Publisher's Synopsis
Fred is a dog. He doesn't look like any of the dogs on his farm. He is teased and doesn't fit it. He decides to run away from home. On his journey, he meets Carlita. Carlita is a cow, but she doesn't look like a cow. She is running away too because she gets teased a lot on her farm. Fred and Carlita make a plan that includes finding a place where they fit in. Ultimately, they both realize that there is no place like home. Those who love and miss them when they are gone, also realize that making fun of others hurts their feelings and makes them feel unwanted and unloved. Through beautiful characters and vivid illustrations, "The Barking Cow," teaches children about diversity and acceptance. Bullying is never ok. The early years, between two and five, are critical periods of development for children. It is the time that they are learning about themselves and others. It is during this developmental period that children learn about gender, race, ethnicity and even about disabilities. They learn about opposites and "alike" and "different." It is the stage of development when they ask about things that they don't understand like, "Why is her skin black?" It is important to answer these questions honestly, accurately and respectfully. Avoiding questions leads children to believe that differences are not acceptable. As parents, educators and child advocates, we must acknowledge that we live in a world where biases exist. In order to raise more open minded children, we must talk about differences and counteract these biases as by silence, we support them.
