To the Rescue: Cows to the Rescue

To the Rescue!

by John Himmelman

It's the day of the county fair! Three-legged races, a “Smartest Pig” contest, the Ferris wheel—what could be more fun? But the Greenstalks’ car won’t start, so they’ll need some help getting there. . . . Cows to the Rescue is the fabulous new book in John Himmelman’s hilarious barnyard saga. It follows Chickens to the Rescue and Pigs to the Rescue, bringing back the fun with brand new mishaps and brand moo—er, new—problem-solvers.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Storytime, Humor, Juvenile, Fantasy

Unknown Binding

First published September 13, 2011

About the author

John Himmelman is the author and illustrator of more than sixty books for children, including Chickens to the Rescue. He lives in Connecticut with his family.

According John's Facebook page, he has been "making up stories and scribbling pictures since I could hold a crayon in my hand. It became my job in 1981, when my first book, "Talester the Lizard" was published during my last year in college (School of Visual Arts)....It behooves a writer to try and turn what interests them into their work. I've been fortunate to do that with my love of nature, with books - for adults and children - focusing on different natural history topics."

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of Himmelman's funny series of farm animals to the rescue. The refrain "Cows to the rescue!" with the alternating page turns makes this a great chime-in read-aloud. Nice to add a dash of humor to farm units.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

2/13/18 Looking for something funny and Family related for F theme and Valentines. I love the chickens one. Tried this. Lots of smiles--especially with the Ferris wheel.

2/14/18 Closer in F theme. Lots of smiles. They also liked the Ferris wheel part because I asked if any of them had been on one, and if they were scared. "No! No! No. Well, I was a teeny bit scared." Then the confessions came out. Made ME smile. So they enjoyed seeing the cows scared on the Ferris Wheel.

[Ham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this book was only seriously funny because it was so wacky, but you can't argue with pigs in graduation gowns. And I wanted to frame the illustration of a cow doing a three-legged-race with a duck. Someone either needs to get this Himmelman character a literary award or find him some medication.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny story about a family's trip to the County Fair. The repetitive refrain of "Cows to the rescue!" accompanied by hilarious illustrations make this book a hoot to read aloud. We really enjoyed reading this story together and our girls had a lot of laughs by shouting the refrain as we read it.

I didn't realize until reading other reviews that this book is part of a series by John Himmelman. We read Chickens to the Rescue several years ago, and now we'll have to borrow Pigs to the Rescue, too.

[Julie Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny!

[Cosette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm gonna cry. I think this is the last book in the series. Boo-hoo!!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hilarious highjinks of the Greenstalk's farm animals continues as the cows come to the rescue. This time it is time for the county fair and Farmer Greenstalk's car won't start. COWS TO THE RESCUE! Duck gets dirty before the duck contests. COWS TO THE RESCUE! The pigs forgot to study for the pig tests. COWS TO THE RESCUE! Mrs. Greenstalk doesn't have anyone to take funny pictures with. COWS TO THE RESCUE! By the end of the day the cows and Greentalks are tuckered out so who will come to the rescue? Duck? (The next book in the series is about Duck's attempts to rescue the day.)

This would be a good book for a unit on imagination because cows cannot do all these things.

It would be a good book for talking about county fairs as that part was accurately depicted.

It would also be a good book for talking about how sometimes we need someone else to help us do things and it's always okay to ask for help if we need it.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cows "help" Farmer Greenstalk, the Greenstalk family, and other farm animals at the state fair in comically exaggerated way.

This book continues the To the Rescue series begun by Chickens to the Rescue and continued by Pigs to the Rescue.

This story contains a repeated phrase that allows young readers to anticipate what will happen next and participate in the story. Young readers will enjoy shouting "Cows to the rescue!"

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humorous book about the cows…coming to the rescue!

I liked this story because it showed how sometimes we have to have a little bit of rescue. The series of events and how the cows helped is so funny. Children will love the funny illustrations. The cows aren’t always the best at helping with the situation, but that’s not always bad. They’re trying their best. It’s funny and repetitive, which makes it perfect for children learning to read and those who just want to laugh.

If you’re looking for a funny book that will help younger readers, then this is the story for you.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought this one to read to the 4 and 5k today. They really enjoyed it! The writing was a bit simple for the 5s and it could have been maybe a tad longer, but the illustrations really helped us stretch it out. I liked that the artist made the animals so expressive, so the kids could guess how they were feeling. By the second "Cows to the rescue!" the kids started joining in, which is always nice. They enjoyed predicting what the cows would need to do to remedy the situation. I was really pleased with this book, and will definitely be trying other Barnyard Rescue books with this group!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the car won't start on the day of the county fair, it's cows to the rescue. All day long, whether the pigs haven't studied for the smartest pig contest or the youngest child is too scared to go on the Ferris Wheel alone, it's cows to the rescue! the pictures are great and the situations are very humorous. This will make a nice group read aloud.

[SaraKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third in the 'to the rescue' series. The cows are as terribly helpful as the pigs and chickens were. One picture was maddening because I couldn't find a cow eavesdropping in the carnival ride picture. It drove me crazy!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a funny book about cows saving the day at the county fair. It is great for discussing teamwork. The kindergarteners-1st graders and I talked about what was going on in the pictures

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone loves helpers.

**Talking points - how do you like to help out? Which ways does your family need you to help?

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

GO cows! Always there when you need them.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Cute, simple story with lots going on in the pictures to talk about. The kids loved pointing out things in the illustrations.

[Alexandria Blaelock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story (cows save the day) with wonderful illustrations!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a farmer and his family try to take their pigs to the county fair but the station wagon won't start, the cows take them there. Much silliness around the fair occurs.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 5-yr-old and I cackled while we read this the first time, and he has asked to read it every day since! We love it. Officially added to the favorites list.

[Darshana Khiani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is hilarious. The text drives the story for the illustrations to shine. Farmer Greenstalk and the animals are beset with problems to solve during the day, not a problem as Cows to the Rescue! Whenever I read the refrain I wanted to shout it out like I was super-hero. The illustrations are colorful and simple, and the cows have a lot of personality. One of my favorites is the cows on the ferris wheel, where you have the calm one, the biting nails one, the I must cover my eyes one, and the oh look how small everything looks down there one. I wonder if Mr. Himmelman has names for each of the cows, that is how well he has portrayed them. Grab this book and a child for storytime.

If you like this book do check out the predecessors in this series, Chickens to the Rescue and Pigs to the Rescue. I especially love Pigs to the Rescue, as the pigs never get it quite right and the Greenstalks in the end are hoping that the pigs don’t come to the rescue.

Click here for the original review, activity ideas, and a PB analysis at Flowering Minds.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My four-year-old son picked this book out from the library earlier this week.

This book had my son and I both laughing. That is a very good thing. Those cuckoo-cows!

My son, who can only read a few words, was able to "read" the refrain "Cows to the Rescue!" by the second or third time. That was very exciting for both of us. I think the three-legged race was my favorite part of the story, but it was all good. The whole story was very funny.

The illustrations, while not my favorite style, suit the silly quality of this book perfectly. I wouldn't change a thing.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, rounded up to 4.

Still such a fun series!! This time the farmyard gang and family are off to the fair, with Cows to the Rescue! This whole series cracks me up, but I still think the chickens are my favorite.

This would be a great storytime read for farms or cows or fairs. Plus it's an easy one for the kids to participate with, since there's such an enthusiastic refrain to the story. It'd also be a great one for one-on-one reading, so that both adult and child can appreciate all the silly details in the pictures.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The vibrant and humorous illustrations will keep kids laughing, and they'll no doubt enjoy the frequent refrain of "cows to the rescue!"

On a more mature note, I do wish children's authors would cease depicting county fairs as animal amusement parks in which farm animals enter "smart pig" or "handsome duck" contests. In reality, most farm animals on show at county fairs are auctioned to slaughter at the fair's conclusion.

[Danica Midlil · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first one, Chickens to the Rescue, is by far the best one. This one was just disappointing.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed Chickens to the Rescue and Pigs to the Rescue, you will love Cows to the Rescue. Himmelman is a clever creator to take popular farm animals and have them assist in a number of hilarious situations!

2022 storytime theme: county fair
Theme: Cows
Additional themes: farm animals, help, county fair

[Ileana Lindner · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stud-like cows have everything under control, so no need to worry. This book series takes different points of view of animals on a farm that solve everyday "problems". This is a fun book for students of early childhood settings to read pre-k through 1st grade. It is an easy book for students to read, and a fun book for teachers to read to students.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love how the cows (and other animals) are drawn as actual cows (with what seem to be joints and bones in anatomically correct places) but moving in human ways (like running, pointing, etc.). It's hilarious to see the pictures and to think of cows doing the things they have the cows do. It's fun and messy for the whole family.

[Nola Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the day of the county fair, but the Greenstalk family keep having problems. First the car won't start, then Little Jeffrey doesn't have a partner for the three-legged race, then Ernie the duck gets dirty right before the Handsomest Duck Contest. No matter what problem comes up during the day, it's 'Cows to the Rescue!'.

Some interesting scenarios and fun pictures.

[The Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has all the charm and fun of his other two (chickens and then pigs to the rescue).

Now it's the cows turn to help out the Greenstalk family. The Greenstalks are headed to the local fair where they encounter a variety of problems that are quickly dispatched by the intrepid cows.

Illustrations are fantastic!

[Shanshad Whelan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad for a continuing theme in these books. Still like Chickens to the Rescue the best out of all of them, but Cows to the rescue is cute and funny with lots of chuckle-worthy moments. Poor Ernie the duck!