ROWENA: THE SKATING COW

By Stewart Schackne '27. Charles Scribner's Sons,1940. 56 pages. $1.50.

WITH ALL DUE respect for Stewart Schackne's story of Rowena, the cow who became famous because she learned to roller skate, the main charm of this book is due to the spirited and amusing illustrations (there are 28 full page colored plates) of Fritz Eichenberg, who is now conducting the workshop in book illustration at the New School for Social Research.

Rowena, after making an international career for herself as a roller skater, decided that, after all, her place is on the farm, where she provides wonderful milk for all the good little boys and girls in the village. Perhaps the moral is meant to be that one should never try to get into something for which he (or she) is not fitted.

Perhaps Rowena was suggested by Munro Leaf's well known Ferdinand, but, if so, she doesn't quite make the grade. Nevertheless, the test of the pudding is said to be in the eating, and my six-year-old son was delighted with the story of Rowena and with the pictures, and has demanded that I read it to him again.

Parents will give their children enjoyment if they read this book to them, and I heartily recommend it to all who have small children. It is well printed, and the illustrations are pleasingly reproduced.