Daddy Played Music for the Cows

Weidt has written a bit of nostalgia that depicts the early years of a little girl's growing up on a dairy farm, where her "Daddy played music for the cows." The illustrations, which reflect the girl's growth from infant to toddler to school-age child, show her being squirted with warm milk, watching the hens lay eggs, and learning how to yodel along with the cowgirls on the radio. Double-page spreads with boxed text make this appropriate for groups, but the nostalgic tone of the language and the slow pace will appeal more to older children. Sorensen's paintings are bathed in a golden glow, filling the barn with constant sunlight. A good springboard for discussion of family history and the idea of preserving memories in a journal. Janice Del Negro —This text refers to the Hardcover edition.