Cows Can't Jump by Dave Reisman and illustrated by Jason Maas
Review by Chris Singer
About the author:
Author and Publisher Dave Reisman lives in Briarcliff Manor, NY with his wife and three kids and, when he's not working on his kids' books, works in Manhattan as a lawyer. Cows Can't Jump was sparked by his love for reading bedtime stories with Eli, Rachel and Isaac over many colorful years.
About the book:
Is it really true that cows can't jump, gorillas can't swim and sloths can't leap? Yes, but discover what these and other animals can do, as they swing, scamper and glide through Cows Can't Jump! In this humorous and inspirational adventure, animals focus on what they do best, comfortably aware they can t do everything, but proud of their own special skills. Vibrantly illustrated, Cows Can't Jump will help young readers learn diverse and dynamic words, while absorbing a subtle yet powerful message that builds self-esteem and teaches respect and humility.
My take on the book:
My daughter loved Cows Can’t Jump from her very first read. I wasn't surprised by that, because I thought after our first read that this is a perfect book for preschool-aged children. The story has a repetitive theme to it ("animal" can't do "blank" but they can do "blank") and because of that, is extremely engaging as a read-aloud for little ones.
The message of this story is great. Preschool is an excellent time to begin reading and talking about appreciating one's skills and abilities as well as those in others. An added bonus are the whimsical, vibrant and expressive illustrations. They're humorous and add another fun element to the story. Dads will have a lot of fun reading this over and over with their kids.
