Critics and young readers warmly welcomed author/illustrator Chris Jackson's first picture book Edmund and Hillary, and clamored for more tales from China Plate Farm, Chris was happy to visit the farm again, checking in on what's new with Edmund, an innocent young pig with Great Ideas, and Hillary, his best friend and a hen who knows her way around the barnyard.

In Edmund for Short Hillary is too preoccupied with the impending birth of a new calf to answer Edmund's questions. He's not much interested in the new baby-to-be, but is very curious about how the cows all get their grand names, "Markings, Edmund", Hillary explains quickly. "Each cow is named for her markings. You'll see!" And suddenly Edmund does see; there's Early-Morning-Clouds, with the fluffy white markings that rather do look like clouds, and there's Crows-take-to-the-air, and, over there, Full-line-of-washing. Looking wistfully at his own very pink, very plain skin, Edmund immediately has a GREAT IDEA. His transformation into Edmund-swift-as-a-deer-and then to Edmund-tired-as-a-dog-makes for a delightful and touching story.

With his whimsical, candy-colored illustrations that show just how wonderfully expressive animals can be, Chris Jackson has created another China Plate Farm winner.