Having overslept, the Benson family leaves their farm in a hurry and forgets a few important things before they leave for town, but one hungry cow is determined to get fed and so ends up roaming around at the market to everyone's great surprise! PreSchool-Grade 2—This companion to The Milkman (Dutton, 2005) follows the Benson family after they move to an apple farm on the bay. As the parents and children rush to pack their truck with produce for the farmer's market, they neglect to feed their cow. In their hurry, they drive off without closing the gate. As they set up their booth, they become aware of a disturbance among the other stalls. Their hungry cow has followed them and is wreaking havoc. After feeding her some apples, helping other sellers clean up the mess, and packing up, the Bensons' day is tagged a success. Once again, Cordsen's taut writing has a rolling rhyming scheme that does not miss a beat. Paired with Jones's charming vintage-style illustrations, the story transports readers to a simple time in a bucolic place. One might expect to find Sal gathering blueberries down the road. Choose this as an appealing read-aloud for farm or apple themes.— Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. *Starred Review* From the talented duo who brought young readers The Milkman (2005) comes a tale as funny as it is well crafted. The Benson family oversleeps. That’s too bad, because it’s market day, and the apples won’t pick themselves. The truck needs to be loaded, and in all the hubbub everyone forgets to feed the cow. That’s also too bad—very bad, in fact—as children soon see. It’s not often that words and art mesh as well as they do here; Cordsen’s rhythmic text (which scans beautifully) gives a deadpan telling of the goings-on, while the full-page paintings capture all excitement of “trouble . . . coming closer, on the double.” Sharp-eyed kids will see the source of the difficulty in the glimpse of a tail as pies are knocked over, worms for bait come tumbling out of their cans, and handmade crafts fly through the air. Not all children will realize who the culprit is until the end, when the Bensons feed their cow—but while awaiting the disclosure, they’ll enjoy the retro-style artwork, which mixes striking compositions with tints of glowing peach, vegetable green, honey yellow, and other luscious colors. A delightful read-aloud for lapsitters or groups. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper Cordsen's taut writing has a rolling rhyming scheme that does not miss a beat...an appealing read-aloud. -- School Library Journal Douglas B. Jones has don illustrations for editorial and advertisting clients around the world.