Hannigan, Jess. (2026). The Cow In The Dark At Night. Quill Tree Books.
This book is HILARIOUS!!! I read, from the publisher’s website, that if you like Jon Klassen you will love Jess Hannigan, and I think that’s true. It’s deadpan humor but super easy to understand and dare I say, I think Hannigan’s book may be funnier than Klassen, at least for younger kids.I keep reading that these are simplistic illustrations, but nobody knows how hard it is to get “simplistic” illustrations to convey emotion, especially humor, until they’ve done it, and as far as I am concerned, Jess Hannigan is a master.
The farmer’s prime cow is loose and determined to discover what goes on at night, and meet all the folks out during it. And boy does she ever. First, she meets the farm’s cat…who has THE best facial expressions ever.
Then a scarecrow. “Kind of a quiet fellow, but such a marvelous sense of style.”
She meets a few other interesting folks, including these two guys carrying items out of the farmer’s house and a vampire! “Tell me, little one, do you desire to walk as a create of the dark for all eternity?” “That sounds very nice, but I’ll have to get back to you later. I’m on an adventure right now.” HA! Lookit the kitty and it’s cross, warding off the vampire. KILLING ME!
Then she comes across a rather odd looking fellow and why is the moon so bright? *STILL LAUGHING MY HEAD OFF*
She asks the alien questions about the darkness, and where its from, only to land on a big ted planet where she is given quite the welcome. And the farmer, well, you’ll have to read the book to find out what his reaction is.
Cannot recommend this book highly enough. I had read a sad book, that also made me mad and this was EXACTLY what I needed to read to put me to rights again. A+++. Too funny. Well done, Jess Hannigan. I only wish the publisher had come out with an activity kit!
Recommended Ages: 3-7
