Donna O'Neeshuck Was Chased by Some Cows

Donna O'Neeshuck likes to pet animals and people on the head. One morning she pets a cow, and sets off a chain reaction that seems never-ending. The cow gets her friendschickens, pigs, dogs and peopleto chase Donna, who manages to stay just a few paces ahead of the unruly mob. When a policeman stops her pursuers, Donna thinks she is safe. But Donna makes a mistakeshe thanks the cop with a pat on the head. He and his friends also join the chase. Soon the entire county is chasing Donnamen, women, children, cats, moose, geese, buffaloes, horses, and on and on. Finally, Donna can run no more. She stops, thorws up her hands, and asks, ``What do you want?'' When the mob replies, Donna is very surprised but most willing to oblige their request. This is a clever cumulative poem, with a regular rhyming scheme that moves faster and faster as Donna becomes more frantic. Truesdell's frenetic watercolor illustrations of the fast-moving red-headed heroine are perfect companions to the poem's pace and breakneck hilarity. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)