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Cowie

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Cowie is a donkey who feels like a cow on the inside. Will his friends help him make his dream come true? Find out in this sweetly told story about discovering your true self.

Cowie was born a donkey but he knows he’s meant to be a cow. He wants to be a cow. Cows can graze in the meadow all day long and no one asks them to carry heavy packages. So, he stands with the cows in the barn but nothing happens. Will his dream ever come true, he wonders. Can Mousie and Duckie help Cowie feel happy in his own skin?

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 7, 2020

1 person is currently reading
49 people want to read

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Elizabeth Rose Stanton

5 books25 followers

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5 stars
34 (19%)
4 stars
38 (21%)
3 stars
68 (39%)
2 stars
28 (16%)
1 star
5 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Nadine in NY Jones.
3,162 reviews277 followers
October 10, 2020
A very sweet book about struggling to be who you want to be. This will be most appreciated by preschoolers who will giggle at Cowie’s antics and sympathize with his struggles, and will be thrilled to nod knowingly as Cowie points out that “everyone knows Q has to come before U for it to come out right.”
Profile Image for Jera Em.
152 reviews23 followers
February 22, 2020
Donkeys are one of my favorite animals, so naturally I love this book. Expressive illustrations, a watercolor vibe, and a donkey that dreams of more (that is, of becoming a cow) make for a really good read. ^^
Profile Image for Aeicha .
832 reviews110 followers
December 20, 2019
Cowie is the tender tale about the sweetest donkey, Cowie, who longs to be a cow, and the loyal friends who help him discover how special he already is. Cute storytelling, fun farm scenes, and a lot of heart combine together to create a giggle-inducing and heartfelt story.
Profile Image for Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance.
6,463 reviews336 followers
September 25, 2020
Cowie was a donkey who wanted to be a cow. He liked how gentle cows were. He liked the green grass on their side of the fence. And no one rode them or made them carry things. His friends try to help Cowie.

Profile Image for Ollie Skyba.
Author 4 books61 followers
July 21, 2022
If you have good friends, they’ll help you with your confidence, and there will be no need in reconsidering your personality.
Smth like that?
Profile Image for Brindi Michele.
3,646 reviews54 followers
February 2, 2020
Meet Cowie. Cowie is a donkey. He LOVES everything about COWS! Their soft ears and kind eyes. They are calm and steady. And from his side of the fence, Cowie admires them. Cowie wishes he was a cow. He feels like one. So one day he decides it is time to be a cow.

"If I act like a cow, I will surely be a cow."

This is one of the sweetest books I have come across, and the illustrations really bring out the donkey’s emotions. Readers will cheer on Cowie with each trial he faces and celebrate with him by the last page. A picture book with a lot of heart, this one is worth keeping.

This is the sweetest book, and the illustrations are the cherries on top. Cowie is just precious!
Profile Image for Molly Cluff (Library!).
2,491 reviews50 followers
January 17, 2020
Delightful illustrations, but I didn't really understand the story. Why was donkey's "moo" always backwards? Because he was facing the wrong direction? It was very cute but not immediately clear.
Profile Image for Tonja Drecker.
Author 3 books236 followers
January 5, 2020
Love and patience fill this book as a donkey heads out on an impossible journey.

Everyone calls this donkey Cowie because he would like nothing more than to be a cow. He gazes at them every day—how they eat and enjoy the pasture. No one every asks them to haul loads or work. So, he decides it's finally time to become the cow he wants to be. But is it that simple?

Cowie is a wonderful donkey, which is almost impossible not to love. Especially thanks to the illustrations which give him such a warm, cute and sweet appeal. His longing to become something he isn't is also a problem every young listener faces at one time or another. So, when he heads to the other pasture and stands between the cows, it's easy to root for him and hope he finds a way to meet his dream.

It's sweet that none of the other animals scoff at him or even try to deter him from his goal. Instead, they stand at his side and encourage him, supporting him any way they can. I was a little surprised how the book took a certain direction about halfway through, but it adds humor and makes the book into a fun read-aloud, which will draw more than a few smiles from listeners.

The message is fairly clear. Cowie does end up with a smile on his face at the way things turn out. However, I'm not sure what the result is even after going through it a few times. In other words, it's a bit open, leaving a little left for the listener to decide... and that opens up to discussions or thinking. Which is never a bad thing.

The illustrations are lovingly done and fit the story perfectly. Listeners will enjoy gazing at these and fall in love with Cowie because of them. In other words, it's a well-balanced book with lots of goodness packed inside.

I received an ARC and enjoyed the story quite a bit. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts.
Profile Image for Margaret.
2,800 reviews
Read
January 21, 2020
Throughout our lives, regardless of our age, it's perfectly normal to set, accomplish and shift goals. We greet each day working to fulfill these ambitions. And we dream dreams outside of what we see as possible, elaborate ponderings dependent on miracles. These keep us hopeful.

