Hi friends! I’m Jim Petipas — author, illustrator, songwriter, and
creator of The Cows Go Moo! series. People often ask me how a
silly song turned into books, plush toys, coloring adventures, and
even a cow-themed give-back project. Looking back, it’s been
quite a ride — full of laughter, doodles, music, and moo-ments
that shaped me along the way. Here’s a peek into the journey.
Where It All Began
When I was nine years old, I didn’t dream of being an author. I
dreamed of drawing animals, sketching cars, and hauling home
picture books from the Hingham Public Library. I can still point
out exactly where the children’s section was!
“All those hours with books planted seeds I couldn’t yet see —
the seeds of storytelling.”
Who knew one day I’d walk into a library and see my own book
sitting on the shelf?
Ideas Are Everywhere
Ideas don’t hide — they Moo! I jot them down on scraps of
paper, in the Notes app on my phone, Word docs on my
computer, or in my trusty “Book Ideas” folder.
The Cows Go Moo! series started with a goofy song I wrote back
in high school. My second book, The Cows Go Moo Shuffle, grew
from a college tune. Even my daughters pitch in — one said,
“Dad, you should make a coloring book!” And voilà, The Cows Go
Moo! Udderly Amoosing Activity & Coloring Book was born.
Seeing an idea leap from a doodle to a published book is
pure moo-gic.
Encouragement for Young Creators
If you’ve ever thought about writing, here’s my advice: be
curious. Notice the funny, mysterious, and magical things
happening in everyday life. Keep a file of ideas, sketch story
maps, and don’t be afraid to be silly.
“Most importantly — finish the book!”
Ideas are fun, but turning them into something real is where the
adventure begins.
Why Giving Back Matters
My passion for helping others began long before the cows came
along. Since middle school, I’ve volunteered in soup kitchens,
shelters, clothing drives, and orphanages in places like
Guatemala, Russia, Haiti, Peru, and across the U.S.
My dad spent much of his adult life homeless, so supporting those
in need has always been close to my heart.
That’s why I started the “Buy-A-Book / Give-A-Cow” project.
One dollar of every picture book sale goes to Heifer International,
who provide families with a real cows, business and care training,
and a path to self-sufficiency. This helps provide food, shelter and
schooling for their families.
“When a cow has a calf, the calf is passed to another family in
need. Hope multiplies.”
The Best Part: The Readers!
One of the sweetest surprises has been hearing from readers.
Parents send videos of their kids singing and dancing to the Cows
Go Moo! song. Grandparents write reviews like, “My grandson
says your book is better than Who Let the Dogs Out!” (That one
still makes me laugh every time.)
When I visit schools or libraries, watching kids laugh, sing, and
moo right along with me — that’s the real reward.
Nothing beats seeing joy spread from page to song to
family living room.
Full Circle
From a library-loving kid in Massachusetts to an author-
illustrator-musician with cow jokes to spare, this journey has
been anything but ordinary. My hope is that The Cows Go Moo!
books and songs bring as much joy to your family as they’ve
brought to mine — while also making life brighter for families
across the globe.
Thanks for reading my story! If you’d like to join the fun (and the
moo-vement), you can explore the books, plushies, songs,
and Moo Merch at TheCowsGoMoo.com. Together, let’s keep the
laughter flowing, the stories growing, and the cows mooing.
