But Cows Can't Fly and Other Stories

Pat Galloway is the resource librarian for the Toronto & District Parent
Co-operative Preschool Corporation.

When 10-year-old Jody comes from Vancouver to the ranch for a year, she
doesn’t expect bears in the backyard and owls in the kitchen. In Cows
Can’t Fly, Jody learns to cope as her preconceptions collide with the
realities of rural life.

Marilyn Halvorson has given her latest work of fiction (intended for 9-
to 12-year-olds) a classic Canadian setting. Exploring the fields and
woods of backroads Alberta is a journey of discovery for young readers
as well as for the likable Jody. Halvorson has created a heartwarming
and believable cast of characters, both human and animal, involving them
in mishaps and adventures that are typical of life far removed from an
urban environment. Jody makes mistakes, but in the supportive family
atmosphere described by the author each error of judgment gives her a
better understanding of the relationship between farm families and the
land. Children will have no difficulty getting caught up in the
adventures of Jody and her friends in this fast-paced collection of
stories.

Readers will find Halvorson’s evocative images of ranch life
irresistible; she has produced a realistic depiction of a strenuous but
attractive existence. This is another wonderful read from the author of
Cowboys Don’t Cry—a “must” addition to any collection of
Canadian children’s fiction. Highly recommended.