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Kiss the Cow!
"With simple language, predictable rhythms and repetition, and flawless pacing, [Root’s] story begs to be read aloud. . . . Hillenbrand’s immense attention to detail is gratifying" — KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review)
When a very curious little girl meets a cow named Luella who is even
more stubborn than she is, who will be the first to back down? Phyllis
Root’s spirited tall tale finds a family of countless hungry children -
and a magic cow who demands a kiss on the nose to keep the sweet
milk flowing.
When a very curious little girl meets a cow named Luella who is even
more stubborn than she is, who will be the first to back down? Phyllis
Root’s spirited tall tale finds a family of countless hungry children -
and a magic cow who demands a kiss on the nose to keep the sweet
milk flowing.
32 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2000
About the author
Phyllis Root
104 books68 followers"Picture books are performances," says Phyllis Root, quoting some sage advice she once received. "They're performances that involve a child--something both of you do. And once I started thinking of them that way, I started getting much looser about making up words and playing around with rhythm."
Phyllis Root picked up an early affinity for colloquial language while growing up in Indiana and southern Illinois, "where people actually say things like, 'I got a hitch in my git-along'!" She decided to be a writer in the fifth grade, but it wasn't until she was thirty years old that she took a writing course with an influential teacher who gave her "the tools" she says she needed. "That's when I figured out that you could learn to be a writer," she says. What followed was a series of rollicking stories that take on a new life when read aloud, among them ONE DUCK STUCK, a one-of-a-kind counting book; KISS THE COW!, an affectionate salute to stubbornness; WHAT BABY WANTS, a tale of increasingly ridiculous efforts to quiet an infant that one reviewer compared to an episode of I LOVE LUCY, and LOOKING FOR A MOOSE, a buoyant tale with a final surprise discovery.
The author does "endless rewriting" before a book is finished, but often starts out by writing her stories in her head, a trick she learned as a time-pressed mother when her two daughters were very young. For example, RATTLETRAP CAR--a joyful celebration of perseverance--began with her playing around with sounds ("clinkety clankety, bing bang pop!") and calling up bits of old camp songs.
A master of rhythmic read-alouds, Phyllis Root exhibits a range many writers would envy. Her counting book TEN SLEEPY SHEEP is as serene and lulling as ONE DUCK STUCK is rambunctious. "Counting sheep isn't always easy," she notes. "Once, while we were farm-sitting, my daughter and I had to chase down two runaway lambs in the growing darkness, then count twenty-seven frisky lambs to make sure they were all safe for the night. Luckily, they were." OLIVER FINDS HIS WAY is a quiet, classic picture book about a defining moment in the life of a small child--getting lost and having the pluck to find the way home. On the other extreme, Phyllis Root takes on no less than the whole universe in BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD, a powerful, original, down-home creation myth that received rave reviews and won the prestigious BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. Most recently, Phyllis Root penned LUCIA AND THE LIGHT, a timeless adventure about one brave girl's quest that was inspired by Nordic lore.
When she's not writing, Phyllis Root teaches at Vermont College's MFA in Writing for Children program. She lives with her two daughters and two cats in a 100-year-old house in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and loves to read (mostly mysteries with female protagonists) or spend time outdoors gardening, camping, sailing, or traveling. "One of the things I've learned about myself," she confides, "is that when I get really stuck and can't seem to get writing, it's because I've forgotten to take time out to play."
Phyllis Root picked up an early affinity for colloquial language while growing up in Indiana and southern Illinois, "where people actually say things like, 'I got a hitch in my git-along'!" She decided to be a writer in the fifth grade, but it wasn't until she was thirty years old that she took a writing course with an influential teacher who gave her "the tools" she says she needed. "That's when I figured out that you could learn to be a writer," she says. What followed was a series of rollicking stories that take on a new life when read aloud, among them ONE DUCK STUCK, a one-of-a-kind counting book; KISS THE COW!, an affectionate salute to stubbornness; WHAT BABY WANTS, a tale of increasingly ridiculous efforts to quiet an infant that one reviewer compared to an episode of I LOVE LUCY, and LOOKING FOR A MOOSE, a buoyant tale with a final surprise discovery.
The author does "endless rewriting" before a book is finished, but often starts out by writing her stories in her head, a trick she learned as a time-pressed mother when her two daughters were very young. For example, RATTLETRAP CAR--a joyful celebration of perseverance--began with her playing around with sounds ("clinkety clankety, bing bang pop!") and calling up bits of old camp songs.
A master of rhythmic read-alouds, Phyllis Root exhibits a range many writers would envy. Her counting book TEN SLEEPY SHEEP is as serene and lulling as ONE DUCK STUCK is rambunctious. "Counting sheep isn't always easy," she notes. "Once, while we were farm-sitting, my daughter and I had to chase down two runaway lambs in the growing darkness, then count twenty-seven frisky lambs to make sure they were all safe for the night. Luckily, they were." OLIVER FINDS HIS WAY is a quiet, classic picture book about a defining moment in the life of a small child--getting lost and having the pluck to find the way home. On the other extreme, Phyllis Root takes on no less than the whole universe in BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD, a powerful, original, down-home creation myth that received rave reviews and won the prestigious BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. Most recently, Phyllis Root penned LUCIA AND THE LIGHT, a timeless adventure about one brave girl's quest that was inspired by Nordic lore.
When she's not writing, Phyllis Root teaches at Vermont College's MFA in Writing for Children program. She lives with her two daughters and two cats in a 100-year-old house in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and loves to read (mostly mysteries with female protagonists) or spend time outdoors gardening, camping, sailing, or traveling. "One of the things I've learned about myself," she confides, "is that when I get really stuck and can't seem to get writing, it's because I've forgotten to take time out to play."
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
April 14, 2010
This is a fun story with delightful illustrations (how cute is that cow!?) about a little girl who is stubborn and curious (oh, dear, a dangerous combination!) But, her attitude really bothered me--so selfish! :-( She did not make amends for her misdeed because she saw that it was hurting others, she did so because she finally got more curious about something and to settle her curiosity she actually made things better.
March 3, 2011
Well, it has a cow in it - so that automatically gives it an edge over other books.
The dilemna is the same one with Curious George. Only in this case - it is a curious little girl who directly disobeys mom and then causes quite a bit of trouble. But - she never really suffers consequences. So, while I like the cow, I'm not sure I like the message....
The dilemna is the same one with Curious George. Only in this case - it is a curious little girl who directly disobeys mom and then causes quite a bit of trouble. But - she never really suffers consequences. So, while I like the cow, I'm not sure I like the message....
February 17, 2015
Great story! The author really shows how stubborn a person can be. The story os somewhat similar to the strega nona story in which without the three kisses the pot overflowed. This story was almost the opposite as the cow's milk would not flow. This book was a great read I would recommend it.
May 20, 2020
Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand and written by Phyllis Root, Kiss the Cow! is a story about Annalisa, a girl who stubbornly refuses to kiss the cow on the nose in exchange for the milk that is produced. Not getting affection from its owner, the cow refuses to produce milk for the farm. Annalise must figure out a way how to help get milk for the farm children.
The illustrations, saturated and neutral in color, generate an emotion of warmth. Throughout the book, the characters interact with each other, not looking at the viewer. This makes the viewer feel as if they are an outsider who are witnessing a story unfold rather than participating in it.
The illustrations, saturated and neutral in color, generate an emotion of warmth. Throughout the book, the characters interact with each other, not looking at the viewer. This makes the viewer feel as if they are an outsider who are witnessing a story unfold rather than participating in it.
February 9, 2020
A delight. And if vegans could love a cow the way this family does, they might just be willing to eat cheese after all. (Am I right, that it's factory farming practices that are most objectionable to many vegans?)
I love Mama May's slightly diverse family, but I do wish that there was a Papa Pan (or whatever) around, because May has too many foster children for one adult caregiver. The pictures are wonderfully full of detail. And I love Annalisa and would like to read a whole MG book about her.
I love Mama May's slightly diverse family, but I do wish that there was a Papa Pan (or whatever) around, because May has too many foster children for one adult caregiver. The pictures are wonderfully full of detail. And I love Annalisa and would like to read a whole MG book about her.
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February 4, 2011Another book that would be great for a unit in kindergarten on farms. This story lends itself to the importance of taking care of your possessions, as well as respecting your family and parents. Little Annalisa will inspire curiosity and creativity in students, which are excellent and important things for all students to have! This book reminded me a little bit of the Little Old Lady Who lived in the shoe, simply because the mother of the story had no apparent husband and has oodles of kids! Over-all, a fun book for a read-aloud to the lower elementary students.
February 17, 2015
We heard this book first at story time, and my four year old liked it so much that she checked it out. While I believe this is an original creation, it has the feel of a folktale. A mother has so many children she can't count them, but she can feed them all with the help of her magic cow. When Annalisa, her most inquisitive child, decides to figure out how to do it, she lands them all in some trouble that won't be resolved until she agrees to kiss the cow. This reminded me a lot of Tomie DePaola's Strega Nona.
