WINTHROP, Maine — Lynn Plourde and Rebecca Harrison Reed teamed up for a children’s book titled Only Cows Allowed! Published in August 2011, this book is a story about a new farmer who knows absolutely nothing about farming, and the animals he brings to the farm – namely, the cows – and how they all interact.

The cows immediately take control and decide that only cows are allowed in the barn. Plourde writes a typical grade-school pecking order of one group laying claim to an area, with no newcomers allowed. When the chickens, horses and other animals arrive, they are met with the defiant “Only Cows Allowed!” sign and are left outside to their own devices.

Reed relays the story with delightful artwork, and children will enjoy the whimsical scenes of animal confrontations and the silly farmer who rides the horse backwards.

Hoping all will just get along, the farmer brings a busload of even more animals that quickly push their way into the barn, adding newborns to the barnyard mix. The farmer has a party to celebrate and the reader thinks all is well, that the moral of the story is a farm with diverse groups all living in harmony.

Plourde picks a different outcome, however; one that touches sadly on a more realistic outcome (at least for people), with the cows moving on and finding their own place. The ending is anything but expected and the reader, although delighted with the play on personalities and the fun of the would-be-farmer, may be disappointed that all did not end on a happy note.

This is a life lesson for children that may have more meaning down the line, though, since as all parents know, life is not neatly gift-wrapped and tied with a bow.

Only Cows Allowed! is published by Down East Books. This hardcover 33-page color illustrated book is available wherever books are sold or directly from Down East; call 800-685-7962 or log onto www.downeast.com for more information.