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Marvin
The Smallest Cow in the World
Moving is not easy.
Rosie is the meanest cow in the world -- and Marvin's best friend. When his family moves to a new farm, Marvin is sad and lonely . . . until he finds Rosie again. But now she's making a lot of trouble for everyone. Will she and Marvin ever adjust to the changes of a new life in a new place?
Rosie is the meanest cow in the world -- and Marvin's best friend. When his family moves to a new farm, Marvin is sad and lonely . . . until he finds Rosie again. But now she's making a lot of trouble for everyone. Will she and Marvin ever adjust to the changes of a new life in a new place?
- GenresChildrens
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
3 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Paterson
168 books2,347 followersKatherine Womeldorf Paterson is an American writer best known for children's novels, including Bridge to Terabithia. For four different books published 1975–1980, she won two Newbery Medals and two National Book Awards. She is one of four people to win the two major international awards; for "lasting contribution to children's literature" she won the biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing in 1998 and for her career contribution to "children's and young adult literature in the broadest sense" she won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award from the Swedish Arts Council in 2006, the biggest monetary prize in children's literature. Also for her body of work she was awarded the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature in 2007 and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal from the American Library Association in 2013. She was the second US National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, serving 2010 and 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 7, 2022
Katherine Paterson is not only one of the greatest writers of her time, but also one of the most versatile. Equally at home creating a powerful story in a novel such as her award-winning Bridge to Terabithia, a picture book like The Wide-Awake Princess or an early reader in the vein of The Smallest Cow in the World, Katherine Paterson has proven herself time and time again over a legendary career that spans decades of uniform excellence. Several of the greatest books I've ever read have come from the tip of her matchless pen, works of literature that profoundly changed me and the way I view the world. While The Smallest Cow in the World may be more limited in scope than some of Katherine Paterson's literary achievements, the power is nonetheless evident in its sixty-four pages, in lingering reminders of the emotions that connect us all and the lengths we will go to in order to preserve what is most important in our lives.
No one but Marvin Gates has much use for Rosie the cow around Brock's farm, where Marvin's family lives and his father works. Rosie's a mean one, all right, ramming the dog, swishing her tail in people's faces, stepping on their feet, shoving them up against walls. Out of ninety-seven cows on Brock's farm, Rosie alone is this ornery, and only Marvin gets along well with her. She doesn't push him into walls or step on his toes by "accident". Somehow, in Marvin's young eyes, Rosie is "the most beautiful cow in the world", and her personality flaws don't mean as much to him as the fact that he loves her, warts and all. But the day comes when Mr. Brock decides to retire from the farming life and divest himself of all his livestock. Marvin's family will have to find a new farm to live and work on, but worse than that, Mr. Brock sells Rosie. Now Marvin will never see her again.
Friendship can't be figured by adding and subtracting good points and bad, settling finally on a sum total of what two people are worth when taken as a single unit. There's too much intangibility involved for a presence as unexplainable as friendship to ever be fully understood. Marvin loses his grasp on happiness once Rosie is gone, and it doesn't help that everyone tells him she was just a mean old cow and he has no cause to miss her, let alone cry and mourn over her every day. When Marvin finally accepts he's never going to see Rosie again, his coping reaction isn't a wholly positive one, but it may be necessary. Over time, his family gently shows him that all the uncertainty of the move from Brock's farm is in the past, and he doesn't need to worry about ever again losing what is most important to him. Love holds on tightly, and a saddened heart often rejects comfort when it needs it most, but Marvin's family loves him, too, and they'll help him through the hard days of transition that come with having had to move without his best friend. Even if Marvin never will truly leave Rosie behind.