October 9, 2017
A cross of the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe with Stregna Nona, but with a twist -- instead of an over-flowing never-ending supply because of missing magic words, we have a supply turned off because someone won't kiss the coww.
February 20, 2018
I used this book for preschool story time. Such a cute book! It provided lots of opportunities to question my listeners about the plot, and check in for comprehension / interest. It's also a very silly story, and had several great giggle moments.
March 22, 2018
A preschool and up for length book about magic, kisses and cows. A young girl disobeys her mother and milks the magic cow and now the cow will not give milk the family despirately needs. Can she fix it?
August 3, 2019
While this book is beautifully illustrated, the story line is infantile. The characters, Annalisa and Mama May, are both one dimensional and while the cow Luella is described as magical no details are given. Really folks children can handle more interesting stories than this one!
October 10, 2022
Grade Level: Pre-k to 2nd | Genre: Traditional Literature
A very sweet book with a good message about appreciation. The style of the illustrations matches the almost folktale story and does well in complimenting the story.
A very sweet book with a good message about appreciation. The style of the illustrations matches the almost folktale story and does well in complimenting the story.
March 5, 2023
The family's cow refuses to give milk after the child who milked her refuses to kiss her on the nose.
This story is reminiscent of folk tales in which the refusal to show gratitude spells disaster.
This story is reminiscent of folk tales in which the refusal to show gratitude spells disaster.
December 20, 2023
Annalisa's mother sings a song and kisses the cow every day to get cheese and milk for her children. But one day Annalisa sings the song and takes the milk, but refuses to kiss the cow. This reminded me a little of Strega Nona. I liked it!
April 26, 2021
This book is very colorful, and has a cow so it is appealing to children. It talks about what a cow can provide but in children form!
March 1, 2022
A bit like Strega Nonna, when the magic spell is not complete without a final action.
December 13, 2024
I read this aloud to Kindergarten most years too! They think the idea of kissing a cow is hilarious. What they don't know is that I would probably kiss a cow. I am that sort of person.
March 4, 2017
The magical cow gives milk enough to feed all the children, but you must sing the song, thank her and give her respect. When Annalisa lets her curiosity get the better of her, she messes up everything because she won't kiss the cow. Will the children have to live on bread and crusts with no milk or cheese? Can Annalisa make things right again?
July 19, 2015
This is a humorous tale about being curious and stubborn and showing appreciation. Mama May has a magical cow named Luella who produces enough milk to feed all of her children, and she sings to Luella and gives her a kiss for her daily milk. Annalisa is curious and wants to milk Luella, but she stubbornly refuses to give her a kiss afterward and the milk flow stops.
The story reminds me a bit of Strega Nona, although it is Annalisa who has to fix her mistake and not Mama May. The narrative is fun to read aloud, and the illustrations are cartoonish and colorful. I love that Mama May's many children are a multicultural bunch and I also love that she makes cheese for them.
Overall, it's an entertaining story and we enjoyed reading it together.
The story reminds me a bit of Strega Nona, although it is Annalisa who has to fix her mistake and not Mama May. The narrative is fun to read aloud, and the illustrations are cartoonish and colorful. I love that Mama May's many children are a multicultural bunch and I also love that she makes cheese for them.
Overall, it's an entertaining story and we enjoyed reading it together.
October 4, 2010
Amelia is not the oldest, nor the youngest of her large family, but she is the most curious and stubborn. She follows her mother up the hill each day to milk Luella, the magic cow. Amelia's mother sings a song to get the milk flowing, another to stop it, and then rewards Luella with a kiss.
Amelia decides to try it herself - she grabs a pail, sings the songs, but refuses to kiss cow. Sad Luella refuses to give milk until she receives her kiss. It takes some time for Amelia to come around, but eventually she grants Luella a kiss and discovers that it is not too bad.
My Ella had the songs memorized after two readings. This will be checked out again!
Amelia decides to try it herself - she grabs a pail, sings the songs, but refuses to kiss cow. Sad Luella refuses to give milk until she receives her kiss. It takes some time for Amelia to come around, but eventually she grants Luella a kiss and discovers that it is not too bad.
My Ella had the songs memorized after two readings. This will be checked out again!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 3, 2013PICTURE BOOKS:
This is a book about a young girl who must learn the lesson that she has to kiss the cow every time she gathers milk. If she does not the cow will not give any more milk. She learns her lesson, and ends up kissing the cow. This is a cute book that has a valuable lesson of learning to listen to your parents and take responsibility for your actions. I would recommend this book for the younger grades to be read by children, or ages 2-4 to be read by parents or librarians. Even though the book is a picture book, it is wordy and would take a larger attention span to get through the whole thing.
