Yes You Can, Cow!

by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Rikin Parekh

Published by Faber, 2022

  • Picture books

About this book

Rehearsals are under way for the big production of Hey Diddle Diddle, but Cow is not ready for the spotlight. In fact, she’s absolutely terrified – she doesn’t think she’ll be able to nail the grand finale and jump over Moon.

The narrator – the show’s director – tries everything possible to encourage poor cow including some tough love and lots of positive affirmations.

Eventually Cow agrees to give it a go. She starts off small, jumping over Dish and then Cat. That goes pretty well. But when it’s time to jump over Moon, it’s a disaster. Ouch. Devastated, she packs her bags, showbusiness just isn’t for her. Will the director and her cast friends be able to convince Cow to give it another go, or is it curtains for Hey Diddle Diddle?

Yes You Can, Cow! is a delicious new take on the well-known and much-loved nursery rhyme, Hey Diddle Diddle. Rashmi Sirdeshpande has cleverly inserted the characters in a new theatre setting and then turns the reader into the narrator/director. Rikin Parekh’s witty illustrations complement the funny dialogue by hilariously capturing expressions of frustration, irritation, fear and relief.

Not just a hilarious read-aloud, this picture book comes with a special message for little ones – the importance of peer encouragement, bravery and not fearing failure.

About the illustrator

Rikin has a foundation degree from Camberwell College of Arts and a degree in illustration from the University of Westminster. After graduating, he worked as a production illustrator/creature designer, freelancing in the film industry, mainly working with monsters. He is a proud member of SCBWI-UK and has 300+ Spider-Man comics to his name. When Rikin isn’t drawing you’ll find him listening to the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, munching away at pizza whilst watching a movie, trying to talk to the birds and stray cats in his garden — or working at a primary school as a Year 6 learning support assistant.

His illustrations are predominately geared towards children from ages three up. The themes of his work revolve around friendships and dreams; he feels it’s very important for children to understand that dreams are something that can become a reality, no matter how big or small. Rikin lives in Wembley, London.

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