Petal the Angry Cow

Petal the Angry Cow

A hilarious barnyard tale about big-hearted cow with an even bigger temper, for fans of Penguin Problems . Petal is everything you could want in a cow. She is kind, thoughtful, a great baker and a wonderful artist. She also has a temper. A very big, out-of-control temper. And it doesn't help that her barnyard pals like to push her buttons . . . On the day the farmer announces a fabulous trip to a water park, the horse steps on Petal's foot and she has her biggest tantrum yet. The farmer tells Petal if she doesn't get her temper under control, she won't be able to go to the water park! What else can she do but stomp away in a huff? Then Petal meets a swan who shows her a thing or two about behaving. And not in the way you'd expect . . . This laugh-out-loud story will tickle even the surliest reader, and Petal's outsized tantrums will feel very familiar to parents and kids alike. But like Petal, this story also has a heart of gold and a core of pure warmth. K-Gr 2-Petal the cow has lots of good qualities, and the other animals on the farm like her, but she has a temper. And when she doesn't get her way, things get ugly. When the farmer threatens to leave Petal behind if she cannot control her anger, a swan offers to help. Kids will enjoy seeing the swan's methods for "coping"-screaming and revenge-as Petal realizes the appropriate way to react. The universal lesson taught in an unconventional way makes for a fun read, and young readers will see themselves in the animals' activities, like story time and crafts, or reflected in Petal's body language during a time out. The bright illustrations vary from page to page. Sometimes they are clustered together on a page to demonstrate a point, and sometimes they are given a full spread to appreciate the outsized emotions of being angry and frustrated. Caregivers might not appreciate the name-calling, such as "stupid dummy," but kids will definitely relate to Petal's plight. Words and concepts, such as "consequences," go unexplained in the text, so adults might have to pause to define. VERDICT A humorous take on important social-emotional learning lessons.-Elissa Cooperα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. One of CCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens (Fall 2022), Starred Selection “Fergus’ prose is accessible for younger readers with the farmyard characters and situations providing warmth and humour while still delivering a message.” — CM: Canadian Review of Materials "Will resonate with any parent who has dealt with a child who has unexpected meltdowns." — Winnipeg Free Press "Delightful illustrations and lovable characters combine with a kid-friendly storyline to make a book that is sure to please." — Story Monsters Ink MAUREEN FERGUS is an award-winning author of books for kids of all ages. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages, optioned for film and adapted for stage. Her picture books include InvisiBill , The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold, and You're In Good Paws ; and she's also the author of the upcoming Weenie early graphic novel series. When not writing, Maureen runs, reads, bikes, bakes, works and hangs out with her husband, three kids and Buddy the Wonder Dog, who rarely has tantrums. OLGA DEMIDOVA was born and raised in Russia, where she studied at the Moscow Art Institute of Applied Arts. Olga started work as an animator, but her tremendous passion for illustration sent her in a different direction. Now she publishes books and apps for children all over the world. Olga lives in Moscow, and she does not know an angry cow personally.