Lost in Bermooda

Gr 2–4—Cows are the stars on the island of Bermooda. Rumors surrounding the once-dominant and now-absent species known as the hu'mans and keep many of the inhabitants quaking in their hooves. When the young cow named Chuck meets Dakota, a real hu'man boy, an unusual friendship is formed. Due to hu'mans' infamous dependence on hamburgers and steaks, Dakota dons a silly costume to hide his true identity from the resident islanders. This first entry in the series lightly considers the value of authentic relationships, as Chuck repeatedly attempts to return Dakota to his home without fully understanding his friend's situation there. During their adventures, the pair uncovers the gluttonous intentions of Wilhelm Wellington as he schemes to control the island's assets. Shaded black-and-white cartoons highlight the characters' animated expressions and serve to break up the text for children interested in transitioning into longer narratives. Funny hijinks are the focal point here. There are some humorous reactions to the animals' understanding of the people world, including their interpretation of the hu'man book The Art of Cookery: "Everyone knew the page numbers on which they appeared, along with detailed instructions on how they could be plucked, sheared, baked, broiled, stewed, fried, or roasted and served with garnish." Bovine puns pepper the pages. The unusual story may be spare on characterization but remains chock-full of silly antics.—Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC