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Belinda
Belinda the cow will only allow Bessie to milk her, so when Bessie goes to the city to visit her daughter, Old Tom must find some way to catch and milk Belinda
32 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1993
1 person is currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Allen
111 books83 followersPamela Kay Allen MNZM AM, born in 1934 in Devonport, New Zealand, is a celebrated children's author and illustrator.
Since the release of her first book, Mr. Archimedes' Bath, in 1980, she has written and illustrated over 50 picture books, selling over five million copies. Renowned for works like Who Sank the Boat?.
Allen has received numerous accolades, including the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award and the Margaret Mahy Medal. Her books have been adapted for the stage and are beloved worldwide. Now residing in Auckland, she remains an icon in children's literature.
Since the release of her first book, Mr. Archimedes' Bath, in 1980, she has written and illustrated over 50 picture books, selling over five million copies. Renowned for works like Who Sank the Boat?.
Allen has received numerous accolades, including the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award and the Margaret Mahy Medal. Her books have been adapted for the stage and are beloved worldwide. Now residing in Auckland, she remains an icon in children's literature.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 25, 2013
My son and I read this. he was not well and this story just hit the spot for comfort. he read one page and I would read the next, and we would bet defore we turned the page who would have more to read. Loved the tale, simple, cute and jst right for the moment.
July 5, 2019
Belinda is an excellent story about a simple couple who live in the country and grow their own vegetables and collect their own milk from their cow, Belinda. This would be a great story for teaching students that vegetables and milk do not simply come from the supermarket - they typically come from farms in the country. Bessie and Old Tom do not run a farm as such that provides for people like a big farm would that specialises in growing a type of fruit or vegetable, or a dairy farm. However, students can still learn from this story that some people in the country might grow their own vegetables and produce their own milk. The story is fairly simple to understand and is humorous, so I think that it would be best enjoyed by 5-8 year olds.
Allen frequently uses onomatopoeia throughout her story, with words like 'moooooooo', mooing, trotting, and 'squi......rt'. I like the way she writes 'mooooooooo' because there is a shape to how it appears on the page. When reading this story aloud, this shape is very helpful to know when to change the pitch of the long moo, as the o's move up and down. I also like the way she writes squirt (as 'squi......rt'), which appears when Old Tom is milking Belinda and he is collecting the milk in his bucket. Reading squirt aloud as 'squi......rt' effectively captures the sound of milk pinging in the bucket.
Rhyming and alliteration are briefly used in this story, and repetition is also used. Rhyming appears a couple of times with 'a thud in the mud'. Alliteration is used when Allen describes some of the vegetables that Old Tom grows in his garden: 'He grows cucumbers and carrots. He grows pumpkins and parsley. He grows beetroot and beans'. Repetition is also used in this section, with 'he grows' being repeated. Two other sections where repetition is obvious are: 'Mooing and trotting, mooing and trotting, around and around and around they went' and 'He thought and thought and thought and thought and thought.' I think that this repetition with the last two examples can help students to understand the length of time that Old Tom spent chasing Belinda and thinking about how to catch her.
Allen frequently uses onomatopoeia throughout her story, with words like 'moooooooo', mooing, trotting, and 'squi......rt'. I like the way she writes 'mooooooooo' because there is a shape to how it appears on the page. When reading this story aloud, this shape is very helpful to know when to change the pitch of the long moo, as the o's move up and down. I also like the way she writes squirt (as 'squi......rt'), which appears when Old Tom is milking Belinda and he is collecting the milk in his bucket. Reading squirt aloud as 'squi......rt' effectively captures the sound of milk pinging in the bucket.
Rhyming and alliteration are briefly used in this story, and repetition is also used. Rhyming appears a couple of times with 'a thud in the mud'. Alliteration is used when Allen describes some of the vegetables that Old Tom grows in his garden: 'He grows cucumbers and carrots. He grows pumpkins and parsley. He grows beetroot and beans'. Repetition is also used in this section, with 'he grows' being repeated. Two other sections where repetition is obvious are: 'Mooing and trotting, mooing and trotting, around and around and around they went' and 'He thought and thought and thought and thought and thought.' I think that this repetition with the last two examples can help students to understand the length of time that Old Tom spent chasing Belinda and thinking about how to catch her.
March 27, 2018
This is one of my favourite books of Pamela Allen. 22 month-old Little-AJ is obsessed with this book for the last 3 months (he still is!). This book has all the things Little-AJ loves: a dog, a cat, a pig, a cow, and milk!
Bessie milks the cow Belinda every morning. But one day Belinda went to the city to stay with her daughter. So old Tom needed to milk the cow. But Belinda refused to allow him to get near and gave old Tom a big kick. What follows is a series of hilarious events: old Tom ran after Belinda, old Tom attempted to lure Belinda with a carrot and rope, old Tom sat on the stool and thought, and finally: Old Tom dressed up as Bessie to fool Belinda!
The story is too cute and too funny! Little-AJ giggles, does the "moo" sound, says "milk", and points at all his favourite animals. This is a book that brings us lots of laughter and smile.
Blog review here: https://storypleasemummy.wordpress.co...
Bessie milks the cow Belinda every morning. But one day Belinda went to the city to stay with her daughter. So old Tom needed to milk the cow. But Belinda refused to allow him to get near and gave old Tom a big kick. What follows is a series of hilarious events: old Tom ran after Belinda, old Tom attempted to lure Belinda with a carrot and rope, old Tom sat on the stool and thought, and finally: Old Tom dressed up as Bessie to fool Belinda!
The story is too cute and too funny! Little-AJ giggles, does the "moo" sound, says "milk", and points at all his favourite animals. This is a book that brings us lots of laughter and smile.
Blog review here: https://storypleasemummy.wordpress.co...
September 19, 2024
Sadly, as a child I missed out on Pamela Allen’s picture books, so catching up on them now. Belinda is such a sweet and funny tale, about a Man, called Old Tom having to milk the cow called Belinda, seeing his wife goes away from a night. And, it doesn’t turn out very well.
I can see why Allen's books, in Australia have become apart of any booklist for kids and picture books. There such loveable illustrations, matched alongside a wonderful tale, that will ensure give you a little laugh, we all need, no matter your age!
I can see why Allen's books, in Australia have become apart of any booklist for kids and picture books. There such loveable illustrations, matched alongside a wonderful tale, that will ensure give you a little laugh, we all need, no matter your age!
October 22, 2020
This is perhaps my favourite Pamela Allen book (controversial, I know!)
I am obsessed with the idea that Old Tom will one day get into drag, and that masquerading as Belinda is his first foray into the realm of glorious self-expression. Check out the way he practically prances as he chases Belinda around the farm. A born performer.
I am obsessed with the idea that Old Tom will one day get into drag, and that masquerading as Belinda is his first foray into the realm of glorious self-expression. Check out the way he practically prances as he chases Belinda around the farm. A born performer.
December 12, 2018
Pamela Allen, the kids author who nearly every Aussie child knows writes about the cow named Belinda. Somewhat entertaining yarn.
April 7, 2019
When it comes to Pamela Allen books, there are others I rate more highly.
That said, I (and my Little One) appreciated the humour and absurdity of the situation poor Old Tom finds himself in.
That said, I (and my Little One) appreciated the humour and absurdity of the situation poor Old Tom finds himself in.
October 4, 2023
This was my favourite book of Pamela’s. The illustrations were so hilarious that I was unable to read and the story was amusing too.
December 23, 2025
Ez telitalálat! Nagyon szuperül mesél, sokat ismétel, könnyű vele angolul tanulni szerintem, ritmusos is. Még humora is van. :)
February 10, 2013
Book 9, Day 9 - Mini Family Classics from News Limited.
Author/Illustrator: Pamela Allen
First Published: 1992
Award Winner of Australia Book of the Year Award Children's Book Council (CBC)-Picture Book Section, 1993.
The second book by Pamela Allen in the News Ltd Promo (first being "Who Sank the Boat?"), "Belinda" tells the story of Old Tom and his attempts to milk Belinda the cow. Beautiful, creative, intelligent, funny illustrations with a sweet story of Old Tom thinking outside the box. Eminently re-readable and an old favourite in our house.
As part of Patch Theatre's performance of Allen works (Mr McGee and The Biting Flea), they put together a pdf learning prompt using "Belinda". They discuss how adventures appear when we break routine, and using this as a starting point for writing exercises. For younger children, the pdf also explores extending vocabulary and palette from Old Tom's garden.
There's even a wiki page for Belinda!
Age (taking into account comprehension, concentration, language):
Read aloud - 3+
Read yourself - 6+ (challenging vocabulary)
(ISBN 9327014001238)
Author/Illustrator: Pamela Allen
First Published: 1992
Award Winner of Australia Book of the Year Award Children's Book Council (CBC)-Picture Book Section, 1993.
The second book by Pamela Allen in the News Ltd Promo (first being "Who Sank the Boat?"), "Belinda" tells the story of Old Tom and his attempts to milk Belinda the cow. Beautiful, creative, intelligent, funny illustrations with a sweet story of Old Tom thinking outside the box. Eminently re-readable and an old favourite in our house.
As part of Patch Theatre's performance of Allen works (Mr McGee and The Biting Flea), they put together a pdf learning prompt using "Belinda". They discuss how adventures appear when we break routine, and using this as a starting point for writing exercises. For younger children, the pdf also explores extending vocabulary and palette from Old Tom's garden.
There's even a wiki page for Belinda!
Age (taking into account comprehension, concentration, language):
Read aloud - 3+
Read yourself - 6+ (challenging vocabulary)
(ISBN 9327014001238)
April 16, 2010
Summary: When it's time for Old Tom to milk Belinda the cow, who is usually milked by Tom's wife, Old Tom comes up with a surprising and hilarious solution.
Written and Illustrated by: Pamela Allen
Audience:K-2nd
Topics: Farm animals, cows, and farm life
Literacy elements: third person point of view
Illustrations: The illustrations were very simplistic.
Usage: I would use this particular book as a independent reading in my classroom.
Thanks GoodReads!
Written and Illustrated by: Pamela Allen
Audience:K-2nd
Topics: Farm animals, cows, and farm life
Literacy elements: third person point of view
Illustrations: The illustrations were very simplistic.
Usage: I would use this particular book as a independent reading in my classroom.
Thanks GoodReads!
June 1, 2011
Belinda the cow won't let the old farmer milk her (his wife is out of town), so he has to resort to cross-dressing (wearing his wife's dress and hat) in order to trick her. Milk crisis barely avoided!
October 22, 2012
A wonderful story and beautiful illustrations by Pamela Allen. Playful and fun story that will keep kids entertained and guessing what happens next. Recommend it for Kindergarten classes, up to year one.
September 21, 2014
A good book, but frustrating that the cow had my almost name.
April 17, 2011
Cute, but I was too old for that sort of thing when I had to read it with my grade prep special friend!
May 6, 2012
Funny story to read to children.
September 4, 2012
A favourite author of both my children as they grew up. A silly wee story but funny and delightful for children under 7.
April 27, 2013
Cute story. My daugter loves to mimick how old Tom sat thinking hard for the solution.
October 12, 2014
the picture books by Pamela Allen were always enjoyable to read
October 19, 2014
Good fun
February 9, 2021
05.18.1997 Smart cow.
03.14.1998 Alissa liked Old Tom's plans.
03.14.1998 Alissa liked Old Tom's plans.
July 29, 2011
Cute book, loved it. Loved how old Tom finally solved the problem.
May 3, 2017
Loved it. A good introduction to tongue in cheek humor. Illustrations are fabulous and supportive in this regard.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews