Book Review: Harvey and the Lightning Herd

Reviewed by Jaylynn Korrell

A tragic story turns heartwarming in this big-hearted, animal-loving kids’ book.

Helga works on a farm. She has a deep love for all animals but loves cows most of all: those big, kind creatures and their playful boxy calves. 

But loving cows on a farm can be complicated and sad too. Calves stay with their mothers for one year before they are shipped off, and the mothers wail for their missing children. In Harvey and the Lightning Herd, this isn’t the only tragedy. A lightning storm kills many calves, leaving only six on the farm where Helga works. These calves are known as the lightning herd, and they’re headlined by the adorable, injured Harvey. He’s having trouble walking in a straight line and eating on his own after being injured in the storm, but with love and Helga’s help, maybe there’s hope for him yet. And maybe there’s hope for the rest of the herd, too, beyond their wildest cow dreams.

In efforts to save the herd, Helga comes up with an idea: cowches. A soft cow-shaped pillow that children and parents can cuddle with comfortably. With Harvey as the inspiration, the cowches work well enough to create a sanctuary for the herd—along with many other animals in need—to live out the rest of their lives together.

This book is steeped in big emotion. From the first mention of calves being separated to the natural tragedy soon to strike, Harvey and the Lightning Herd is going to break some animal-loving hearts only to repair them again. It’s an unfortunate truth what happens to many cows on farms, and the clearest way to inspire kids to look out for these amazing, loving creatures is by telling them the truth. This is how to get kids involved in selfless animal care, not just displaying the fluffy side of cuddles and sweetness. This book succeeds in its endeavor to inspire and to spread the word about The Cow Sanctuary in Bridgeton, New Jersey. 

But of course, this doesn’t make it any lighter of a read. The sadness is palpable, and some kid readers are going to be dejected learning about the separation and subsequent deaths of many of the cows. This might be a better fit with older children readers rather than 3 or 4 year olds, and only those who can handle and are curious about some of the devastating truths about our world. 

Cows are incredible creatures who deserve love, affection, and family. Harvey and the Lightning Herd is a loving book that will inspire little ones to get involved and save the animals they care about. 

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