Clancy is a Belted Galloway—a breed of cow distinguished by the wide white belt around the middle of its otherwise black hide. But Clancy is beltless, and his varied attempts to remedy the situation (white paint, snow, sugar) are to no avail. Clancy’s herd faces an even bigger problem: every year, they lose the wrestling match with the Herefords that determines who gets to graze on the greener—and richer—side of the fence. Because the Herefords get the better grass, they grow stronger and easily win the annual competition. “The Belted Galloways were trapped in a vicious cycle.” Droll delivery, delightful details, and marvelous naïve-style illustrations that extend the humor on every page combine in Lachie Hume’s very funny debut picture book. The hoof-and-mouth tale ends more than happily with a call for reconciliation (“I say we pull down the fence and be cows together”) and an implied declaration of love, and getting there is so much fun. (Ages 6–10)

Because he lacks the Belted Galloway breed’s characteristic white belt around his middle, Clancy is an outcast until he defeats a Hereford in the annual Cow Wrestling Contest and wins his herd grazing rights to the rich est field. Clancy then goes on to convince everyone that they should tear down fences and all be cows together. The clever text and cartoonlike il lustrations gently—and with humor—offer the message that being different is sometimes a very good thing and that we are all more alike than we are different. ca

Originally published by Scho lastic Australia, in 2006.

The Belted Galloways are trapped in a vicious cycle. Every year their bossy neighbors, the Herefords, win the Cow Wrestling Contest. The winners get to graze on the best pasture. The losers have to wait till next year.

Can a beltless Belted Galloway do anything about their plight? He can if his name is Clancy.