Queen Nadine

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Queen Nadine is a cow. She is not really a queen, however; she is just
called Queen Nadine by her peers because she refuses to gossip or waste
time with the other cows in her herd. Nadine prefers to wander alone
about her farm singing songs, watching the clouds, and collecting rocks
from a stream. One day, Nadine finds a particularly fascinating stone.
It is a perfect oval shape and creamy white. The other cows
mischievously advise Nadine to take especially good care of it. For
weeks Nadine sings to the stone and warms it with her body. She senses
there is something special about her stone, but she has no idea what.
Then suddenly, a truck arrives and all the cows are loaded aboard.
Before she knows what is happening, Queen Nadine finds herself on a
strange new farm—and a long way from her beloved special stone and a
miracle that is taking place.

In this droll tale about an individual who dares to be different,
Maryann Kovalski demonstrates a deft ear for dialogue; the verbal
exchanges between Queen Nadine and the other cows are often hilarious.
Kovalski’s illustrations, also commendable, grab and hold the
reader’s eye with their bright colors and humorous flourishes. Just
when readers think they may know where the plot is heading, the author
manages to throw in a few surprises. Highly recommended.