The Story of Ferdinand (Picture Puffins)
What else can be said about the fabulous Ferdinand? Published more than 50  years ago (and one of the bestselling children's books of all time), this simple  story of peace and contentment has withstood the test of many generations.  Ferdinand is a little bull who much prefers sitting quietly under a cork tree-- just smelling the flowers--to jumping around, snorting, and butting heads with  other bulls. This cow is no coward--he simply has his pacifist priorities clear.  As Ferdinand grows big and strong, his temperament remains mellow, until the day  he meets with the wrong end of a bee. In a show of bovine irony, the one day  Ferdinand is most definitelynotsitting quietly under the cork tree (due  to a frightful sting), is the selfsame day that five men come to choose the  "biggest, fastest, roughest bull" for the bullfights in Madrid.Ferdinand's day in the arena gives readers not only an education in the  historical tradition of bullfighting, but also a lesson in nonviolent  tranquility. Robert Lawson's black-and-white drawings are evocative and  detailed, with especially sweet renditions of Ferdinand, the serene bull hero.The Story of Ferdinandcloses with one of the happiest endings in the  history of happy endings--readers of all ages will drift off to a peaceful  sleep, dreaming of sweet-smelling flowers and contented cows.