Buckley the Highland Cow and Ralphy the Goat: A True Story about Kindness, Friendship, and Being Yourself

Follow this charming true story of Buckley, an orphaned cow, and his best friend Ralphy, along their journey to overcome barnyard bullying and loneliness, and discover the power of resilience, diverse friendships, and loving who you are!

When a baby highland cow named Buckley suddenly finds himself all alone at a brand-new farm with no other cows, surrounded by unfamiliar, unfriendly faces, he isn’t sure what to do.

However, friends come from unlikely places! Ralphy, a rambunctious goat, decides to take Buckley under his wing. Ralphy and Buckley are different in every way, but despite this they become fast friends. Buckley soon learns that a loving, supportive farmyard family can come in all shapes and sizes.

With adorable photographs of Insta-famous Buckley (@buckleythehighlandcow) and beautiful illustrations, this unforgettable real-life story of childhood resilience will inspire kids of all ages to overcome tough social situations and thrive.

Renee Macalino Rutledge was born in Manila, Philippines, and raised in California from the age of four. Her debut novel, The Hour of Daydreams, won an Institute for Immigration Research New American Voices Finalist award, Foreword INDIES Gold, and Powell's Top Five Staff Pick. In addition to The ABCs of Asian American History, she is also the author of the children’s books One Hundred Percent Me,  a celebration of mixed-race identities, and Buckley the Highland Cow & Ralphy the Goat, a story about overcoming hardship with the help of our friends, who are often very different from ourselves. Renee lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she reads books for a living, loves the outdoors, and is always on the lookout for new adventures with her husband and their two daughters. Find her at www.reneerutledge.com or connect with her on Instagram @renee_rutledge.
Leslie Ackerman is the (human) mom of Buckley the Highland Cow and Ralphy the Mini Nubian Goat, Buckley’s best friend. All three live on a farm in Shingle Springs, California.