Brownie the cow decides that she wants to jump over the moon in this beginning reader inspired by the classic nursery rhyme. Her concerned friends advise her that she is in for some bumps if she pursues her dream, but she tries anyway, crashing to earth again and again. Finally, Raccoon shows her the moon reflected in a body of water, allowing her to jump over it and get her wish...

Originally published in 1982 with artwork from Krystyna Stasiak, and then reissued in 2016 with illustrations by Linda Prater, The Cow That Got Her Wish is the second beginning reader from Margaret Hillert that I have read recently, following upon her The Witch Who Went for a Walk. I read the original edition, having sought it out specifically for Stasiak's artwork, which I find beautiful. I was not disappointed, as the visuals here are lovely, with a gorgeous color palette and wonderfully stylized, almost folk-style figures. The story itself, although every bit as simple as one would expect in a title aimed at beginning readers, is fairly engaging, and I liked the clever solution found by the raccoon. Recommended to beginning readers, and to fans of Stasiak's charming artwork. ( )

I liked this book for a few reasons. First, the resolution in the book teaches children to think about their perspective on life. Brownie the cow spends the whole book trying to jump over the moon and fails each time. In the end, Brownie "jumps over the moon" by jumping over the reflection of the moon on the river. This was still a victory in her eyes and brought her great joy. This can teach children to have pride in small victories even if things do not go as planned. Next, is the writing style and organization of the book. "The Cow That Got Her Wish" is in the Modern Curriculum Press "Beginning to Read" series so the dialogue and action in written in short, easy to read phrases with entry level words. This paired with a rhyming scheme on every page makes this a fun read for young children. An example of this writing style can be found on page 21 which reads, "I know what I'll do. I will try a balloon. I'm sure that will help me jump over the moon" (Hillert, 21). The whole page has only three sentences and is one of the longest pages in the book. Lastly, the illustrations were a great element of the story. The illustrations are very cartoon-like and look as if they are painted with water colors. The vibrant colors help make the images stand out. The last illustration in the story shows all the characters who doubted Brownie smiling and cheering her on after she "jumped over the moon." This illustration brought resolution to the story as the characters who were once against Brownie have switched their stance to support Brownie. The overall message of this story is to believe in yourself. Another positive message to be found in this book is that life is a matter of perspective and you can achieve victories in more ways than one. ( )

This book captivates young readers. Young readers can read this book independently. It is good for ages Pre-K through 1st graders.