Fat Hendrick Stories

Lorelai Rivers - Reader's Favorite Review

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In the story of Buttermilk, written by Fat Hendrick and illustrated by Jamil Adler, Farmer Floyd really wants the milk from his cow, Jesse, to win a blue ribbon at the fair. The only problem is the tenant in the guest house making "Noise! Noise! Noise!" with his guitar all night. At least that's what Farmer Floyd calls it, but his wife doesn't agree, and apparently neither does Jesse the cow, who churns out a deliciously buttery blue-ribbon-winning surprise whenever she hears it: "Splat!" When Farmer Floyd sees how she creates her surprise one night, he welcomes the music back and even joins in on occasion.

The illustrations by Jamil Adler in Buttermilk are fantastic, worthy of framing in an Americana collection. They're cartoons that are art -- colorfully filling the page and almost three-dimensional; I felt like I could step right into the book. I especially loved the scenes within the scenes through the farmhouse windows. Usually I don't much care for children's book on an electronic device, but the illustrations in Buttermilk are so larger than life, they absolutely work. Even beyond that, they contain fun little details in the background that made me wonder what the chicken is chatting about, and does the farmer know those ants keep showing up on his windowsills? As entertaining as the story by author Fat Hendrick is, I would even be tempted to cover up the text on occasions and have the kids make up their own tales from the illustrations, because everyone could see something different.