Buttercup's Lovely Day

October 1, 2008
Gr 1-4-Beginning with the rising sun and ending as she falls asleep at night, a Holstein waxes poetic about all the things she enjoys about her life. The verse on each spread begins with the words, "I love]" and then continues to describe the simple pleasures of agrarian life. Buttercup clearly is a dreamy cow and she loves all manner of things, from the grass at her feet to her own tongue to her quiet barn at the end of a lovely day. Readers learn that Buttercup also loves making (cow)pies, constantly chewing her cud, and even the skunk who nuzzles against her legs. The iambic rhythm makes the selections easy to read and recite aloud, and the poems would be wonderful additions to storytimes about cows, farms, or even during Valentine's Day programs. The cheery illustrations subtly reflect the changing light throughout Buttercup's day. The opening pages are awash with warm tones of blue and green and the colors slowly change toward the end to reflect sunset and, finally, night. Buttercup provides the answers to life's eternal questionsshe loves the simple things and shares this joy with readers."Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.