Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa [Paperback]

Erica Silverman (Author), Betsy Lewin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006 | Age Range: 6 - 9 years | Series: Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa (Book 1) | Lexile Measure: 400L (What's this?)

A Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Book

 

Hold on to your hats! Two new pals have arrived on the scene: Cowgirl Kate and her stubborn, but devoted cowhorse, Cocoa. Together they count the herd, ride the range, and, of course, argue till the cows come home--as only best friends can do.

With its spirited text and bright, humorous illustrations by Caldecott Honor recipient Betsy Lewin, this first book in the Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa series is bound to be a hit with young wranglers everywhere.

 

This title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Stories)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2–Kate is a "cowgirl from the boots up," and Cocoa is her loquacious and irascible equine companion. Together they share four amiable adventures in this easy chapter book. Beginning readers learn how the cowhorse was acquired and, in the process, discover that Kate is subtly clever and Cocoa is a bit of a slacker. The stories that follow include a disappointingly inedible surprise for the horse, a test of wills and devotion while cowherding, and a sleepover in the barn that dexterously reveals their mutual affection. Simple sentences and lots of repetition make these tales accessible, while occasional cowpoke vocabulary establishes the locale. Both horse and girl have well-developed personalities that weather the ups and downs of friendship. While the narrative is somewhat lacking in excitement, the genial humor and feisty horse have child appeal. Strong black lines lend rustic solidity to the watercolor illustrations that are generously distributed throughout the text. With additional adventures in the works, this affable duo augments Cynthia Rylant's popular people-and-their-pets pairings (Henry and Mudge, Mr. Putter and Tabby) and welcomes new readers to their home on the range.–Carol Ann Wilson, formerly at Westfield Memorial Library, NJ --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. Set on a cattle ranch, this warm, beginning chapter book tells four spirited stories about young cowgirl Kate and her beloved talking horse, Cocoa. Young children will see themselves in both characters. In several episodes, for example, Cocoa puts off cow herding and even bedtime by employing a preschooler's procrastination techniques, such as asking for food and for water. Children will also recognize the friends' good-natured banter and lively dialogue as they negotiate their days together, in the barn and on the range. Lewin's bold-lined illustrations extend the comedy and the affectionate friendship with expressive animal characters reminiscent of her work in the Caldecott Honor Book Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type (2000). A fine choice for reading aloud to small groups or for confident new readers to tackle on their own. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 6 - 9 years
  
• Paperback: 44 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; Reprint edition (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152056602
• ISBN-13: 978-0152056605
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,212 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Horses
  • #69 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > United States

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars saddle up! March 23, 2005

By Melissa Sack VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Join Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa on their wild west adventures. This is the first book for the Cowgirl Kate series. Cowgirl Kate loves her job as a rancher and tries to do her best. Cocoa however is always hungry and gets Kate off track when she has to feed him. There are four chapters in the book. Each is like a separate adventure for the 2 best friends!

Cocoa the horse was a neat character. He was always hungry and avoided bedtime. He sounds a lot like a real child instead of a horse!

I would recommend this book to kids who are just learning to read. The words are simple and easy and the chapters are short.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great friends October 16, 2006

By Camille VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

This title is a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book. Cowgirl Kate and her

horse Cocoa understand each other perfectly. Sometimes Cocoa does not

want to work and Kate knows just what to say to get him moving. When

she cannot count all the cattle,Cocoa helps her. Cocoa is always hungry

and Kate works hard to take care of him.

When she can't sleep, he sings her a lullabye.

"Will you fluff my straw?" Cocoa asked.

Cowgirl Kate sighed.

"I am very tired," she said.

But she climbed out of her sleeping bag

and fluffed his straw.

Then she crawled back into her sleeping bag.

"I am hungry," said Cocoa

Cowgirl Kate sighed.

You are always hungry," she said.

But she climbed out of her sleeping bag

andgave him three carrots.

Then she crawled back into her sleeping bag.

"Uh-oh! My water bin is low," said Cocoa.

Cowgirl Kate groaned.

"Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"I didn't think of it before, " said Cocoa.

"First I was thinking about straw.

Then I was thinking about food.

Now I am thinking about water."

"You are doing too much thinking," said Cowboy Kate.

Lewin's paintings are comical and expressive. Kate and Cocoa's expressions are priceless as they stare at each other during this exchange.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars great books and a great reading motivator November 6, 2009

By Morning Sunshine

Format:Paperback

My 5-yo daughter was on the cusp of learning to read. She knew all the sounds, the basics of the how, but lacked the drive to push her over the edge.
Enter Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa. Exactly what was needed for a little girl who has dreamed of her own horse for 3 years!!!!
We started slow, she would read a page, I would read a page. Eventually she was able to get through a whole page without help. And she is now reading other books as well.
These are not the "easy readers" - there are some challenging words, some cowgirl-specific vocabulary. But it was the RIGHT motivation for my little cowgirl. And that is what is important!