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On the Farm

Tractor Saves the Day

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Submitted by Ms. Amy!

Mandy Archer’s Tractor Saves the Day, with bright, colorful illustrations by Martha Lightfoot, takes us through a typical day on the farm with Tractor and Dog. Tractor has many important jobs to do around the farm, so Dog and Tractor have to get started by the time the sun rises. Tractor needs some special tools to help get all the farm work done. Dog attaches a bale fork to Tractor so they can pick up the hay and bring it to feed the cows. Dog and Tractor also use a plow, and a rope to help them complete their work. There are lots of fun action noises to say throughout the story: “Squelch! Vrrrooom! Honk, Honk!” In the back of the book, the different parts of Tractor are labeled, and there are more pictures that name other important farm equipment. See this book listed in our catalog

Pick a Circle, Gather Squares

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Submitted by Ms. Carol!

Pick a Circle, Gather Squares: A Fall Harvest of Shapes by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky is a story about a wonderful visit to a pumpkin patch in the fall. Two children go with Daddy to the pumpkin patch. When they get there, they go on a hay ride. Along the way, they pick shapes, and try to match them with the objects they see. The bale of hay they are sitting on is a square. The pumpkins and apples are round and circular. They see many shapes including diamonds, stars, and hexagons. This book is beautifully illustrated with lots of shapes for the children to find on each page, and wonderful fall colors. See this book listed in our catalog

Noni the Pony

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Submitted by Ms. Sue!

Noni the Pony by Alison Lester is a delightful story book in rhyme with full page illustrations of Noni and the farm she lives on in Waratah Bay. Noni is friendly and funny. Her mane and tail are the color of honey. She likes eating apples, and carrots, and hay. Noni likes to play all day long. She trots and prances, gallops and spins, canters and bucks. Her favorite animals to play with are her two best friends: Dave the Dog and Coco the Cat. Noni tells them stories and is gentle and kind. She never lets anyone get left behind. She might get a little spooked at night with the rustle in the trees from the breeze. Could it be monsters? But Noni and her friends snuggle down for a song, then they sleep all night long. See this book listed in our catalog

Farmer John’s Tractor

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Submitted by Ms. Janis!

Farmer John’s Tractor by Sally Sutton. The winter rains are so persistent that the river has swollen and is now starting to flood. A mother, father, and two children are caught by surprise and stranded in a car at the edge of the river. A few people try to help but find themselves stuck as well. Even the fire engine can’t free them from the muck. Farmer John sees all the trouble and goes to get his old tractor that has been locked up in the barn for years. The stranded family is worried that this rusty tractor can’t get the job done. The refrain “Farmer John’s tractor lies locked in the shed, rusty yet trusty and orangey red” is great for children to “help” read the story, and gives them a hint of what is going to happen next. The rhyming text flows nicely and is easy to read. The artwork tells the story beautifully and fills the pages with soft, delicate, watercolor paintings. This picture book is great as a read-alone or read-aloud story book. See this book listed in our catalog

Sophie’s Squash

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Submitted by Ms. Catherine!

When I was little, I rarely left the house without a doll in hand. It didn’t matter which doll I brought with me – they were all fun to play with. But some children find that special toy or blanket they simply cannot live without. Of course, sometimes that precious object is slightly more unique. In Sophie’s Squash, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf, Sophie finds a friend in a hearty autumn vegetable. On a trip to the farmers’ market, Sophie finds her new best friend, a butternut squash she names Bernice. Sophie and Bernice do everything together, until Sophie notices that perhaps Bernice is beginning to look just a little worse for wear. However, Sophie could never do something as terrible as eat her new friend. With the help of a farmer, and some very patient parents, Sophie’s determination pays off in the end. Based on the true story of the author’s daughter who fell in love with her own squash, Sophie’s Squash will delight kids and grown ups alike. See this book listed in our catalog

Horses: Trotting! Prancing! Racing!

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Submitted by Ms. Sue!

Horses: Trotting! Prancing! Racing! by Patricia Hubbell and illustrated by Jo Mathieu. Horses that are big, horses that are small. Horses whinny, nicker, and snort. Horses in their stalls eat grain and hay. They get their feet cleaned, their bodies, mane, and tails brushed. We wipe their ears, and fill their pails with water. We scoop out the stalls, and give them apples for a treat. Horses come in many colors, and they have many jobs. They can perform many tasks. They have special friends and pals, and even sleep while standing up! This is a colorful book showing and describing many of the things that we do for horses, and the many things that horses do for us. It describes and shows popular breeds of horses, and rhythmically provides text with illustrations depicting just how versatile horses are when they work, rest, and play. See this book listed in our catalog