Clarissa

In a bovine world where success comes to those who push and shove, gentle Clarissa wonders if she will ever be anything but the last cow through the barnyard gate. She wishes that just once she could be the special cow, admired like beautiful Tessy, praised like bossy Fiona.

Then one hot August day, Clarissa makes a brave decision and proves to herself and everybody else that she is no ordinary cow, that she too is a winner.

Illustrator Itoko Maeno traveled to Wisconsin's dairyland to study its barns and barnyards, its fairgrounds and flowers, its chickens, pigs, Holsteins and Guernseys. In a remote pasture in Sheboygan county, she discovered the real-life model for Clarissa, grazing contentedly, unaware that her unique face was about to make her a star.

Clarissa is a story about recognizing the unique and special qualities in each of us. It is a story for every child who has wondered about his or her own value and place in the world. It is a story for parents who want their children to cherish their worth and courageously take risks to reach their dreams.