Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
I’ve fallen in love with Loren Long’s Otis, the tale of a little tractor that could! Otis the tractor loves his farm. He loves to work! And he especially loves the calf that sleeps in the barn with him. They are best friends! They do everything together, until one day the farmer brings home a bright, shiny, brand new tractor, and Otis is put out to pasture. One day, when the farmer is about to enter her in a baby cow beauty contest, the calf gets stuck in the mud and no one can get her out! No one, that is, of course, except for Otis. Finally the friends are reunited! This story might not make the most sense, but it’s full of rich, emotive illustrations that I just can’t get enough of. Hopefully you and your child will love Otis too! See this book listed in our catalog
On the Farm
Chicken Dance
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
You’re invited to a barnyard talent show in Chicken Dance by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Dan Santat. The grand prize? Tickets to see Elvis Poultry in concert! Oh, the chickens want to win so badly! Unfortunately, the ducks win every year. But for Elvis they have to try! But what are they good at? They can’t bowl, or juggle, or walk on tight rope. They can’t even fly or swim like other birds! When it’s time to finally hit the stage, they’ve completely run out of ideas. They decide to “wing it,” and just be themselves! They “bawk and roll” all over the stage. Suddenly, Elvis is in the building! “You chicks rocked!” he says, “You had me all shook up.” Then he asks them tour with him as back up dancers! This book is delightful, and be sure to check out the hilarious author and illustrator bios in the back! See this book listed in our catalog
Big Chickens Fly the Coop
Submitted by Carol from Charlotte Hall!
Big Chickens Fly the Coop is written by Leslie Helakoski and illustrated by Henry Cole. The story is about four chickens whose dream in life is to see the farmhouse, but they are afraid of what may be outside of their nice, safe chicken coop. One day they decide they are going to take the chance, and try to fulfill their dream. They find themselves being chased by a dog, almost ran over by a tractor, and stampeded by horses. Will they give up and return to the safety of their coop, or be brave and continue the search for the farmhouse? You have to read this hilarious book to find out . You never know! What you’re looking for may be right in your own backyard…
Amish Horses
Submitted by county youth coordinator Janis!
Amish Horses by Richard Ammon. This story is about horses and their role in daily Amish life. A little boy tells the story of Amish life and the process of feeding the animals, shoeing the horses, and going to an auction to buy or sell their animals. This book gives you a great glance of the everyday life of an Amish family from the work they do, to the games they play for entertainment. This story shows the process of planting and mowing hay. It also shows how the entire family helps on the farm. The pastel horse illustrations look so real you want to reach out and pet the horse. This is a great book for horse lovers of all ages!
Punk Farm
Punk Farm is a fantastic read by Jarrett J. Krosoczka! What do you think farm animals do when the farmer goes to sleep at night? Well, on Farmer Joe’s farm the end of the day is only the beginning of the fun for his animals. They have to get ready for their concert! Pig plugs in his guitar, Cow sets up her drums, Chicken gets her keyboard, Goat tunes his bass, and Sheep checks the microphone. The other animals are waiting outside to buy tickets, and soon the barn is packed! The crowd goes wild as the band leads them in a punk rock rendition of “Old MacDonald.” Thank you Wisconsin! And don’t miss the sequel Punk Farm On Tour.
The Perfect Nest
The Perfect Nest by Catherine Friend with illustrations by John Manders is a very cute story about a very crafty cat. The cat in question, Jack, is attempting to attract the perfect bird, who will lay the perfect egg, which will make the perfect omelet, by building the perfect nest. First, a Spanish chicken arrives and lays an egg, then a French duck does the same, followed by a southern goose! Jack is ecstatic–he could have three omelets, if he can just get these bickering birds out of of the picture, which ends up taking more effort than he had planned. By the time they’re gone, the eggs have hatched, and now three little chicks are calling Jack “mom.” This is a fun read with a chance for you to practice your foreign accents!