Kind of ridiculous story about a boy getting a cow friend for his grandparents' cow, so the cow wouldn't be lonely. It's cute and kind of funny -- but what? It might have been better in a picture book format for the whimsy of it.

My kids didn't like Lily. They thought she was mean.

2 stars = it was OK ( )

Christian and Julia - 3 stars (Julia might have liked it more as she read ahead and finished it.)
Zacky - 4 stars
( )

It's a sweet and readable book, carefully written so that a 2nd grader might read it. Christmas without religion, a book about being thoughtful. ( )

A beautiful story, poignant and heartwarming. I liked the character journeys, and I thought the siblings and grandmother were surprisingly well-developed for so short a story. I also liked the realism; this story lacks so many cliches that abound in Christmas literature. Here, there are no outlandishly tragic circumstances, no misers-turned-saint, no dead parents, and no miracles. And yet, despite this, all the beauty and heartache of the holidays is captured in this straightforward and unexpectedly moving tale. A joy to read. ( )

Liam and his sister Lily spend time with their grandparents at Christmastime every year. They've earned money for presents and brought many books with them to while away the time until Christmas. But something threatens to spoil the holiday. White Cow is alone in the field since her companion donkey has been returned to his own owner. Liam is concerned that she is lonely. Thus begins the heartwarming tale of a Christmas gift that seems impossible. This short book for children is a delightful reminder that true happiness is found in making others happy, even if "the other" is a cow. ( )