Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: School Days (Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa)

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa (2005) was named a Geisel Honor Book, and this new title, the third in the series, continues the winning friendship between girl and horse with more stories aimed at emerging readers. When Kate starts school, Cocoa suffers separation pangs: he follows her school bus; he feels frustrated when she turns her attention to homework; and he is jealous of her new school friend. Once again, Lewin's charming paintings reinforce the action and create expressive characters in both boot-clad cowgirl Kate and her sensitive cocoa-colored horse. The breezy, dialogue-heavy text is nicely geared to and paced for newly independent readers. Suggest this also for read-alouds with preschool-age siblings, who will recognize Cocoa's fear of being left behind. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved