Connors, Jerrold. Stampede! Jerrold Connors, Illus. Union Square, 08/2026. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-45495-922-9. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
After a cow is bitten by a horsefly, bored calves Jasper and Cleo set off a stampede of the herd that goes around the world, from a farmers’ market, to the rainforest, to the Sydney Opera House, in this silly circular story. “Stampede!” is repeated throughout the story which will engage a storytime audience, even though the story doesn’t totally make sense. The full-color cartoon illustrations may remind some of Dav Pilkey’s work (Captain Underpants) or Looney Tunes cartoons, and feature racially diverse characters, and animals with distinctive facial expressions. Be sure to show the storytime listeners the map of the cows’ journey on the endpapers.
Penny Peck—San José State University iSchool