Prudence the Part-Time Cow

May 1, 2017
A common theme gets a droll spin in this book introducing Prudence, a cow with a thirst for knowledge. When Prudence isn’t wandering through pastures and swatting flies, the book-loving cow is honing her scientific, architectural, and engineering skills, which leads her companions to complain that, as a cow, she “was a little too part-time.” Prudence vows to “try to be like the others” but finds greater success by sticking to her talents, winning over her herd with cow-pleasing inventions that include an electronic “cow-culator” to keep track of the calves and a “portable shade tree” fashioned from an umbrella. Shaffer (The Way the Cookie Crumbled) creates a sympathetic outsider in Prudence, whose dedication to self-betterment—and the sciences—should resonate with any reader who feels pigeonholed or underappreciated. Laberis’s (The More We Get Together) digital artwork brings a mural-like aesthetic to the pages, and the vivid color palette (several cows are purple, Prudence has a puffy pink bouffant) suits the idiosyncrasies of this unconventional barnyard. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Kathleen Rushall, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright Group.

April 15, 2017
Prudence is not like the rest of the herd.With a pink curly pompadour, Prudence doesn't look like any of the other cows on the farm. They're all full-time cows; Prudence is not. Sometimes Prudence is a scientist (reading books on the science of milking) or an architect (building a castle out of salt licks). When she overhears others saying she'll never be part of the herd, she tries unsuccessfully to behave the way they do. "If only I could make them like me for me," she laments before inspiration strikes, and she spends the night using her know-how to make gadgets for other members of her herd: a calf-counter, a mobile umbrella, and a guitar for the hipster bull. Grateful for the gifts, the herd accepts Prudence in all her part-time cow glory. Shaffer's problematic cow tale sends a mixed message: individuality is all well and good--if you work twice as hard to please those in the majority who don't accept you. Laberis' scratchy, colorful, digitally created illustrations are expressive, bright, and full of funny details; but they can't rescue Prudence's poor excuse for a parable. A well-meant effort, but not outstanding in its field...er pasture. (Picture book. 3-8)

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June 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-Prudence looks and acts like any other cow, but in reality, she's only a part-time pasture resident. A lifelong reader, she is also a scientist and architect, and she peruses the pages of Bovine Engineering in her spare time. The rest of the cows don't see her as "normal" and certainly NOT "part of the herd." Prudence calculates water temperature and wind speed while standing in the pond, counts the calves as they leave the water, and comes up with inventions to help her friends, but the other cows insist, "She'll never be one of us." Colorful digital art with cartoon humor gives readers plenty of visual clues while Prudence suffers humiliation and attempts to establish her place. It takes a bit of "Cow Power" as Prudence harnesses her creative strengths to find her role among the other cows. Readers will appreciate her newly expanded role and her determination to be a full-time member of the herd. VERDICT A recommended general purchase for libraries with budding scientists and persistent, late-night readers. This tale speaks to creative minds just trying to fit in.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano Independent School District, TX

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2017
Preschool-G Most of the time, Prudence doesn't mind being a cowgrazing, lolling in the sun, and sleeping in the barn are all okeydokeybut the rest of the time, Prudence is eager to study her surroundings and build contraptions. The rest of the herd doesn't have much patience for Prudence's inventions, since her experiments often lead to mild mayhem in the barn. Soon, though, the other cows mock Prudence for her curiosity and odd devices, and the pink-coiffed bovine starts feeling downtrodden. She has a eureka moment, however, when she realizes she can build some contraptions to solve problems around the pasture, and the rest of the herd starts appreciating Prudence for her scientific mind. Laberis' energetic, stylized illustrations of candy-colored, cartoonish cows perfectly capture the comical contrast between Prudence's oblivious experiments and the subsequent havoc she wreaks on her fellow cows. Comics-style speech balloons and over-the-top reactions add to the levity, and the ultimate message of valuing differences is a great one. This merry, animated picture book will have storytime listeners rolling in the aisles.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)