My Life on the Mountain: Living with Goats and Cows on an Alpine Farm

Gr 4-6–Proving that shepherding is not a career of the past, this middle grade graphic novel shows a modern shepherdess industriously filling her day, from dawn to way past dusk, with duties such as maintaining her simple home, finding wayward animals, harvesting hay and firewood, milking, making and delivering goat cheese, and caring for her animals. Brand uses shades of blue-gray and muted reds with simple illustrations, plainly showing the shepherdess’s pleasure in doing everything from celebrating the amount of milk she collects to driving the tractor. Repeating geometric lines and shapes make a balanced, orderly atmosphere creating warm, cozy feelings. Back matter about shepherds, herding animals, the Alps, and how shepherds live are included and help explain more about shepherding throughout the world.