Counting Sheep (Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet #2) by Jacqueline Kelly

Counting Sheep (Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet #2) Reviews

• 
  Barbara

  In the second title in this series for young readers, Calpurnia Tate, who wants to be a vet when she grows up, learns about the cycle of life by studying eggs that turn into caterpillars that become pupas and then butterflies. When she realizes that the cramped jar where the butterflies are kept may have caused one butterfly to have a damaged wing, she uses part of a toothpick as a splint for a butterfly's broken wing. Later, when her mother's sheep, Snow White, has a breach birth, Callie comes to the rescue and turns the baby around inside its mother's womb so it will come out correctly. Since the story is set in Texas in 1901, it gives readers a glimpse of what life was like for girls in those days. Every time I read a book featuring Callie, I find myself so thankful that she has Granddaddy in her corner to counteract her mother's constant insistence that she behave in a ladylike way. Had she not been willing to get a little dirty and behave in an unladylike way, Snow White and her baby would not have survived. The illustrations in this series are simply lovely, paying tribute to Callie and her younger brother, the animal-loving Travis, and their fondness for nature. Elementary readers will find the story quite appealing and enjoy watching Callie come into her own. I loved the original series and was worried that it wouldn't work for a younger audience, but it certainly does.
• 
  DaNae

  I'm coming to appreciate this series in what it offers in showing the scientific process. I need to do a better job at finding an audience for it among my students. I regret that I shelved these in the fiction section so they could be next to the first two novels. Although they are a higher reading level than most early chapter books, I think they might be picked up by more readers if I moved them to stand next to the other early chapter books.
• 
  Becky

  First sentence: What I'm going to tell you about took place on our farm in Fentress, Texas, in the early spring of 1901.
  
  Premise/plot: Calpurnia Tate is one of seven children growing up in rural Texas at the turn of the century. She has five brothers too many in her opinion. (I think she makes an exception for her younger brother, Travis.) But Callie has more opinions than brothers. Strong opinions. Opinions that clash with her mother's ideal often. But the same traits and qualities that make her at odds with her mother, endear her to her grandfather. Those two are super-super close. Both have scientific minds; both love nature; both love animals. In this one, Callie 'rescues' a butterfly with a broken wing AND saves a sheep and a lamb. (The sheep has twins. The first one she gives birth to without any problem at all; the second, well, it's a good thing Callie has read plenty of books and observed the local vet as he works as well.
  
  My thoughts: It's an early chapter book. It's the second in a new historical series for young readers. The characters are not new, however. They originally appeared in two books written for an older audience. (The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate.) I would not have thought to continue the series with a younger audience in mind. But. I think it works well for the most part. I really enjoyed the illustrations. It's great to see quality books published for this age group.
• 
  Jojobooks Higgins

  Great easy read for grades 2-4. Perfect for animal lovers and it’s nicely set in 1901.
  A sweet cozy read.
  Perfect for gift giving
• 
  Martha

  The second title in the Girl Vet series by Calpurnia Tate finds young Callie with even greater challenges. Fortunately all of her time spent with the town's animal doctor Pritzer and her grandfather pay off, as she fixes a butterfly wing with her grandfather's help, and strives to save an unborn lamb when the animal doctor is unavailable. There are so many scientific facts slipped into this story, sometimes through illustrations Callie's makes in her clearly labeled Scientific Notebook, explaining the life cycle of a painted lady butterfly. When grandaddy accompanies her on a nature walk, they always come upon unusual animals such as a small porcupine. Callie soon learns about how the quills work, that the babies are called porqupettes, they are great climbers, and feast on vegetation and tree bark, and much more, clearly explained. Kids will love collecting all of these facts as they imagine the thrill of saving real animals themselves. This is an inspiring story for children fascinated with botany and animals, clearly written with large font and many exquisite realistic black and white illustrations, to engage young readers in a beautifully written nature adventure.
• 
  Erika

  Read to my students. This series is cute. They enjoyed it
• 
  Aneesa

  I dare you to read this aloud WITHOUT an accent. I didn't even try. My wife made fun of me, but my Southern mother judged my accent "pretty good."
• 
  Lisa

  We had gotten the original two books (The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and its sequel) and will NOT be finishing them. I reviewed the first one with some content considerations I wish I had known before my daughter read almost 150 pages.
  
  So it was with a decent amount of trepidation I began skim reading these before clearing them.
  Likes: the illustrator, the layout, Travis and his big heart for animals-honestly he's more the desired role model for my daughter than Callie.
  
  Didn't like: Callie and her preference for what her grandfather thinks/science and not respecting her teacher, her mother, others. Negative attitudes toward womanly/home skills (cooking, sewing, etc). Somewhat negative relationship with at least one brother and her mother.
  Counting Sheep Book 2: secret keeping;
  
  Who Gives a Hoot? Book 3: pg 12 "bloodthirsty Comanche", pg 28 self name calling "idiot", pg 42 witches scream compared to owl sound, pg 57 "Good Heavens."
  
  A Prickly Problem Book 4: The very first page already had me lowering my opinion of the book with its name calling-big theme about being stupid. The dog and humans. Secret keeping (from her mom) to spare her. Negative attitude toward teacher, name calling multiple times. Her punching the new kid because of his comment about her grandfather being weird and thinking her mean brother and this kid deserved each other.
  
  Not a series I would own, reread, or recommend.
• 
  Jim Sibigtroth

  I enjoyed this story very much. The Girl Vet series seems well-suited to readers about 3rd grade. The books are relatively short so they are manageable for early readers. Although some editorial advertising suggests this is is the 4th book in a series that began with The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate, those books are much more complex (more suited to say 5th graders) than the Girl Vet books so I rather think of the Girl Vet series as a separate series.
  
  In Counting Sheep, Calpurnia shows her interest in the workings of the natural world (an interest she got from her close relationship with her grandfather) by collecting three tiny eggs and raising them until they emerge as painted lady butterflies. She also demonstrates her skill as a novice veterinarian which she learned from working secretly with the local animal doctor (her mother doesn't think girls should be interested in such things.)
  
  The writing is engaging and relatable for young readers. Calpurnia is a good role model.
• 
  Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*

  Kelly, Jacqueline Counting Sheep, 104 pgs. Henry Holt and Company (Godwin), 2017 $15.99 Language: G (0 swears 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.
  
  It’s spring in 1904 Texas and Calpurnia Tate is busy keeping her little brother Travis out of trouble (he wants to keep every animal he catches). But on an afternoon walk with her grandfather, she discovers what are probably butterfly eggs on a leaf, and collects them to study. When one of the butterflies has an injured wing, Calpurnia and her grandfather figure out what to do.
  
  The 2nd in a new series (Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet) this heartwarming easy reader is a sweet story. A little bit of action when a ewe has trouble delivering a lamb, but so well handled and not gross at all. A spin off of the older book (The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate) no prior understanding of that book or of Skunked is required to enjoy this fun historical read.
  
  EL - ADVISABLE Lisa Librarian
  
  https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
• 
  Lisa

  It’s spring in 1904 Texas and Calpurnia Tate is busy keeping her little brother Travis out of trouble (he wants to keep every animal he catches). But on an afternoon walk with her grandfather, she discovers what are probably butterfly eggs on a leaf, and collects them to study. When one of the butterflies has an injured wing, Calpurnia and her grandfather figure out what to do.
  
  The 2nd in a new series (Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet) this heartwarming easy reader is a sweet story. A little bit of action when a ewe has trouble delivering a lamb, but so well handled and not gross at all. A spin off of the older book (The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate) no prior understanding of that book or of Skunked is required to enjoy this fun historical read.
  
  Crossposted to
  http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!
• 
  Rebecca Whitney

  This beginning chapter book with its beautiful black and white illustrations is a great starting point for second graders and up to explore a different time period (the early 20th century) as well as the art of being a veterinarian, a very popular occupation at this age. The main character, Calpurnia Tate, is a fabulous leading lady who isn't ladylike at all, although she has to wear dresses and is expected to follow the social norms of the times. The amount of science and animal husbandry present makes readers who are turned off about following the story of a girl forget their initial wariness. A great series for the not-so-traditional girls.
• 
  Serenity

  If you enjoyed earlier stories of Callie, you'll enjoy this, but it is formatted more like a beginning chapter book. That said, I don't think this will fit well with beginning chapter books. It is short, but the reading level is well beyond beginning chapter book readers. I think this book would be a good fit for a younger reader who reads at a higher level but does not have the stamina for full novels.
  
  *I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*
• 
  Vicky

  Great story for young readers! I really enjoyed this interesting book....it's a wonderful book for girls!
  As a grandmother, I especially loved reading about the relationship between Callie and her Granddaddy. The book also has beautiful illustrations.
  
  I received this complimentary book through Goodreads and I'm so glad I did!
• 
  Faith Elizabeth Hough

  My 8-year-old and I loved this second installment in the Calpurnia Tate Girl Vet series. It was like James Herriot for very early readers. :) (If anyone actually pays attention to the "date started" note here...it took us several months only because a toddler sibling stole and lost our copy, not for any lack of engagement!)
• 
  Yapha

  I liked this one much better than the first book in this series! Calpurnia is strong and smart and loves science. In the first half of the book she raises butterflies from eggs and splints the wing of an injured one. In the second half, she helps a sheep give birth. Highly recommended for grades 1 & up.
• 
  Nahuatl P Vargas

  Luego de leer el primero de esta serie, éste, que es el segundo, me gustó mucho también, ahora quiero leerlos todos, incluidos los nuevos de la serie que saldrán en este año 2021.
  Aunque la portada y el título sugieren que se trata de las aventuras de Calapurnia con unas ovejitas; gran parte del libro está dedicado a otra aventura con unas mariposas. Igualmente es encantador e interesante.
• 
  Rachael

  I found this in the new books and scooped it up, not realizing that it's the second book in the illustrated early chapter book series. I lov Calpurnia, and am excited for even younger readers to get to know her.
• 
  Bethe

  Another short chapter book from the world of Calpurnia Tate, although the title suggests sheep, Calpurnia helps an injured butterfly first, her mother’s prize sheep at the end, could’ve used more time there.
• 
  Kassie

  I just love the voice of this narrative and I can't leave the wonderful Calpurnia Tate books alone. Great transitional fiction.
• 
  Carolynn Markey

  a cute little middle grade chapter book about a girl vet.
• 
  Ketti

  Another sweet tale about Calpurnia Tate. It’s like reading one chapter one the chapter books. Hopefully there is more coming Jacqueline Kelly ☺
• 
  Pam

  Glad Calpurnia is being introduced to younger readers in these easy-to-read volumes but I miss the depth and insight presented in the first two books.
• 
  Lisa

  I just love Calpurnia!