It's Milking Time

K-Gr 4—At once both reminiscent and contemporary, this narrative poem tells the twice-daily story of milking time. It creates a clear picture of a small family dairy farm, weaving in facts without interfering in the artistry. The careful choice of words alerts all the senses-smell, touch, sight, hearing, and even taste. "Cuds a-chewing,/tails a-swatting,/hooves a-pounding,/into the barnyard they trudge." Readers will also feel the strong tie between father and daughter (and the cows) as they share this routine chore. Realistic watercolor paintings enrich the text with the soft, mellow light of a summer evening. Whether being dwarfed by a large cow or feeling the warm breath of a calf, readers are pulled into the compositions and become participants. Both city and farm children will appreciate the satisfaction of a job well done—"Every morning, every night, it's milking time."—Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH