Kirkus calls COW AND SOW, illus. by Doug Salati, “a book that guarantees hours of pure comfort and joy” in starred review

★ COW AND SOW by Matthew Farina, illustrated by Doug Salati
Review Issue Date: July 1, 2026
Online Publish Date: June 1, 2026
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publication Date: October 6, 2026
Section: Children's

“A seemingly endless winter gives rise to a new form of play.

Cow and Sow have run out of indoor activities. Luckily, Shallow Pond has frozen over, giving the girls an opportunity for outdoor fun. They first learn to walk on the ice by leaning on each other for balance, and they figure out how to brake by sliding into the snowbanks. They invite Squirrel, Rooster, Elk, and others to join them as they ice-skate. Everyone experiments and invents their own tricks. The festivities turn to argument when Sow and Cow each claim to have come up with a special move first. As everyone stands around arguing, cracks appear in the ice—and soon Cow falls in. The others band together to rescue her, and the resolution of the central duo’s conflict leads to a poignant coda as winter approaches its end. Farina and Salati’s story has a timeless, universal quality; Cow and Sow are both flawed, but their ability to put petty grievances aside and embrace friendship elevates them as protagonists. The cast is rendered in a fuzzy, textured style that suggests a warm sweater. Salati’s adroit use of color and movement and his confident linework demonstrate how self-expression and community can brighten even the chilliest setting: These animals are most themselves when skating in sync rather than seeking personal glory.

A book that guarantees hours of pure comfort and joy, in all manner of weather. (Picture book. 3-7)”

—Kirkus Reviews