Cow Goes for a Ride (Cow?s Adventure)

Not wanting to feel left out, Cow gives in to a little peer pressure from Pig, Goat, and Chicken and climbs up on Farmer’s big, green tractor. Cow sits in Farmer’s seat. “Look at me!” she says, “I’m the farmer!” Even though the animals have been told to stay off the farm machinery, Cow has fun pretending to drive. The other animals join the fun and climb onto the flatbed trailer as Cow turns the tractor wheel, pulls levers, and turns cranks. Then ROAR! Suddenly the tractor makes an incredible noise. And ZOOM! It starts to move—speeding through a haystack, knocking down a fence, and heading right for the river. Frightened, Cow and her friends wish they had obeyed the rules! When the tractor gets stuck near the river and finally stops, the hay and mud-covered animals see Farmer running up to them. He reminds them that God (and parents and farmers) gives us rules for our own good, to keep us safe. Cow determines to follow the rules next time and hopes there won’t be a next time. Of course, there will be. But that’s another story . . .

Todd Aaron Smith is a professional graphic artist and commercial animator who has worked on characters such as Tony the Tiger and the Archie clan in comics. A graduate of Columbus College of Art and Design, he lives in Joplin, Missouri, with his wife, Veronica, and their daughter, Josie.