Farm    Summer is a busy time on a farm. Many animals give birth to their young in the spring and are busy raising them during the summer so they will be ready for the harsh weather that winter brings. Farmers are weeding crops, making sure that there is enough water to keep them growing, and hoping that the sun or a freak hail storm doesn't destroy the crops planted in the spring. For those who live in the city, summer may offer a chance to visit a farm to pick fresh fruits and vegetables, to see the farm animals, and perhaps to even spend a week or so as part of a vacation. Here is a selection of books that relate to life on a farm, some of the humorous events and sometimes the trials and tribulations. Reviews Busy Farm: A Counting Book with Pull-Out Tabs Jo Lodge    Count along from one to ten in hide-and-seek fashion with the many animals on this busy farm with pull out tabs and movable parts. The text is brief and to the point and the illustrations bright and eye catching. The farm can be made to stand up when the book is opened and the two attached ribbons are tied. Though the counting and searching for objects is great learning for small ones, the tabs and movable parts are more of a frustration as they get stuck and end up being ripped off or horribly mangled when maneuvered by small hands. Though it seems cute, fun and maybe even a good idea, putting together such simple text with the tougher task of pulling tabs gently and expecting that they are age appropriate together is a bit ridiculous and hardly worth the money. 1999, Dial Books for Young Readers, $9.99, Ages 2 to 4. Reviewer: Trina Heidt (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-8037-2416-0 Cluck O'clock Kes Gray Illustrated by Mary McQuillan    Following the hens in this barnyard through their day, hour by hour, is great fun. The text is frequently silly ("The Hend" instead of "The End") and always rhyming, while McQuillan's artwork supports the tone of the book beautifully. The sometimes frightened, sometimes bewildered hens show all of their emotions on their faces. In the meantime, children are exposed throughout to the clock (in the shape of the egg), making learning to tell time a pleasure. The rhyme, coupled with the whimsical, textured illustrations, make this a natural for story time. 2004, Holiday House, $16.95, Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)    Rollicking rhyming couplets take us through a hilarious day on the farm with the chickens. Colin the rooster is "ready to do what he doodle-doos best" at 4:00 A.M. Feeding time is 5:05; then it is time for egg-laying. The chickens wander about their business through the day, finding insect food, even telling jokes. After their dinner, they are locked in the henhouse. There they nervously await the arrival of Olga the fox, who would eat them if she could. Suspense builds as Olga prowls about. But when she puts her eye to a crack in the door, Colin "gives her an eyeful" of dirt, and she's gone. Everyone settles down until it is 4:00 A.M. again. The story close with "The Hend." Attractive, almost stylized chickens and friends act out the verses in lively fashion. These flatly painted actors are set in doll-house like scenes that exaggerate their comic behavior. Ducks "dive bomb" into a pond; everyone shivers at the sounds in the night; cross-eyed Willie the ineffectual guard dog wears glasses; all in good fun. 2004, Holiday House, $16.95, Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature) Best Books: School Library Journal Book Review Stars, March 2004; Cahners; United States ISBN: 0-8234-1809-X A Cow's Alfalfa-Bet Woody Jackson    The author-illustrator captures in peaceful, pleasing paintings the idyllic view of life on a dairy farm in rural Vermont. He is the creator of the cows seen on Ben and Jerry ice cream cartons and trucks and every picture illustrating this alphabet book contains one or more of the bovine creatures. From A to Z, or from alfalfa to zucchini, each page has a connection to the author's vision of the farm. This is an interesting idea and the paintings add much to the book, but a couple of the words are problematical. Most of the one-word examples of the letters are simple, concrete nouns such as "barn" or "dog" so it might be confusing to the child of an age to be learning his letters to come upon a word like "Xanadu." "Xanadu" is an interesting description of how an adult might view a tranquil farm scene and older readers would also understand the word "Jerseys" placed beneath a drawing of cows, but most toddlers would not. Nonetheless, the charming paintings have a soothing quality making this book worthwhile for kids. 2003, Houghton Mifflin, $15.00, Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-618-16599-1 A Day in The Life of a Farmer Heather Adamson    Young readers can learn all about life on a farm as they track Farmer Dave's day. This book is part of the "First Facts, Community Helpers at Work Series." The day's activities are presented in question and answer format; for example, accompanying the question "What do farm animals eat?" is a photograph showing Dave feeding his cows. A clock appears with each picture, so the readers can track the time of the activities. Fun facts are also included such as how much milk a cow can give a day. The end material of the book includes a glossary, book references, and an Internet address. The book not only focuses on what Farmer Dave does in a typical day but also shows what a modern farm looks like. Photos of his equipment are shown as the text describes what the machines do. Farming involves not just feeding and milking cows but also fixing machines and running them. Large type describes the photographs and encourages reading. 2004, Capstone Press, $21.26, Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Patricia Silverberg (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-7368-2283-6 Dora's Chicks Julie Sykes, Jane Chapman    Dora, a big white hen with a red comb and wattles, has six fluffy yellow chicks to feed. Early one morning as Dora is out searching for food, her chicks wander off. Now Dora must search for them. She rushes to the pigpen where Penny is about to feed her piglets and finds one chick. Dora tells the chick, "Chicks don't nurse for their food." She finds the second chick ready to follow Debbie Duck and her ducklings into the pond. She says, "Chicks don't fish for food. They can't swim!" The third chick is watching Honey Horse and her foal eating hay and Dora says, "Chicks don't eat hay." Then the story changes as the theme that chicks must be chicks is abandoned and, although the underlying message that the mother cares for and will search for each one of her babies does remain, the continuity is lost. The fifth chick is found about to cross the road and is given a lesson in safety. Dora and the chicks continue to look around the farm, but do not find the last chick until they return to the hen house. The sixth chick is there, pecking for food, as chicks do. 2002, Tiger Tales/ME Media, $14.95, Ages 3 to 5. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature)    One day an egg rolls down a hill, cracks open and out pops a baby crocodile. But where is his mother? A classic tale of a child in search of its mother, Where's My Mommy? combines energetic illustrations with simple text. As Little Crocodile meets various animals in the jungle, he always asks, "Are you my mommy?" The animals reply by asking in turn if he can do the things they do and make the noises they make. "Can you swing from a tree like me?" asks the Monkey. "Can you do this?" Tiger asks as he roars. Each time, Little Crocodile can only "snap" in reply. Finally, he comes upon an entire crowd of snapping crocodiles. At last, he has found his mother! This fun story will not only enchant young children, but will also reinforce concepts of sorting and matching as young children decide whether or not Little Crocodile has found his mother with each encounter. 2002, Tiger Tales, $14.95, Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Leah Hanson (Children's Literature) ISBN: 1-5892-5015-X Duck, Duck, Goose! A Coyote's on the Loose! Karen Beaumont Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey    What can it be, this huge pile of leaves, twigs, and dirt? Birds tumble away; frogs scatter. All we know is that two white feet are disappearing into the heap. Can this shaggy brown thing be a coyote chasing the terrified farm animals from their fields, onto a jeep, through the barn, and into a window of the farmhouse? The youngest readers will be puzzled and amused by the chase as they follow Beaumont's sprightly rhyming text to its surprise ending. Illustrators Aruego and Dewey have collaborated on numerous picture books; he inks in the lines, she adds the brilliant color. The results here include a startled cow in two shades of purple, a galloping turquoise goat with golden horns, and a bemused sheep with cobalt edges to its dark brown fleece. Full of action, repetition, rhyme, and humor, this charming adventure would be a terrific read-aloud or lots of fun for an adult and one child to share. Wave goodbye as all the animals pile into their jeep and take off flying! 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 7, $15.99. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-06-050802-7 ISBN: 0-06-050804-3 Duck for President Doreen Cronin Illustrated by Betsy Lewin    The animals on Farmer Brown's farm are tired of all the chores they are asked to do. They get tired and dirty and smelly. They decide to bring about change. An election is held to oust Farmer Brown and put Duck in charge. Duck discovers that running a farm is hard work. He is still tired and dirty and smelly at the end of each day. So he decides to run for governor. He campaigns throughout the state and wins by a close margin. After discovering that running a state is hard work and no fun at all, he decides to run for president. He kisses babies, rides in parades, gives speeches only ducks can understand, and plays his saxophone on late-night television. He is elected. Running a country is even harder work than running a state. Duck leaves the vice president in charge and goes back to the farm. Lewin's colorful, cartoon-like illustrations capture the absurdity of the story, adding humor to the tongue-in-cheek text. A good companion book for Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type and Giggle, Giggle, Quack which were created by the same author/illustrator team. 2004, Simon and Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-689-86377-2 Dust to Eat: Drought and Depression in the 1930s Michael L. Cooper    The dual disasters of the Great Depression and the black blizzards of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s cause unimaginable suffering and alter the course of American history. Today's welfare and Social Security programs are a direct result of these tragic events. The stock market crash of 1929 marks the beginning of a ten-year economic crisis fueled even further by drought and excessive farming that reduces the prairies of the Great Plains to dry desert. On one day alone in 1934, a dust storm carries 350 million tons of dirt two thousand miles eastward. Even ships three hundred miles out into the Atlantic are covered with brown prairie dirt falling like snow from the sky. Millions of families leave their farms and ranches to live in old automobiles, boxcars, or on the streets; famed Route 66 is flooded with desperate people looking for salvation in the fields and orchards of California. Cooper incorporates the no nonsense lyrics and music of songwriter Woody Guthrie and the vivid observations of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath in which an Oklahoma family is reduced to migrant farm work where two or three dollars a day is all that stands between survival and death. Cooper's compelling tale of ordinary people existing in unimaginable conditions is made even more poignant with inclusion of Dorothea Lange's superb black and white photographs. These put a human face on the despair and deprivation of many poor souls. Bibliographic information encourages additional study opportunities. 2004, Clarion Books, Ages 8 to 12, $15.00. Reviewer: Francine Thomas (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-618-15449-3 The Ears of Corn: An Ike and Mem Story Patrick Jennings Illustrated by Anna Alter    When Ike and Mem are dropped at Grandmother's and Grandfather's farm, they know what's coming for the weekend: chores and more chores. It's all a bit scary, too, since Grandfather suggests that the rustling noises from the drying cornstalks are really ghosts. Mem, who is about four or five, and her older brother have been here before and they know the drill. Hop into bed and it's up before sunrise, put on their farm clothes and rubber boots and roll out to milk, feed animals, and later in the day, garden and help prepare food. Exasperated and frustrated by the constant work, the two children wade out into the ripening noisy cornstalks and holler, "Grandfather and Grandmother are the worst in the world!" But on return, they eat a huge meal prepared by Grandmother and begin to feel a little bit better, but now the cornstalks are mocking them by repeating their unhappy phrase, a little bit guilty as well. In the night, they sneak out in their pajamas and repeat the holler in the negative to reverse the seeming curse. When they get lost, and are found by their worried grandparents, the children say they were looking for ghosts, and after a good night's sleep, they have a little more fun, riding ponies and the big lawnmower driven by Grandfather. This quiet little story with its rural, small-town feeling is restful to read and there is enough detail to flesh out the setting without overwhelming an inexperienced reader or an urban-bound one. The layout is inviting, with a spacious layout of text, pleasant renderings of small things like a piece of cake or an ear of corn to begin each chapter, and a full page illustration within each chapter. Alter's line drawings render the settings and chapter icons admirably, but the never-changing vaguely smiling features of the grandparents and the children give them wooden and emotionless characters which the story's plot does not echo. Like the previous stories in the "Ike and Mem" series, this spare text imparts a gentle message, in this case, that a little work and a little play in balance is just fine and that your grandparents love you no matter what. 2004, Holiday House, $15.95, Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-8234-1770-0 The Easter Rabbit's Parade Lois Lenski    Ann Eliza lives on a farm and she is very conscientious about caring for the farm animals. She works hard bringing them food and water and the animals want to do something special for her since it was almost Easter. They all work to create a basket lined with wool and decorated with stones and shells and filled with eggs. Others decide to pick flowers. The grump of the group is Old Graybead the Goat who has plenty of asides and negative comments about all that the animals are trying to do. Everything seems to be coming along quite well until the White Rabbit appears and he lets them know that he is the only one who knows all about Easter. He calls his family in to decorate the eggs and then accidentally gets sprinkled in the face with some purple dye. Ann Eliza finally gets her treat from the animals including a parade with the White Rabbit, purple spots and all. Today's kids may well wonder why this young girl is working so hard and all alone on the farm, and why the animals talk and seem to take on human characteristics. The text is overly long and not terribly interesting. Perhaps this story should have rested in the archives. 