MuddyReview01

This is the cow
who was chewing her cud,
as she went for a drink
and got stuck in the mud.

‘This is the Mud!’ is a true Australian picture book. It reflects life in rural Australia, set on a farm with a delightfully larger-than-life beef cow centre stage. When the cow gets stuck in a dry watercourse, people from the farming community must come to its aid, however not all goes according to plan. The story cleverly incorporates the varied roles that people in farming communities play, and boys will love the utes, tractors and ploughs used in an attempt to rescue the disgruntled cow.

This is Kathryn Apel’s first picture book, and paired with Warren Crossett they’ve created an entertaining book with a playful sense of humour. The story is masterfully written using an irresistible rollicking rhyme, making this an ideal read-out-loud book that is sure to be requested over and over. Crossett’s rich, detailed illustrations perfectly capture the humour and action, and children will delight in seeing their familiar rural Australian landscape unfold on each page.

‘This is the Mud!’ comes with an apt warning splashed across the back cover: wash hands after reading this very muddy book! And with good reason. This is a picture book full of mud, muck and mayhem, and just like the cow that is stuck in the mud, you too will get stuck into this book.

Reviewed by Katherine Battersby
www.katherinebattersby.com