting the same "Only Cows Allowed!" sign.

[Rachel Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best parts were the first and last couple of pages. My son giggled over the twist at the end.

[Lesley Dahlseng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynn Plourde sets the scene wonderfully with the arrival of four cows to an excited, though clueless, first-time farmer. We then discover that these cows have a bit of an elitist streak, as they claim the barn exclusively for themselves with a sign: ONLY COWS ALLOWED! As new animals arrive, each one attempts to show that they may actually be cows in order to gain entrance to the barn. They fail each test, of course, but the farmer doesn't mind. Rather, he indicates that the only animals not fulfilling their duties are the cows. When the farmer decides to throw a barn party for all the animals, the cows finally acquiesce. But who gets the last laugh? The cows! They sneak off to find someplace even better than their barn . . . won't the farmer be surprised!

Like: I like the tone, creativity, and expressiveness of the illustrations. The text is both humorous enough for a 5-7 year old and yet simple and instructive for the younger reader, confirming the different characteristics of each animal. The length and flow works well for older children. The ending will make the kids giggle with delight.

Dislike: At one point, the story presents the cows jumping over the moon. This seemed a little out-of-place. Nonetheless, most children will likely enjoy this detail which is accompanied by a comical illustration. The text length may get too long for kids younger than 5. Some readers may be disappointed by its moral, feeling that it lacked a lesson concerning respect and how to get along.

[Lupine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. Could be used for story time The illustrations are nice but I didn't feel like they fit the story and they're too murky (IMO) for storytime if you have large groups -- the funny details would be totally lost.

[Jenn O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super cute and funny illustrations, but the story was kind of weird. Were we trying to teach kids that some animals are better than others? I don't know that is the lesson you want to pass along. Wouldn't it be better for all the farm animals to find a common ground and become friends?

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A herd of cows on a fantasy farm learn the consequences of excluding others. Very nice illustrations, but rather wordy for the picture-book set.

[Annie]

Cute story, but too wordy for storytime. Lovely illustrations. Good for one-on-one sharing.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to teach children about puns. The illustrations are wonderful—A couple of the scenes made my kids laugh out loud.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing picture book about cows that want the barn all to themselves. I had big hopes for this charmingly illustrated tale but the ending where the cows wander away left me disappointed.

[Gryphon · Rating 2 out of 5]

A weird little book about some haughty cows.

Great illustrations though.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute children's book about what happens when the cows take over the barn.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was not funny, not clever, not sweet, and not good. Actually, the story was kind of pointless. The illustrations, however, were SO much better than the writing.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids will enjoy this one... the cows tried. The puns were good.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice illustrations but the story is a little thin.