2004 (orig. 1936), Random House, $12.95, Ages 4 to 6. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-375-82748-X ISBN: 0-375-92748-4 The Farm Life Elizabeth Spurr Illustrated by Steve Bjčorkman    With opening sentences reminiscent of "Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see," one might assume this to be a spin-off of Bill Martin's work. Happily, this story can hold its own as a peek into life on a farm. Counting, color recognition and rhyming all have a major part in this book, but are not outdone by descriptions of what happens on a working farm and in farm life. Steve Bjorkman's gentle watercolor illustrations evoke a sense of spaciousness and gentleness that only comes from living on a farm. Growing up on a farm myself, I can vouch for the ambiance presented here, from the heifers trying to keep out of the rain to the cozy home. Take note, there is no television set in sight. An addition to this story is the glossary following the text. Now city slickers can be tuned into farm terminology and not miss a bucolic beat. 2003, Holiday House, $16.95, Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-8234-1777-8 Farmer Boy Laura Ingalls Wilder    If you picked up this book expecting to learn more about the pioneering adventures of the Ingalls family, you won't find it here. This story is about Almanzo Wilder, who as a young man will marry Laura Ingalls, but for now is a boy growing up on a large farm in New York. While his older brother, Royal, can't wait to move to the city and begin life as a shopkeeper or clerk, Almanzo loves the farm, and can't imagine any other life but farming. He especially loves the horses and desperately wants a colt of his own. But before he can have one he must prove he is ready for the responsibility. This book is rich in details about farm life in the late 1800s. Leather for boots, tallow for candles, fat for soap, and of course, meat for the dinner table, all come from the Wilders' slaughtered cattle. Not even the tiniest part is wasted. It puts our current throwaway society to shame. Wilder describes in great detail the process Almanzo uses in completing his chores, so readers can feel that they are making candles, growing a prize-winning pumpkin, or helping with the sheep shearing right along with him. Part of the "Little House" series, this book is not only enjoyable, but it would make a great addition to a classroom discussion of America's frontier past. 2003 (orig. 1933), Avon Books/Harper Collins Publishers, $5.99 and $16.99, Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Pat Trattles (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-06-052238-0 ISBN: 0-06-026425-X Farmer Duck Martin Waddell Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury    On a farm, which may be just a few miles away from anywhere, there is a duck who has a truly dreadful life. This poor animal has to work all day, taking care of the entire farm by itself while the farmer lies in bed all day. All day long the farmer yells out "How goes the work?" and all day long the duck answers "Quack!" It is hard to imagine an animal more taken advantage of than this duck. Luckily, the other animals living on the farm decide that enough is enough and take matters into their own hands, or rather into their own hooves and claws. Their love of the duck drives them to do what they can to help. For a little light entertainment the author has added the voices of the animals throughout this charming board book, which should provide plenty of noisy amusement when reading the book out loud during story time. Helen Oxenbury manages with some of her artist's magic to give the poor duck just the right droop in its shoulders so we know just how tired it is. We know just how fed up it is, and just how delighted it is in the end when it realizes that its life of drudgery is over. Oxenbury gives each of the animals a character without making it either cute or human-like. The animals are still very animal-like, and at the same time, they have thoughts and opinions of their own. With a "Moo!" a "Baa!" and a "Cluck!" this is a book that will be read over and over again. 2003, Candlewick Press, $6.99, Ages 2 to 4. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature) Best Books: Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California ISBN: 0-7636-2167-6 Farmer McPeepers' and His Missing Milk Cows Katy Duffield Illustrated by Steve Gray    Poor Mr. McPeepers. His cows took his glasses so they could have a day of fun, and Mr. McPeepers sets out to find them. He stops by the lake, a swimming hole, the schoolyard, the ballpark, and a barn dance, but never sees his cows. Of course they are everywhere he looks, except without his glasses, Mr. McPeepers just can't see them. What fun those cows are having! When he finally returns home, Mr. McPeepers sees something shiny and realized it is his glasses. He puts them on just in time to see his cows returning home after a day's vacation. The