Jackie Timmons - Reader's Favorite Review
Buttermilk is a cute sweet story by master storyteller, Fat Hendrick, and illustrated by Jamil Adler. This children's story tells the tale of a Farmer Floyd, his wife, Mrs. Mavis, their cow, Jesse, and their visitor from Tupelo. Farmer Floyd is excited to enter Jesse's milk into the contest at the county fair. But with their Tupelo tenant plucking on his guitar and singing into the night, Farmer Floyd frets that Jesse's milk will not be as good as it should be. Something does happen to Jesse's milk, but it isn't bad at all. Jesse's milk has changed into delicious savory butter! Farmer Floyd brings her butter to the fair and it wins first prize. Tons of people come from all over to buy her butter. You'll love reading this story and finding out who the farmer's tenant was and what happens to Jesse's butter when he leaves the farm to start performing on TV.
I thought this story by Fat Hendrick was really fun to read. I loved the ending and realizing who their tenant was (perhaps I should have solved this puzzle earlier on, but I just wasn't expecting it). Farmer Floyd and Mrs. Mavis are perfect, humorous stereotypes; with Farmer Floyd only concerned about his prize cow and complaining about the noise that their tenant was making with his guitar, and Mrs. Mavis being constantly sweet, patient, and kind. The illustrations by Jamil Adler are perfect. They match the tone of the story and are very colorful and humorous. Kids of any age would love reading this and watching Jesse "wiggle and jiggle her hips."