Zig and Wikki in the Cow: Toon Level 3

Spiegelman again strikes an effective balance between hijinks and education, giving the aliens straightforward but distinct personalities that play well off each other and incorporating an array of ecological facts in a way that flows with the narrative rather than intrudes upon it. Loeffler’s art captures animals with a simple realism and aliens with gentle humor, and gives the whole enterprise a breezy zing.

When we saw the question “Can cow poop help two friends patch up their friendship?” on the back of this book, we knew the second- and third-graders it’s aimed at would be lured in.

This is an excellent primer for kids just learning how the ecosystem works.

The dialog is snappy, with real-world facts peppered throughout... Trade Loeffler’s vibrant artwork is clear and expressive, with basic panel layouts for easy reading. In short, kids will want to pick it up.