end of the book reveals that the cows are planning another vacation. The story is great, and the illustrations are simply hilarious. The sense of humor of the illustrator is fantastic, and children will love looking at this book over and over again. This is quite likely to become a family favorite where adults will have as much fun reading the book as the children will have listening to it. 2003, First Impressions, $15.95, Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-8735-8825-8 Farmers Alice K. Flanagan    Farmers play an important role in today's world--they grow crops to feed hungry mouths, they raise livestock and poultry for a variety of purposes, and they raise sheep to produce wool for clothing and blankets. This informative book introduces young readers to the fascinating world of farming. The author discusses what farmers do, what tools and equipment they use, how they help people, where they work, who they work with, what they wear to work, what training and skills they need, and what problems they face on a daily basis. In addition to simple, explanatory text, this book also includes two dozen colorful photographs featuring farmers in action. All of the photos have short descriptions, and some photos have labels that point out specific features related to the farmer's job. This resource also includes a descriptive time line of a farmer's typical day, a short glossary, a collection of interesting farm-related facts, a listing of additional resources (books, Websites, and addresses), and an index. This is a great introduction for youngsters who are interested in learning more about this exciting career. Part of the "Community Workers" series. 2003, Compass Point Books, $19.93, Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Debra Briatico (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-7565-0305-1 Here a Chick, Where a Chick? Suse Mac Donald    Here is a 10" by 10" lift-the-flap book with six large double-page spreads, each of which asks the question, "Here a chick, Where a chick?" The art is what will draw you to this book. The artist has illustrated all the pages by cutting out the letters and pictures from paper she has painted beforehand, very much in the style of Eric Carle. On each page a flap can be lifted to discover if a chick is underneath. There is a hen house, a farmer's cart piled with hay, a barn door to open, a feed sack in a hayloft, a garden gate and, finally, a scarecrow's apron to lift. All of the animals discovered under the flaps follow along in the search for a chick or, as it happens, chicks. 2004, Cartwheel/Scholastic, 2 to 4, $10.95. Reviewer: Eleanor Heldrich (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-439-45594-4 John Deere M. C. Hall    John Deere is best known as the man who "invented a plow that changed farming forever." Born in Vermont in 1804, trained as a blacksmith, Deere eventually moved to Illinois where he started a company that still makes and sells farm machinery and lawn equipment today. This biography is part of the Lives and Times series which "covers the life of a famous person." The brief account of the life of John Deere - almost picture book in format with large print text and colorful illustrations on every page - is entertaining, informative and written for the youngest readers. Words highlighted in bold are defined in the glossary. And kids will readily understand the definitions given for words such as apprentice or salary. At the end of the book readers will find a Fact File (John Deere and company is one of the oldest manufacturing companies in the United States), the glossary, a list of more books to read and an index. 2004, Heinemann Library/Reed Elsevier, Ages 5 to 7, $22.79. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen (Children's Literature) ISBN: 1-4034-5327-6 Life on a Cattle Farm Judy Wolfman Photographs by David Lorenz Winston    Meet Adam Smith. He lives on an American beef cattle farm, and he is here to tell what his life is like. He discusses the care given to pregnant cows and newborn calves, the jobs of feeding, disease prevention, cleaning the barn, mending fences, raking the hay and getting the cattle ready for sale. About half of each page is text and half is comprised of clear, full-color photographs that give further insight into life on the farm and the personalities of the cattle as well as the humans who live there. A close-up of a cow on page eight will be enough to get readers hooked. With its informative and entertaining photographs and written in the voice of Adam Smith, this book has great appeal. It is part of the "Life on a Farm" series in which a child on the farm speaks directly to the reader. Three children's books comprise the annotated bibliography, and four web sites are listed. The annotations help readers know what they can find at these sites. Fun Facts about Cattle, a glossary and an index are included. 