Where's My Cow?

Great for all ages! From baby to adult this book is a must read for the Terry Pratchett fan! Now I have to read it every night to my daughter who won't go to sleep until it is read.

At least that's what my 2 year old said on first seeing the pictures in this charming, if a trifle bizaar, childrens' book. While much of this can be found in "Thud!", the meta-story makes it for me. And my son doesn't much care as long as I make the noises. And the "city folk", funny as they are to a Pratchett fan, are still funny to my son. I plan to get this as a Christmas present for a good friend of mine. That's how much I like it; as both a children's book, and as something that makes me laugh as I read it.

After reading "Thud" I came across "Where's my cow" in a local book store. I was looking for classic storybooks for our baby due in June. Excitedly I sat and read the book right there in the store with the other "classic" books lovingly placed on the floor. Being near Christmas the shop was rather full and it wasn't long before I had more than a few people giving me odd looks. This is because I couldn't stop laughing, and being pregnant and somewhat emotionally unstable I was also almost in tears when reading the last line "That's my daddy" My husband and I LOVE Terry's books and treasure our copy of Where's my cow! AND the choice to make Sam Vimes look like Pete Postlethwaite is not a coincidence, it is how Terry describes how he thinks Sam looks.

My husband and I have been Pratchett fans for years, and never thought we'd be able to share a Pratchett book with our two-year old daughter for many more years. Hah! She loves this book. We have to read it twice before she goes to bed, and if we try to substitute something else, she says firmly, "Cow! Cow!" This is an honest testimonial - give your kids a chance to enjoy this book!

If you've read Thud! then you know that each night, come rain, shine, or impossible traffic Commander Sam Vimes is home by six to read Where is My Cow? to his young son. It is the most popular book in the nursery and he has it memorized. In this wonderful volume we not only get the original text of Where is My Cow? but we also see Sam reading to young Sam and the one night that he decides to try the unauthorized Where is My Daddy? rendition. After all young Sam lives in Ankh-Morpork, he'll only ever see cows and pigs on his plate. Instead he should search the streets of the city and discover such characters as Foul 'Ol Ron--at least until Lady Sybill finds out. Just one note though, this isn't a children's book--it is meant to look like one, but you wouldn't read it as a bedtime story to your three year old. If you've kept up with Pratchett's Discworld novels then this is definately the book for you, especially if you enjoy tales of Sam Vimes and the City Watch. Even the Librarian recommends it with an enthusiastic "Ook!" Of course if you're new to Discworld then this makes a great introduction to the humour of Pratchett without many spoilers as to previous books and their varied and sundry plots. I highly recommend this essential companion to Thud!

I LOVED this story! It was cute and endearing and one I could read over and over again. I don't have children; (I read it in the store when I bought "Going Postal") but if I had kids, I would definitely buy this book to read to them. What a great way to introduce kids to the Discworld.