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On the Farm

Letting Go

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Submitted by Ms. Shannon!

Letting Go by Janet Morgan Stoeke. Three hens, Midge, Pip, and Dot, were sitting in the shade of an apple tree one day when suddenly an apple fell down. Then another apple fell. Then another! They assumed that there must be some nefarious character sitting in the tree and throwing apples at innocent chickens. Dot bravely climbs the tree to investigate but what she finds is not what she expected. Letting Go is a charming story about curious chickens who use their investigative skills to solve a mystery. These three hens learn all about the effects of gravity and have a lot of fun in the process! See this book listed in our catalog

Achoo!

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Submitted by special guest blogger Ms. Andrea!

Achoo: Good Manners Can Be Contagious! by Mij Kelly is a hilarious guide of manners for children through the eyes of farm animals. This comical tale explains why practicing good manners is so important, just ask any animal on the farm! Miss Suzy Sue takes a manner-filled journey around the farm learning not to fight like a cat, stink like a dog, or eat like a pig. This hilarious book teaches children manners in a fun fashion with easy to remember rules about having good manners. It is a great read to be enjoyed by the whole family, and perhaps the family pet. See this book listed in our catalog

Real Cowboys

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Submitted by Mr. Eric!

When you see a cowboy in the movies they are usually hootin’ and a hollerin’, causing a ruckus, and generally shooting at people outside of old timey saloons. In Real Cowboys, by Kate Hoefler and illustrated by Jonathan Bean, we get to learn how cowboys really were. Cowboys worked hard every day to help drive massive herds of cattle towards the next town. They couldn’t be very loud because that would frighten the cattle and maybe cause a stampede. They couldn’t cause a ruckus because then one of the calves might run off and get lost. And they certainly didn’t shoot at anyone. They worked outside all day, in the blazing sun and in the freezing rain, and often had to make their way through prickly cacti and sharp bushes. Being a cowboy was also very lonely. Cowboys usually didn’t work with many other people, and because of that their dogs were often their best friends. Real Cowboys is a beautifully illustrated book that perfectly captures how tough and lonely it was to be a real life cowboy. See this book listed in our catalog

Dojo Daytrip

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Submitted by Ms. Karen!

Dojo Daytrip written and illustrated by Chris Tougas. The six little ninjas from Dojo Daycare are back for another adventure! The excited ninjas board the minibus for a field trip to a farm with their Master. Instead of experiencing the joys of farm life, however, Master becomes embroiled in disaster after barnyard disaster, giving the mini-ninjas opportunity to flaunt their mad ninja skills. From kicking down fences to climbing the scarecrow, letting out the animals, and generally ignoring their ninja creed – “Always help someone in need” – they are out of control. Finally, when Master gets into real danger, they remember what to do and with ninja speed save the Master and put the farm back to rights! Your children will enjoy these books about little girls and boys having fun and learning to be proper ninjas. See this book listed in our catalog 

The Farmer and the Clown

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Submitted by Ms. Karen!

The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee. A small clown boy bounces unnoticed off of the circus train out on the wide empty prairie. Empty, except for a solitary old farmer, who comes to the rescue of the boy. Too far away to signal the train, he takes the little clown by the hand, and returns to his tiny home to care for the boy ’til the train might return. With muted color and simple pictures that somehow convey so much (watch the priceless facial expressions), this wonderful wordless book describes the “Now what?” as the unsure old man and the lost little clown begin a friendship, eating, working, and playing together. Egg juggling anyone? At last, when the little clown’s family comes for him, the tiny clown and the farmer part as dear friends, and all is well. Your littles will love telling you this story as they “read” the pictures to you. See this book listed in our catalog

E-I-E-I-O

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Submitted by Ms. Brenda!

We’ve all heard stories about the animals on Old MacDonald’s farm but this book, E-I-E-I-O by Judy Sierra, tells us how Old MacDonald got his farm. Old MacDonald really didn’t like mowing his lawn. He bought a goat to eat the grass, but the goat did not do a very good job. Old MacDonald decided to ask the smartest hen in history to help him solve his problem. The Little Red Hen, or LRH in this book, showed up with some pretty crazy ideas. When they laid paper, cardboard, and dirt all over the lawn, the neighbors weren’t too happy with the muddy mess.When they tossed food scraps into the yard, the neighbors liked that even less. And when they spread horse poop all over the place, the neighbors had just about had enough! Old MacDonald and LRH bought seeds and planted them in raised beds all around the yard. In no time at all, Old MacDonald had a pretty impressive farm and a produce stand where all of his neighbors could happily shop for fresh veggies. Old MacDonald goes from “Mow, mow, mow, mow, mow” to “E, I, E, I, O” with fun rhyming text and beautiful full page illustrations by Matthew Myers. This book is great for lap time reading or reading to big groups! See this book listed in our catalog