A Beautiful Cow

Gr 3–6—Ariol loves Petula because she smells good and she is a beautiful cow. However, Ariol, a little donkey, has a hard time telling her this. Instead, he dreams about what he would say to her if he could, hangs out with his friends, gets advice from his parents, and has adventures. Silly situations and memorable characters make for an enjoyable, quick read. The easy-to-follow panels and colors that seem to pop from the pages make this graphic novel particularly pleasing. With crisp lines and forgiving backgrounds that blend in perfectly, this work will aesthetically delight middle graders. The many short unconnected adventures in this series entry will assure readers that the volumes don't have to be read in order. A great choice for libraries where Lincoln Peirce's "Big Nate" (HarperCollins) is enjoyed and where kids crave more after finishing Jennifer Holm's "Babymouse" or "Squish" (Random).—Mariela Siegert, Westfield Middle School, Bloomingdale, IL