Myron's Magic Cow

Myron's Magic Cow is a product of a contemporary press, Barefoot Books, celebrating "art and story with books that open the hearts and minds of children from all walks of life, inspiring them to read deeper, search further and explore their own creative gifts." With hints of fairy tales run amok, Myron's Magic Cow is peopled by whimsical characters set in the framework of everyday life in the city, as a little boys sets out to buy milk for his mother's morning pancakes. Five dollars clutched in his hand, Myron trudges the familiar blocks (with brilliant illustrations by artist Jago), until he meets a girl with curly blonde hair pulling a cow by a rope. With hints of her unusual adventures (three bears waiting in the car), the girl trades Myron the cow for the five-dollar bill and the boy is faced with the inherent difficulties of his transaction. Dragging the cow home, Myron ignores the people staring from their windows, at a loss for how to transform this very large animal into the milk his mother needs. Much to his surprise the cow speaks when Myron utters the magic word, "please", and the story evolves from there into the realm of fantasy and imagination. Myron's world is transformed by his experience, his perceptions changed by the magic behind the mundane. With its whimsical story and outstanding illustrations, this wonderful book is an adventure on many levels, exploring the parameters of the imagination and the infinite boundaries of fantasy. Luan Gaines/ 2006.

Newman has the rare talent that is able to both tease the imagination of the seven year old and satisfy the adult reader's inner child. Myron's physical and emotional world is accessible to a wide range of communities and is a must for every in school or after school reading program, urban, suburban or rural. The illustrations wonderfully capture Newman's sense of wonder and will stimulate discussions beyond the text. Myron's Magic Cow will be a wonderful holiday gift for Xmas, Chanuka, Kwanzaa or Three King's Day!

Myron's Magic Cow, a contemporary fairy tale, is a delightfully quirky story about a boy who is sent out for milk and ends up with a magic talking cow. Marlene Newman weaves several traditional fairy tale characters into a new urban tale with a fresh voice and a new twist. And Jago's illustrations are contemporary European works of art. Myron's Magic Cow is a book for children and adults alike. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good fairy tale and quality artwork. (As a collector of children's picture books, I'd call it a "coffee table book.")