Where is my cow? This is not my cow.[return][return]On the face of it, it is a version of the "Where is my dog/cat/dragon/shoes" books that are currently popular for those learning to read. For those a little older or wiser, it's a great "post modern post-ironic read. Or just a laugh.[return][return]Class ( )

There’s a large part of me that feels like I shouldn’t be reviewing this or counting it towards my “read in 2018″ total. After all, it’s a picture book and one I basically “read” on the Mark Reads Youtube channel, so I didn’t even get the full benefit of the illustrations. But I’ve counted the other “first time on Mark Reads” books so in full honesty….

This was a very charming story and a nice bit of metafiction, though I was expecting it to be the story read in Thud! and nothing more. It was fun seeing Vimes and Sybil and the other Discworld characters, and getting another peek into Vimes’ family time was lovely, but I feel like non-Discworld fans would get less enjoyment out of it because the emotional connection with the characters isn’t there. I’m honestly not sure if this would be the childhood favourite Where’s My Cow? is in canon.

As for writing quality itself, it’s fun. Very much a children’s book. Not that great of a read-aloud as far as I can tell, or at least, I’ve seen better. The metafictional bits lend themselves nicely to multiple voices and general parental silliness, but they also don’t stretch themselves outside a fairly narrow range. Again, I think this is because it’s written for Disc fans more than it is for kids.

What I’ve seen the pictures look great, though, and intricate enough to entertain fans and parents on rereads as they notice things they missed before.

Warnings: Errant livestock.

5/10 ( )

"Where's My Cow" is central to the plot of Thud - it must be read to young Sam every day at six o'clock sharp, because some things are just THAT important. Fun to see the most memorable characters of Ankh-Morpork depicted, as well as Vimes making faces. The message, however, is that if you lost your cow, you probably don't live in Ankh-Morpork, and that if you mistake a sheep for a cow, you do. ( )

Lovely. Although Young Sam looks more like a Young Nobby. I love how everyone else is drawn though, and most of all, on the last page, that there is a framed portrait of the Author in the nursery. ( )

If you are a follower of Terry Pratchett, then you'll enjoy this children's story that is supposedly told to Commander Vimes son. I probably enjoyed it more than my daughter since I know the discworld characters from the "grown-up" books. ( )