No matter how prickly we may be, no matter how resistant to the warming touch of friendship, no matter how me may bare our teeth in defiance of the world around us when it tries to get close, wary of the sneaky way hurt has of leaping out and attacking us from places far too close for comfort, all of us need a Marvin in our lives, someone who loves us and wants to keep us near for no reason we can understand. They just love us, is all. Rosie isn't a jovial cow, loving and lovable and easy to see why one would want to spend time around her. She's no natural charmer, but she doesn't have to be. Marvin loves her just for being her, "the most beautiful cow in the world" to him, even if no one else can see it. When a friendship of that noble caliber is made, the joy of its very existence is worthy to be celebrated, and the world joins together in silent, profound praise of it, and grieves just as silently and profoundly when the two halves of the friendship are pulled apart. It is this powerful emotional sympathy of the earth that we feel while reading The Smallest Cow in the World, and which lifts the book above just being a simple early reader and allows it to become a work of fine literature. Katherine Paterson works wonders on the printed page, and always has.
If I were to compare the quality of this book with that of the author's enduring classics, I doubt it would rank in the top five or ten. In its own right, however, The Smallest Cow in the World is a moving and eye-opening story that no lover of great books should miss. Its small size makes it accessible for even the youngest readers, and the scope of its emotional meaning is broad enough that anyone will be able to relate to it. In my opinion, you can't go wrong reading this book.
No one but Marvin Gates has much use for Rosie the cow around Brock's farm, where Marvin's family lives and his father works. Rosie's a mean one, all right, ramming the dog, swishing her tail in people's faces, stepping on their feet, shoving them up against walls. Out of ninety-seven cows on Brock's farm, Rosie alone is this ornery, and only Marvin gets along well with her. She doesn't push him into walls or step on his toes by "accident". Somehow, in Marvin's young eyes, Rosie is "the most beautiful cow in the world", and her personality flaws don't mean as much to him as the fact that he loves her, warts and all. But the day comes when Mr. Brock decides to retire from the farming life and divest himself of all his livestock. Marvin's family will have to find a new farm to live and work on, but worse than that, Mr. Brock sells Rosie. Now Marvin will never see her again.
Friendship can't be figured by adding and subtracting good points and bad, settling finally on a sum total of what two people are worth when taken as a single unit. There's too much intangibility involved for a presence as unexplainable as friendship to ever be fully understood. Marvin loses his grasp on happiness once Rosie is gone, and it doesn't help that everyone tells him she was just a mean old cow and he has no cause to miss her, let alone cry and mourn over her every day. When Marvin finally accepts he's never going to see Rosie again, his coping reaction isn't a wholly positive one, but it may be necessary. Over time, his family gently shows him that all the uncertainty of the move from Brock's farm is in the past, and he doesn't need to worry about ever again losing what is most important to him. Love holds on tightly, and a saddened heart often rejects comfort when it needs it most, but Marvin's family loves him, too, and they'll help him through the hard days of transition that come with having had to move without his best friend. Even if Marvin never will truly leave Rosie behind.
No matter how prickly we may be, no matter how resistant to the warming touch of friendship, no matter how me may bare our teeth in defiance of the world around us when it tries to get close, wary of the sneaky way hurt has of leaping out and attacking us from places far too close for comfort, all of us need a Marvin in our lives, someone who loves us and wants to keep us near for no reason we can understand. They just love us, is all. Rosie isn't a jovial cow, loving and lovable and easy to see why one would want to spend time around her. She's no natural charmer, but she doesn't have to be. Marvin loves her just for being her, "the most beautiful cow in the world" to him, even if no one else can see it. When a friendship of that noble caliber is made, the joy of its very existence is worthy to be celebrated, and the world joins together in silent, profound praise of it, and grieves just as silently and profoundly when the two halves of the friendship are pulled apart. It is this powerful emotional sympathy of the earth that we feel while reading The Smallest Cow in the World, and which lifts the book above just being a simple early reader and allows it to become a work of fine literature. Katherine Paterson works wonders on the printed page, and always has.
If I were to compare the quality of this book with that of the author's enduring classics, I doubt it would rank in the top five or ten. In its own right, however, The Smallest Cow in the World is a moving and eye-opening story that no lover of great books should miss. Its small size makes it accessible for even the youngest readers, and the scope of its emotional meaning is broad enough that anyone will be able to relate to it. In my opinion, you can't go wrong reading this book.
April 6, 2012
Yikes! Emotions, Retirement, Moving, Economic Hardship, Imaginary Friends and Bullying are all discussed in this one 64 page book for grades 2 – 4. This Level 3 book really packs it in. Again I’m a little disturbed by the utilization of the word “dumb” however in context with the bullying I guess it is okay. I was intrigued at the beginning as the book is dedicated to the “Vermont Migrant Education Program”. I guess an earlier edition was published by the program in 1988.
October 6, 2021
There is a real story in this book with lots of things children might have in common with Marvin and his feelings.
August 30, 2023
farm animals
imaginary friend
stress of moving
appropriate art
I wonder how young readers will visualize the 'smallest cow.'
imaginary friend
stress of moving
appropriate art
I wonder how young readers will visualize the 'smallest cow.'
April 29, 2015
Personal reflection : I enjoyed reading this book because of the main character, Marvin. He loves the meanest cow, Rosie. Other people do not like the cow because Rosie steps on people's foot, pushes them against the barn wall and butt them. However, Marvin knows the reason why Rosie does. Instead of disliking the cow, Marvin considers the cow's mind and loves the cow. When students read this book, they would learn that they should not judge a book by its cover. As they begin to have social interactions with their peers, this lesson is very important for them. Thus, I would recommend them to read this book and then when they discuss, I would ask them their personal feelings about the cow, Rosie.
- This is a realistic fiction book.
- The setting and characters of this book are possibly found in our real lives. I would recommend first graders to read this book. Young children like reading realistic fiction and as this book's title includes an animal, it would enhance their interests.
- While reading this book independently, first graders would learn the genre, realistic fiction. A realistic fiction book is not based on a fact, but instead, its characters, setting, or whole story could possibly happen in our real lives. This book especially has a young boy as its main character. Children would understand his point of view better than adults.
- Rosie was sold to another farmer, but Marvin thought that Rosie would always be with him as the smallest cow in the world. He imagined that Rosie was living in the small bottle forever with him. Marvin also knew that Rosie was sold. However, by thinking that Rosie would be always with him, He could feel Rosie and remember the cow. This would teach children that even though they can not be with someone who physically lives far from them, they could keep their relationships by thinking like Marvin.
- This is "An I Can Read Book", and the author, Katherine Paterson, has written on beginning-to-read books about a realistic six-year-old boy dealing with real-life matters.
- There are many words that are frequently used in this book and that related to the cow. For example, the words are "feed, wash, milk, shovel, butt, push, switch, step on, and calf". As these words are repeated many times, children would realize that they could use the words to describe a cow. Also, because those are not hard words for first graders, they would enjoy reading this book independently.
- For first graders, "the meanest" and "the smallest", these two words might be unfamiliar. They would learn how to emphasize a meaning by adding "-est" at the end of a word.
- The average sentence length of this book is short. For example, "He talked to her" " He fed her grass", and "He milked her".
- The level of the story's meaning is simple and familiar for first graders. The setting is at a farm and current period.
- The size of fonts is big enough for young children to read independently. Also, words are written boldly.
- This book does not require the prior knowledge for children to understand this book.
- The illustrators started with brush and ink, then used oil wash and colored inks. Last of all, she worked with Prismacolor colored pencils. As the illustrators used that method, the illustrations look very smooth. The illustrations on each page are related to the development of the story.
- The layout of the text is easy to follow. Though the illustrations are on different places of each page, as they occupy most parts of the pages and the size of fonts is big, children would be easy to follow the text.
- This is a realistic fiction book.
- The setting and characters of this book are possibly found in our real lives. I would recommend first graders to read this book. Young children like reading realistic fiction and as this book's title includes an animal, it would enhance their interests.
