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A Particular Cow
Cow’s Saturday morning stroll begins calmly enough. But when she suddenly finds herself on the wrong side of a particular pair of bloomers, all heck breaks loose--and soon she's also on the wrong side of the mailman, a group of kids, a wedding party, and, well, pretty much everyone else in town.
With zippy characters, clever language, and a terrific visual story line, this raucous book by bestselling author Mem Fox is certain to become a particular read-aloud favorite.
With zippy characters, clever language, and a terrific visual story line, this raucous book by bestselling author Mem Fox is certain to become a particular read-aloud favorite.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2006
About the author
Mem Fox
85 books418 followersMerrion Frances Fox is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox has been semi-retired since 1996, but she still gives seminars and lives in Adelaide, South Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
October 15, 2023
Eamon: “I liked that the cow was in the water. Give it all the stars!” ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
December 24, 2018
A simple, amusingly illustrated book. Good for repetition but not a great story. A tiny bit amusing on the first read.
January 29, 2014
I found a lot of laughs from this book, and I liked the simplicity of text with plenty to see in the illustrations. But I don't think it would work well as a storytime. At least, I think it would take some time and experience on my part before I could make it work. A good choice if the child has time to sit down and look at all that is going on in the pictures and follow the "trail of action."
P.S. My favorite laughs: "Bloomin' thief" and "Incoming!"
2/20/13 & 2/21/13: This worked better than I thought. The intro for my "going on a journey" theme. I picked select speech bubbles to read. The kids and parents enjoyed both the pictures and the cow's journey. Smaller details missed, but there were plenty of smiles in the crowd. I count that successful.
1/29/14: We're going to write off most of the "failures" from today to the little girl who would NOT sit down. Almost every single page span I had to ask her to sit down. For every. single. book. Argh. By this point (the 3rd book in the Cow theme), I was a little flustered and probably didn't point out as well or as slowly or as carefully as I should have. But the kids who were sitting and behaving were able to see the humor and there were a few laughs.
P.S. My favorite laughs: "Bloomin' thief" and "Incoming!"
2/20/13 & 2/21/13: This worked better than I thought. The intro for my "going on a journey" theme. I picked select speech bubbles to read. The kids and parents enjoyed both the pictures and the cow's journey. Smaller details missed, but there were plenty of smiles in the crowd. I count that successful.
1/29/14: We're going to write off most of the "failures" from today to the little girl who would NOT sit down. Almost every single page span I had to ask her to sit down. For every. single. book. Argh. By this point (the 3rd book in the Cow theme), I was a little flustered and probably didn't point out as well or as slowly or as carefully as I should have. But the kids who were sitting and behaving were able to see the humor and there were a few laughs.
July 6, 2011
This story is about a 'particular' cow who has a small disruptive adventure on a 'particular' Saturday, most if which she is unaware of, as she has a pair of bloomers over her eyes.
I read this to my autistic son last night. The words were a little incomprehensible to him, inclduing the word 'bloomers', but he enjoyed it as we acted out the parts and he thought the acting was fun, especially putting boxershorts over his head/eyes.
I read this to my autistic son last night. The words were a little incomprehensible to him, inclduing the word 'bloomers', but he enjoyed it as we acted out the parts and he thought the acting was fun, especially putting boxershorts over his head/eyes.
January 23, 2015
I thought this was a cute book but would've been better read by kids' school librarian. She has a knack for bringing books to life and making them even better and more fun.
July 3, 2018
It is a children's story about a particular cow who has a bunch of misadventures before finally finding her way back home again.
May 30, 2022
Written foir the 3 - 5 year old, in this story about a particular cow, it is in the illustrations that the cumulative story takes place, whilst the text on page builds the story with a few words that end with an ellipsis.
I love the story Mem Fox has created from a simple mishap as a cow is blinded by a pair of bloomers.
The flow of the text is seamless, and Mem has woven the word ‘particular’ throughout the story brilliantly. For teachers, it’s a great way for a child to learn the word in a fun way.
In the reading, adults will laugh as much as the children as that pair of bloomers create all sorts of problems for the people one particular cow comes in contact with.
Terry Denton’s illustrations beautifully compliment the text as they bring the story to life.
I love the story Mem Fox has created from a simple mishap as a cow is blinded by a pair of bloomers.
The flow of the text is seamless, and Mem has woven the word ‘particular’ throughout the story brilliantly. For teachers, it’s a great way for a child to learn the word in a fun way.
In the reading, adults will laugh as much as the children as that pair of bloomers create all sorts of problems for the people one particular cow comes in contact with.
Terry Denton’s illustrations beautifully compliment the text as they bring the story to life.
October 22, 2024
This book reminded me of Zizek's thinking that, briefly said, the relationship between universality and particularity is a dynamic one and we are disrupted by the possible and the absurd. An ordinary walk, a universal and the potential for chaos and clumsiness to coincide with universal (a wedding, a boat outing, a post delivery) surprises with the creation of more unique, particular experiences. The universal disrupted by a blindfolded or bloomered cow bringing the ordinary into the extraordinary like a wedding vow thrown off a peer and remaining in love's embrace. The cow radicalized the everydayness of her Saturday.
I admit the repetition of particular didn't satisfy my young readers and they didn't connect.
I admit the repetition of particular didn't satisfy my young readers and they didn't connect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2018
All I could think while reading this was how I would rather be reading 'Summery Saturday morning' by Margaret Mahy. I didn't think the text was great.
Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.
March 22, 2019
If you are looking for a book focused around one word, then this is your book. The entire book is focused around "particular." Therefore, it'd be great for a lesson focused on vocabulary, word choice, or ideas.
For storytime a great focus for vocabulary, but probably best for Family Storytime.
For teachers- this would work great for word choice or writing ideas. You could have older students write a story focused around one word. I'd brainstorm great words first.
For storytime a great focus for vocabulary, but probably best for Family Storytime.
For teachers- this would work great for word choice or writing ideas. You could have older students write a story focused around one word. I'd brainstorm great words first.
August 18, 2017
I didn't like the illustrations at all!
If the text hadn't been lyrical and easy for little ones to remember, (after repeated readings), I would have given this book only one star.
If the text hadn't been lyrical and easy for little ones to remember, (after repeated readings), I would have given this book only one star.
September 25, 2017
Lots of silliness. Not great for storytime, but a cute book nonetheless.
December 13, 2017
This book follows the day of a cow that quickly begins to snowball out of control. The book is silly and younger students will probably get a laugh out of it.
February 16, 2018
My son thought this book was hilarious and we had to read it twice.
A good children's book.
A good children's book.
March 6, 2018
I read a bunch of Mem Fox books to Alena last week and I liked most of them. This one is my favorite of the bunch. Funny little story how one thing leads to another.
February 9, 2019
cows, underwear, brides and grooms, and accidents. what else is there to say? cute side conversations.
May 24, 2019
Love this
So much vocabulary ❤️
So much vocabulary ❤️
November 20, 2019
I think a lot of the language in this book will go over the heads of children that are of the appropriate age for this length of book.
Read
March 12, 2020This book is a fun book that would be great to introduce new vocabulary word to young students.
October 20, 2020
i like it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2020
I challenge you to read this with a child and not have a giggle about the cow with undies stuck on its head.
August 24, 2021
Didn’t understand the point but now my son knows the word “particular”
February 11, 2022
I always enjoy reading this story to the kiddos. It's a lot of fun and makes me smile!
February 13, 2024
Mildly amusing
September 10, 2024
A bit odd. This was included in our library's themed story-time kit about cows. It would not have been one I would have picked off the shelf to borrow singly.
January 23, 2022
L: "it didn't explain that much"
Boring and non-sense.
Boring and non-sense.
November 5, 2011
A Particular Cow by Mem Fox, illustrated by Terry Denton follows a cow on a morning walk that goes hilariously wrong when a pair of bloomers cover up Cow's eyes.
Cow’s Saturday morning stroll begins calmly enough. But when she suddenly finds herself on the wrong side of a particular pair of bloomers as she walks through a clothesline, all heck breaks loose — and soon she's also on the wrong side of the mailman, a group of kids, a wedding party, and, well, pretty much everyone else in town.
The text features a lot of repetition of the word particular, but clever comments made by colorful characters through word balloons make this interesting and entertaining. Some interesting vocabulary includes bloomers, blimey, incoming and MayDay!
Denton's illustrations are done in black ink and watercolor. Different perspectives are used in this tale. There are plenty of details to find, such as inquisitive rabbits, a turtle, a tweeting bird, a goat and rude flies. My favorite images include the cow initially getting the bloomers on her head, scattering three dogs, the bride headed for the water, and the cow leaping to shore.
This is an entertaining, silly tale, though mostly all action. It's probably best enjoyed one on one so the details and word balloons can be read and enjoyed.
For ages 3 to 7, cows, walks, humor, slapstick and fans of Mem Fox and Terry Denton.
Cow’s Saturday morning stroll begins calmly enough. But when she suddenly finds herself on the wrong side of a particular pair of bloomers as she walks through a clothesline, all heck breaks loose — and soon she's also on the wrong side of the mailman, a group of kids, a wedding party, and, well, pretty much everyone else in town.
The text features a lot of repetition of the word particular, but clever comments made by colorful characters through word balloons make this interesting and entertaining. Some interesting vocabulary includes bloomers, blimey, incoming and MayDay!
Denton's illustrations are done in black ink and watercolor. Different perspectives are used in this tale. There are plenty of details to find, such as inquisitive rabbits, a turtle, a tweeting bird, a goat and rude flies. My favorite images include the cow initially getting the bloomers on her head, scattering three dogs, the bride headed for the water, and the cow leaping to shore.
This is an entertaining, silly tale, though mostly all action. It's probably best enjoyed one on one so the details and word balloons can be read and enjoyed.
For ages 3 to 7, cows, walks, humor, slapstick and fans of Mem Fox and Terry Denton.
February 11, 2017
Pretty darn cute.
June 11, 2010
Cow likes to take a walk every Saturday. Normally, her walks are uneventful. But one particular Saturday, she runs afoul of a pair of bloomers. With her sight obstructed, Cow gets into quite a mess. She knocks over the mailman, runs into a pack of dogs and a group of children, busts up a wedding, and upsets some sailors. After all that mess, Cow's walk continues in the usual uneventful fashion.
What I Thought: What a delightful story. Cow's escapades are amusing and constructed in a pleasing fashion. I particular like the speech bubbles the illustrator gives the characters. It adds another dimension to the story.
What I Thought: What a delightful story. Cow's escapades are amusing and constructed in a pleasing fashion. I particular like the speech bubbles the illustrator gives the characters. It adds another dimension to the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews