When Bluebell Sang

by Lisa Campbell Ernst

A talented cow who finds stardom as a singer, Bluebell soon tires of fame and yearns for the peace and serenity of her home

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Lisa Campbell Ernst was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1957. She received a Bachelor's degree in art from the University of Oklahoma, and then won an internship as a guest editor for Mademoiselle Magazine in New York City. She has written and illustrated over twenty picture books including Stella Louella's Runaway Book, which won the Children's Choice Award in Kansas, and Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt.

Reviews

[J9]

We got a themed box of books from the library about Farms and this was one of the books. A wonderful story, but lack of brevity really does it in. It's just way to wordy for kids. At least a level 4 reading level, I tried reading it to my preschoolers and didn't even make it a couple of pages in. Then I read it to my 5 yr old and finished, but it just took too long. The plot is just amazing, a great story idea that I really enjoyed. But the illustrations look like they were just thrown in to be able to call it a kids book, and they were in no way detailed enough for the amount of text that had to be read. Shortening this up and adding some more colorful and more detailed pictures would go a long way into making this a children's favorite. It's a shame, the story is really good.

[Anthony]

The tale of a talented cow named Bluebell who could sing, and how she was taken advantage of by a greedy music agent. Bluebell uses her wits to outsmart Big Eddie, and return to the farm, and now only sings for her friends while lounging under a tree.

[Pamela Powell]

Bluebell is a singing cow. When Big Eddie hears her, he decides to make a star out of her, whether she and her farmer want it or not.

[Grandma M]

Funny story about a talented singing cow who is being taken advantage of, then outsmarts the business manager and gets home to her farm.

[Cheryl]

LFL find. For schoolchildren, not littles. Discuss - why didn't Bluebell & Swenson make Big Eddie pay them?

[Ms. Mielke's Class Make sure you post how your sheets tell you to!!!!]

This book is about a cow who can sing and is taken advantage of buy an abnoxious businessman who is greedy and uses Bluebell, the singing cow, to make himself rich. Bluebell then tricks him into taken her home and she then teaches the other cows how to sing. I recommend this book to younger kids. -MD

[Ina]

Whimsical illustrations, a singing cow, and an unscrupulous agent make for an imaginative tale. Bluebell is talented, beautiful, and smart, so the reader can't help but cheer for her. A fun book!

[Cassandra]

Kind of funny but way too long. My daughter had a hard time following the story.