- While reading this book independently, first graders would learn the genre, realistic fiction. A realistic fiction book is not based on a fact, but instead, its characters, setting, or whole story could possibly happen in our real lives. This book especially has a young boy as its main character. Children would understand his point of view better than adults.
- Rosie was sold to another farmer, but Marvin thought that Rosie would always be with him as the smallest cow in the world. He imagined that Rosie was living in the small bottle forever with him. Marvin also knew that Rosie was sold. However, by thinking that Rosie would be always with him, He could feel Rosie and remember the cow. This would teach children that even though they can not be with someone who physically lives far from them, they could keep their relationships by thinking like Marvin.
- This is "An I Can Read Book", and the author, Katherine Paterson, has written on beginning-to-read books about a realistic six-year-old boy dealing with real-life matters.
- There are many words that are frequently used in this book and that related to the cow. For example, the words are "feed, wash, milk, shovel, butt, push, switch, step on, and calf". As these words are repeated many times, children would realize that they could use the words to describe a cow. Also, because those are not hard words for first graders, they would enjoy reading this book independently.
- For first graders, "the meanest" and "the smallest", these two words might be unfamiliar. They would learn how to emphasize a meaning by adding "-est" at the end of a word.
- The average sentence length of this book is short. For example, "He talked to her" " He fed her grass", and "He milked her".
- The level of the story's meaning is simple and familiar for first graders. The setting is at a farm and current period.
- The size of fonts is big enough for young children to read independently. Also, words are written boldly.
- This book does not require the prior knowledge for children to understand this book.
- The illustrators started with brush and ink, then used oil wash and colored inks. Last of all, she worked with Prismacolor colored pencils. As the illustrators used that method, the illustrations look very smooth. The illustrations on each page are related to the development of the story.
- The layout of the text is easy to follow. Though the illustrations are on different places of each page, as they occupy most parts of the pages and the size of fonts is big, children would be easy to follow the text.
July 10, 2019
C: CHILDREN: No offensive language, sex or nudity but might contain occasional comedic Violence.
E:Easy: 3rd grade Vocabulary
Method: Physical Book
Location: Chautaugua-Cattaraugus Library System
E:Easy: 3rd grade Vocabulary
Method: Physical Book
Location: Chautaugua-Cattaraugus Library System
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April 12, 2010this book is a fun and happy story out a kid who feel bad for the cow because everyone don"t
really like this cow named Rosie she don't like other people but see really likes marvin who is a little boy.
really like this cow named Rosie she don't like other people but see really likes marvin who is a little boy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2012
The smallest cow in the world.I like the story becouse,it has a little magic.And the story The oak inside the acorn. The book is a christian story that tell's about what Jesus want's us to do. (K. M. age 8)
May 17, 2010
A cute enough story about a "tiny" cow. Is it real, or is it just pretend? You will have to read for yourself to find out. :o)
October 22, 2010
Wonderful tale of very young imagination. I read this while I was sitting at a bookshop waiting for Ms. Paterson to arrive. It was a very exciting day.
January 24, 2015
The Smallest Cow in the World: New Edition
Paterson, Katherine
very short book about a child's imagination
Paterson, Katherine
very short book about a child's imagination
May 23, 2012
THIS IS THE BESTEST BOOK IN THE WORLD.
I AM CRYING AT THE CHILDREN'S REFERENCE DESK.
I AM CRYING AT THE CHILDREN'S REFERENCE DESK.
August 31, 2012
A great book for young readers! Very sweet and fun for all ages, with nice illustrations. It addresses farmlife, moving, family, school, change and imaginary friends.
March 3, 2014
"Like Paterson's books for older readers, this pint-sized novel treats life's real troubles with sensitivity, grace, and good humor."--Kirkus Review.
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May 21, 2014x2
January 25, 2016
It's great that his family paid attention to his feelings.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews