Review by Frank Plowright

Zig and Wikki are aliens. Zig is vaguely humanoid, but orange with one big central eye and tentacled arms, while his artificial buddy Wikki’s greatest resemblance is to a walking white briefcase with hand and leg extensions. As seen in Something Ate My Homework, they’re alien kids, and the opening pages here reiterate their tiny size in comparison to life on Earth.

On their previous visit Zig took a fly for a pet, but when it becomes poorly in space, he and Wikki decide it’s homesick and must be returned to Earth, with a farm the best location. As they chase the fly they learn about the environment, including yukkiness like cow pats and the ecological process of decomposition. A crisis ensues, though, when a cow eats their tiny spacecraft.

Nadja Spiegelman packs a fair amount of education into Zig and Wikki’s exploration of a small area, but it’s at a level young readers can understand as they become engrossed in Zig and Wikki’s attempts to retrieve their spacecraft.

The simple, but eccentric designs Trade Loeffler created for the first book again serve their appealing purpose, and there’s no cheating here by only drawing the single cow. There is one main culprit, though, and Loeffler supplies them with almost sardonic expressions. As before the funny misunderstandings of Zig and Wikki are accompanied by legitimate explanations supplied as photographic inserts. They’re computer-derived, so can be trusted!

Fun and education are mixed to achieve the right balance to keep young readers or the parents doing the reading captivated. As is the case with all Toon Books, the sturdy hardcover production ensures The Cow can withstand multiple readings from youngsters not as concerned about the condition of their books as comic fans. Oh yes, be warned that the title may be more literal than some infant readers want.

Zig and Wikki is a well-conceived idea that might be assumed to have a long future, but this second outing is their last.