Moonstruck: The True Story of the Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon [Hardcover]

Gennifer Choldenko (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

Although it is understood that only horses can jump over the moon, one courageous and determined cow decides he wants to do it too, so he tries and tries until he finally succeeds, causing his scornful audience to admire his great accomplishment.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2. A very funny version of how and why the cow jumped over the moon is told, in retrospect, by an old brown horse who admires her feat and thinks that Mother Goose should have given her more air time. Previous to the cow's attempt, only horses jumped the moon after a rigorous period of training. When the bovine expresses her longing to soar over the moon herself, the horses doubt her ability but agree to give her a chance. She works hard to get in shape and succeeds, joyfully. The narrative has an informal, conversational cadence and hilarious wording. The large, soft-toned, colored-pencil illustrations in a flat primitive style have plenty of humorous touches. They show a cat with a fiddle, the little dog, the amorous dish and spoon, and barnyard animals leaping and prancing about as they encourage the cow and her horse friends as they work out in preparation for their moon shots. Pair this one with Chris Babcock's No Moon, No Milk! (Crown, 1993).?Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5^-7. As the horse who's narrating the story tells it, Mother Goose got it wrong when she devoted only one line to the cow jumping over the moon in "Hey Diddle Diddle." The jump was a major accomplishment, and the horse has the details. You see, horses had been jumping over the moon for ages. They train to do it. But one day at the training center, a cow shows up, and at first, she's just a receptive audience. Then she starts using the training equipment. Our narrator tells her, "Honey, come on, you're a cow!" But she is not deterred. And with hard work and gumption . . . well, we know the rest of the story. Fractured and funny, this takeoff will appeal to kids slightly older than the Mother Goose crowd who will get the spoof. The colored-pencil pictures are a bit on the soft side for a story told with a Damon Runyonesque edge, but they're attractive and neatly executed. A fun read-aloud--and a tribute to hard work. Ilene Cooper --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786821302
• ISBN-13: 978-0786821303
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,889,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gennifer Choldenko received a B.A. from Brandeis University, graduating cum laude with honors, and a B.F.A. in illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design. Gennifer's first picture book is titled Moonstruck: The True Story of the Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon. Reviewers called Moonstruck "hilarious" (School Library Journal), "hysterical, irreverent" (National Parenting Center), and "a giggle from beginning to end" (Publishers Weekly). Gennifer was the youngest in a family of four kids, where her nickname was "Snot-Nose." Her quirky sense of humor made its debut at the dinner table when Gennifer was a very little kid. After that, anything strange and funny became known as a Gennifer Joke.Currently, she lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and their two children. When she is not writing, she likes to draw animals at the zoo, especially crocodiles and turtles because they lie perfectly still. Notes From a Liar and Her Dog is her first novel for children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of our very favorite books, April 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Moonstruck: The True Story of the Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon (Hardcover)

This review from The National Parenting Center sums this great book up perfectly:

This hysterical and irreverent book which explores, in extraordinary depth, the well known Mother Goose line, "And the Cow Jumped Over The Moon", will have you and your children in stitches. With her tongue firmly planted in her cheek, Gennifer Choldenko tells the "true" story of the very first moon jumping bovine. You will laugh out loud as you read this book, we guarantee it. The illustrations by Paul Yalowitz are equally wonderful making this a book you'll love having on your shelf. END

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable, clever, and contemporary, September 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Moonstruck: The True Story of the Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon (Paperback)

Fabulous dialogue and humor abound in this refreshing tale of the cow that jumped over the moon. The change of attitude is welcome, fun and irreverent. A must-read for anyone and their child. Sweet and aesthetic illustration makes it a pleasure, suits the story beautifully. Looking for more from this talented writer.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is TOO Funny!, March 24, 2005

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Moonstruck: The True Story of the Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon (Hardcover)

This book is hilarious. It's a scream! The old nonsensical nursery rhyme is freshened up, dusted off and given a satirical slant. The parts with the horse are very funny. The humor runs rampant throughout this work and will leave readers of all ages, young children and adults alike laughing uproariously.

For Beatle fans, the "horse" brings to mind "Dark Horse," the one who pulls ahead, a description George Harrison often applied to himself. The short of it is, this book will delight all.

Choldenko is a gifted author and is one to keep a watch for!