During these mental, and sometimes vocal deliberations, our closest companions endeavor to help us. They elevate our hope into the realm of maybe-this-could-be-real. Cowie (A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, January 7, 2020) written and illustrated by Elizabeth Rose Stanton is another charming, heartfelt title by a wise and talented woman who has given us Henny, Peddles and Bub.


My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...
Profile Image for Maria Marshall.
362 reviews70 followers
January 31, 2020
First of all, Cowie is adorable; such a sweet donkey. And how fun is it that he wants to be a Cow, versus say a horse or zebra. Tired of a donkey's life, as a "beast of burden," Cowie decides to be a cow. Now, he just has to figure out how. Standing like a cow (oh, the parents will chuckle - spoilers), chewing his cud, or even swishing away flies like a cow - don't make Cowie a cow. Kids will love the antics of Cowie's friends as they try to help Cowie achieve his dream. Their humorous ideas and ultimate solution are very kid-like and satisfying. Buoyed by the beautiful pen and watercolor illustrations, this is a delightful, satisfying story on friendship and being true to oneself, even if it isn't how you were born.



Profile Image for Ashley.
1,550 reviews26 followers
March 15, 2021
I laughed out loud! Clever, imaginative, no lessons about identity in this book about a donkey that wants to be a cow. Could be a good storytime book, but it would require a lot of explanation of things being backward, an upside-down M looking like a W, and you'd have to practice beforehand because there is a bit where a duck quacks backward (kcauq--I'd choose to pronounce this "cack" rather than the alternative). The resolution made me laugh, but may also require a bit of explanation. Would be more of a hit with grade 1-3 kids who are familiar with letters and the concept of English words being written from left to right. Could be a great book to get kids' brains tingling about thinking outside the box.
Profile Image for Tayler K.
995 reviews45 followers
April 23, 2020
What a cute book! I also have a fondness for cows, so I enjoyed all parts of this story.

Frankly, both my friend and I were a little confused about the direction of the MOO/OOM until we saw what Duckie and Mousie were up to.

A cute story about following your dreams, helping your friends, and persevering toward your goals. The illustrations are so calming. <3 Also the mint breath illustration was a stroke of genius, IMO. And I want to go to a cow party.
Profile Image for Dana Duffy Backs.
36 reviews3 followers
October 15, 2020
The illustrations are very good. I always love to see a non-computer generated illustrated picture book, but the story made no sense. How did he go from saying OOM to MOO? Why did the other animals say SQUEAK AND QUACK backwards, and what does MOO have to do with Q coming before U? I feel like there is something going on here that I don't know anything about!
Profile Image for Anthony.
7,267 reviews31 followers
February 23, 2020
Cowie is a donkey who wants to be a cow. Cowie likes the gentle, and content lifestyle of cows. But he's not cow material, so his two friends mouse and duckie helps him as much as they can to help Cowie transform from a donkey into a cow.
Profile Image for Dina.
556 reviews
March 14, 2020
A solid picture book about trying to fit in. I like all of Cowie's friends help him learn how to say MOO... This book shows that teamwork and friendship make a difference. Interesting concept for a book of a donkey wanting to be a cow.
Profile Image for Nadina.
3,207 reviews5 followers
March 14, 2020
This was super cute and adorable. I loved the illustrations and the whole story. It was well paced and I loved the way Cowie's friends helped him. I also thought the ending was both genius and funny. This is definitely a book I would recommend for kids.
Profile Image for Aura Keaton .
182 reviews
August 16, 2023
Cowie is a donkey who wishes to be a cow. He says they have easy-going, calm lives and green grass to graze. Cowie envies them.

This heartwarming book shows how a melancholy donkey is supported by his friends. Who says a donkey can't be a cow?
Profile Image for Emma.
389 reviews18 followers
February 5, 2020
Beautiful pencil and watercolor illustrations... although the story not so clear.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
496 reviews
February 20, 2020
Love the art of Elizabeth Rose Stanton!! I think the heart of the story gets a little lost or is it layered in? In the end with the help of friends, the donkey is happy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Grab.
333 reviews
March 5, 2020
Sweet story of friendship with a little bit of spelling tossed in.
Profile Image for Becky.
733 reviews10 followers
April 5, 2020
Loved this book with a two-year-old reading with me. Lots to point and act out. Positive message.
10.8k reviews29 followers
April 17, 2020
A donkey really wants to be a cow and does everything he can to be like one but he just can't sound like one. Will his friends be able to help? Preschool and up
Profile Image for Viviane Elbee.
Author 4 books60 followers
April 30, 2020
I love Elizabeth Rose Stanton's artwork. This is a very cute book, about a little donkey who wishes to be a cow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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