This is a book about a young girl who must learn the lesson that she has to kiss the cow every time she gathers milk. If she does not the cow will not give any more milk. She learns her lesson, and ends up kissing the cow. This is a cute book that has a valuable lesson of learning to listen to your parents and take responsibility for your actions. I would recommend this book for the younger grades to be read by children, or ages 2-4 to be read by parents or librarians. Even though the book is a picture book, it is wordy and would take a larger attention span to get through the whole thing.
April 23, 2010
Kiss the Cow is the story of Annalisa who refuses to kiss the cow even when she knows it means that a contented cow gives lots of sweet milk for her many, many brothers and sisters. Luella the cow is milked by Mama May and always receives a kiss in return. One day, Annalisa decides she wants to milk the cow, but when she doesn't give her a kiss in return, Luella is very sad. Only one thing will make it right...and Annalisa knows what it is.
Used for "Cheep, Oink, and Moo: Chicken, Pork, and Beef" storytime-April, 2010.
Used for "Cheep, Oink, and Moo: Chicken, Pork, and Beef" storytime-April, 2010.
December 19, 2015
Annalisa's mother milks her magic cow, Luella, every day. She sings a magical song and kisses her right on the nose. Annalisa decides she wants to milk Luella too. She gets her little pail and sings the magical song as she milks Luella, but she doesn't give Luella her kiss. The next day Luella won't give any milk to Annalisa's mother. The family has to convince Annalisa to kiss the cow. This was another nuetral book for me. I didn't hate and I didn't love it. I came across it in my search for a read aloud and I don't think I would choose this book for that.
June 9, 2009
I love this! The story is fun - Annalisa is not the oldest or the youngest of the huge brood of farm kids, but she's the most curious and the most stubborn. She knows that Mama May says special words to get their magical cow to give them milk and she knows that the cow always gets a kiss, and she knows she's not allowed, but...Annalisa is stubborn and curious! The ending is just right, and the art is so playful, I found myself thinking that kissing a cow is not all that bad an idea!
June 16, 2012
This book has been required reading at bedtime, and any other time my 3.5 yo and 21 mo boys catch me sitting, for at least a month. I got it to prove milk comes from cows, and the simple story and friendly illustrations of a magic cow and a curious girl captured their imaginations. The underlying lesson about proper thank yous and trying things before we judge are just icing on the cake.
February 6, 2016
A simple rhyme about a mother with *tons* of children. She keeps them feed and happy with the help of her magic cow who gives her two pails of milk a day. One of her little daughters decides she wants to milk the cow herself, and repeats everything her mother says and does EXCEPT for kissing the cow at the end. This causes the cow to stop giving milk and a battle of the wills ensues between mother and daughter about kissing the cow.
Cute illustrations.
Cute illustrations.
December 8, 2009
See kids, this is what happens if you don't kiss the cow on its nose every single morning before you try to milk it. Believe everyone in the world will be kissing their cows every single day religiously!
Other than that. Good kids book, and one I'd definitely recommend reading to a group. You can even make sloppy kiss noises if you want to gross the kiddies out.
Other than that. Good kids book, and one I'd definitely recommend reading to a group. You can even make sloppy kiss noises if you want to gross the kiddies out.
September 8, 2010
Annalisa sings two special songs but refuses to kiss the cow afterwards which means her many hungry brothers and sisters will not have milk and cheese for breakfast and dinner. How can Mama May convince her that she must kiss the cow? The story has a couple of short songs that are fun to sing. Illustrations are touching and colorful.
September 15, 2022
A cute little fairytale, but It feels a little off with the current teachings of consent. Teaching kids that they don’t have to kiss the grandparents, but then telling them they need to kiss a cow. 😋
It is still a cute story, but I know my story time parents wouldn’t appreciate the focus on a kiss.
It is still a cute story, but I know my story time parents wouldn’t appreciate the focus on a kiss.
October 13, 2015
When a very curious little girl meets a cow named Luella who is even
more stubborn than she is, who will be the first to back down? Phyllis
Root’s spirited tall tale finds a family of countless hungry children -
and a magic cow who demands a kiss on the nose to keep the sweet
milk flowing.
Very cute - my next read-aloud
more stubborn than she is, who will be the first to back down? Phyllis
Root’s spirited tall tale finds a family of countless hungry children -
and a magic cow who demands a kiss on the nose to keep the sweet
milk flowing.
Very cute - my next read-aloud
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews