Hospital Farm: Daisy the Dizzy Calf (Bright Sparks)

Text: Jackie Andrews

Illustrations: Jacqueline East

Year: 2002

Publisher: Parragon, UK

Age: 3 – 7 years

No. of Pages: 32

Book Type: Picture Book

ISBN:  978 1 84250 407 9

This Bright Sparks book (which donates one book to less fortunate children for every two sold) is about the Haven Farm Animal Hospital run by Joe and Sally’s parents.

The children help with farm and caring for the animals.

When a little calf called Daisy comes to the farm, she feels left out as the newest occupant. A misunderstanding leads to a misadventure. But all ends well. :-)

Excerpt

The little calf watched all the other animals having lots of fun, playing together.

“Maybe if I practice,” she thought to herself, “I won’t be so wobbly.”

That afternoon, Daisy ran round and round the meadow, jumping over the little stream at the bottom. 

The Cow in the House – Puffin Young Readers – Level 2

Retold by Harriet Ziefert

Illustrator: Emily Bolam

Year: 1997

Publisher: Puffin Young Readers, USA

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages:

ISBN: 978 0 44846 298 1

This is one of those books that make you laugh aloud. :-)

It starts with the ubiquitous ‘once upon a time’ and ends with the harried man finding peace and quiet but in an unexpected manner.

A man lives in a noisy house and seeks the help of a wise man. The wise man suggests a series of measures that begin with getting a cow and then some more animals into the house until it’s a menagerie. Or, perhaps a cacophony? :-)

Excerpt

The sheep said, Baa, baa!

The donkey said, Hee-haw!

The cow said, Moo, moo!

The bed creaked.

The chair squeaked.

The roof leaked.

“I can’t live in my house!” said the man.

Other titles in this series

• Level - 1: A new friend
• Level - 1: At the beach 
• Level - 1: Ice Cream Soup
• Level - 1: Max has a Fish, Review here
• Level - 1: Nicky Upstairs and Down 
• Level - 1: Play with Blue
• Level - 1: Tiny goes camping 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Birthday Dog 
• Level - 1: Tiny the Snow Dog 

• Level - 2: Cowboy Roy, Review here
• Level - 2: Madeline and her dog, Review here
• Level - 2: Princess Buttercup, Review here
• Level - 2: Red, White and Blue
• Level - 2: Shape Spotters, Review here 
• Level - 2: Snug Bug, Review here
• Level - 2: Spider's Lunch, Review here
• Level - 2: The Garden that we grew  
• Level - 2: The very lonely firefly, Review here
• Level - 2: Who stole the cookies?, Review here

• Level - 3: Agapanthus Hum and the Eyeglasses
• Level - 3: Amanda Pig on her own
• Level - 3: Why do birds sing?

Molly and the Lost Cows

By Antonio Vincenti

Year: 2003

Publisher: Pelangi Books, Malaysia

Age: 3 and above

No. of Pages: 16

ISBN: 978-9-83000-247-0

This is a tender story of the “odd-one” in the group.

Molly is a cow made of glass. The other cows don’t want her to play with them. She’s sad but she gets to save the day for Farmer Zeno when she uses her creativity to bring home her lost friends.

The illustrations are simplistic and uncluttered yet appealing. I wish this had been an animated TV series.  

Excerpt

Zeno calls the cows in a loud voice but the cows can’t hear him.

Zeno is very worried.

Molly has an idea!

She stands under a tree that is full of nuts. When the nuts fall on Molly, it sounds like a big glass bell!