Book Review #2

  Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa (Book 1)

Author: Erica Silverman

Illustrator: Betsy Lewin 

Publisher: Harcourt Inc., 2006

ISBN: 9870152021248

Main Characters: Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa (Kate's horse)

Plot: Cowgirl Kate and her spirited friend Cocoa find adventures in a series of brief chapter stories. Cocoa is just plain stubborn at times, but his big personality always makes Cowgirl Kate smile. He makes a lot of demands on Cowgirl Kate, but that’s how it goes with many pets. She is busy feeding him, keeping him out of trouble, and fluffing up his straw at bedtime. Cowgirl Kate always has something to do with her friend Cocoa around. Whew! 

Settings: The open range where Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa live. 

Genre/Theme/Style: Children’s Picture Book. Beginning Readers. Humor. 

I Gave This Book 4 Roars!🦁🦁🦁🦁

Critical Analysis: The book is great for beginning readers and the illustrations are well suited to the story of a Cowgirl and her horse. The cover image gives you the feeling that Cocoa is laughing along as Cowgirl Kate has her hand over her mouth giggling about some new adventure they are experiencing together.  It is a perfect image of how animals provide so much love and happiness in our lives. The book is good fun and perfect for inspiring the cowgirl in all of us!  

Why 4 Roars? I can only wonder, after reading Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa, how many kids will ask for a pony for their next birthday. In fact, I want a pony for my birthday, too!

Happy trails, Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa!

Illustrations: The paintings by Betsy Lewin are delightful, balancing the friendship between Cowgirl Kate and her whimsical horse Cocoa. They show the two of them as a team and convey the notion of how animals bring out the best in us.    

Betsy Lewin graduated from Pratt Institute, where she studied illustration. She later worked at a greeting card company before moving into children’s illustrations.

Betsy Lewin Books

Awards & Recognitions:

A Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Honor Book

Connections:
Saddle up for other books in the Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa Series:
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: Partners (Book 2) by Erica Silverman & Betsy Lewin

School Days (Book 3) by Erica Silverman & Betsy Lewin

Ted & Betsy Lewin Studio Visit