2002, Carolrhoda Books, $23.93, Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature) ISBN: 1-5750-5516-3 Life on a Crop Farm Judy Wolfman Photographs by David Lorenz Winston    This book does an excellent job of informing the reader about life on a farm. Crisp, clear and happy color photographs accompany every page, making the text come to life. A young girl truthfully and insightfully narrates the story, revealing a life of hard work, discipline and responsibility. The reader not only learns about the processes of germination, photosynthesis and irrigation, but also the techniques of picking raspberries, weighing and pricing produce, and feeding livestock. Words in bold indicate glossary terms, yet the rich content of the story leaves little to be misunderstood. Fun facts as well as alternative resources are listed at the story's end. The book is a terrific complement to any farm unit as well as an interesting addition to a nonfiction library. It will inspire the early research writer and intrigue the curious city slicker. This is part of the "Life on a Farm" series. 2002, Carolrhoda Books, $23.93, Ages 4 to 9. Reviewer: Andrea Sears Andrews (Children's Literature) ISBN: 1-5750-5518-X Life on a Horse Farm Judy Wolfman Photographs by David Lorenz Winston    A young girl narrates this story of the daily life events on a farm where racehorses are raised. Important terms are introduced throughout the text--mare, stallion, breed, foal, yearling, paddocks and so forth. The parts of a horse's body are labeled on a drawing; this illustration is placed adjacent to a photograph of a horse for comparison. A very forthright section about breeding tells the whole story and may be a little mature for young readers. The training of a racehorse begins soon after birth, and the process is explained in great detail. The basics of stall cleaning, hoof care, grooming and feeding are also covered. Part of the "Life on a Farm" series. 2002, Carolrhoda Books, $23.93, Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Carol E. Lynch (Children's Literature) ISBN: 1-5750-5517-1 Life on Pig Farm Judy Wolfman Photographs by David Lorenz Winston    At age nine years, Alisha starts a 4-H project and becomes a pig farmer with help from her parents and two younger sisters. This informative book is well organized and filled with lovely photographs that take the reader into daily life on a pig farm. Alisha gives a enthusiastic account of birthing, nurturing and caring for her pigs. She shares some interesting details in the life of a pig. Baby pigs, unlike many other animals, are born with very strong legs and are almost born running. The reader follows her preparations for a county fair and enjoys the thrill of showing pigs and winning ribbons. A glossary, index and information about 4-H complete the book. 1998, Carolrhoda, $22.60, Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Sally J. K. Davies (Children's Literature) ISBN: 1-5750-5237-7 Ma, I'm a Farmer Michael Martchenko    Fred was tired of the city and of working at his computer in a cubicle. He wanted to change his life, so he decided to become a farmer. Fred was in for a big surprise when he learned how much work taking care of animals and a farm really is. With the help of his neighbor's son, he comes up with a plan to replace all the human effort with machines. Unfortunately, they need power and he draws so much that he blows the power grid and causes a blackout. Not dissuaded, Fred constructs his own power sources and once again develops machines to do the hard work. What happens when he plugs in may bring just one more chuckle. In addition to the text, the watercolor illustrations are also funny--my favorite being farmer Fred surrounded by all of his hungry farm animals at 5 am of his first day as a full-fledged farmer. 2003, Annick, Ages 4 to 8, $5.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature) ISBN: 1-55037-697-7 ISBN: 1-55037-696-9 Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel Leslie Connor Illustrated by Mary Azarian    This fresh look at the experiences of an immigrant to America begins with a choice. Of all the items Miss Bridie could have taken with her on her brave voyage to New York in 1856, the shovel is her unusual choice. She first uses it to dig a garden and grow plants to sale. The shovel accompanies her to her farm home when she marries, where it proves very useful through the years for many purposes, from digging holes for fence posts, seeds, and a pond to shoveling coal. When the handle is burned in a terrible fire, she makes a new one and rebuilds. She uses it to plant a tree in her husband's memory when he dies, and to clear the snow from the frozen pond so her grandchildren can skate there. What a fine choice she made! Azarian's colored woodcuts in full and double-page scenes visualize this homespun history with appropriate details of objects, animals and landscape in a quiet, appealing, old-fashioned style. The medium tends to produce frozen moments which characterize the event, whether it's freeing a buggy stuck in the mud or waiting impatiently for bread to come out of a cast-iron stove. The story of a strong, resourceful woman in our history is an inspiring one. 2004, Houghton Mifflin Company, Ages 4 to 9, $16.00. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-618-30564-5 Music for Alice Allen Say    This story is based upon the life of Alice Sumida, a Japanese American woman who loved to dance. As a young girl, Alice went to all the school dances. She met Mark, and taught him the fox trot. They married and moved to Seattle, but after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor Alice and Mark were ordered to go to an assembly center until the internment centers were built. Alice found it hard to believe that her own government could be forcing her to live in such a way. When farmers came to the center asking for volunteers to work on the land, Alice and Mark saw this as their only way to avoid internment. They moved to Oregon and after finishing their job, were able to obtain a government loan and start their own farm. After the war, they established a large gladiola bulb farm, but Alice still wanted to dance. Years later, as an elderly woman, she visited the farm which had fallen into ruin, but suddenly she felt free, declaring. "Now I can Dance!" The paintings illustrating the story are detailed and stirring, but the theme of music and dance does not run throughout the story, although it would seem that Alice always was a dancer in her heart and in her mind even as she toiled on the farm. 2004, Walter Lorraine Books/Houghton Mifflin Company, Ages 6 to 9, $17.00. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-618-31118-1 The Noisy Way to Bed Ian Whybrow Illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke ISBN: 0439556899 ISBN: 0439556902 Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm Alice and Martin Provensen    The Provensens have given us another wonderful glimpse at their farm, which was first introduced in The Year At Maple Hill Farm. Here we meet two dogs, five horses, a pig, some geese, chickens, cows, goats, sheep and four special cats. The wonderful watercolor illustrations compliment the humor of the words in describing the various personalities of these animals. Most of the animals have names, and their behavior is described in conversational text--"Baby lambs are pretty and full of fun. They run together. They jump together. They play King of the Mountain. The only trouble with baby lambs is that they grow so quickly and become sheep." The simplicity of the art and the importance of every animal's eyes make this a friendly book for sharing with children of many ages. This oversize book deserves a place in homes and libraries. 2001 (orig. 1974), Simon & Schuster, $7.99 and $6.50, Ages 3 to 9. Reviewer: Candace Deisley (Children's Literature) Best Books: A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year ISBN: 0-394-82123-8 ISBN: 0-394-92123-2 The Pueblo: Farmers of the Southwest Mary Englar    The Pueblo are an American Indian nation of over 59,000 members who currently live in nineteen villages along rivers in New Mexico. The Pueblo ancestors, or "Ancient Ones," settled in villages across the dry southwest about 1,500 years ago. Remains found at these sites show they were successful builders, farmers, artists, and traders. Villages were located near river valleys for cultivating corn and other crops, and near tree-covered hills for firewood and building materials for the trademark adobe buildings. Daily life included religious ceremonies and traditions that the Pueblo believed kept harmony with their natural world. Crafts included kachina dolls, which represented friendly spirits, pottery, jewelry, and woven cloth. The year 1540 marked the beginning of Spanish interference, when Francisco Vasquez de Coronado set foot on Pueblo soil in search of cities made of gold. Juan de Onate followed in 1598 with a mission to bring the Roman Catholic faith and Spanish ways to the Pueblo. The 1800s and early 1900s brought U.S. government control of important issues like religion, citizenship, land, and education. The Indian Reorganization Act, passed in 1934, allowed American Indians to once again practice their traditional religions. Now, the rich traditions as told in the native language through storytelling, dance, ceremony, and crafts, can be continued. Text is enhanced by photographs and illustrations, maps, a recipe, bibliographic references and an index. Part of the "American Indian Nations" series. 2003, Bridgesone Books, $22.60, Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Barbara Kennedy (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-7368-1357-8 Spring Is Here: A Barnyard Counting Book Pamela Jane Illustrated by Melissa Sweet    Inside and outside the farmhouse "spring is here." One winking cat sits on the windowsill and looks out over a springtime scene. Outside, there are two crickets chirping, three snug bunnies, four croaking frogs, etc. up to ten birds outside Maggie's bedroom window. The pop-ups are clever (providing a look at the spider webs in the cellar) and fun (puppies rolling and tumbling in the hay). Part of the "Preschool pop-ups" series, this will appeal to young children who require a brief text. The animals are seen in their natural environment on and around the farm. The moving parts of the pages will require a gentle touch from preschoolers. Inquisitive children may want to go outside in search of crickets, frogs and spiders. 2004, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, $7.99, Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-689-85388-2 Supersnouts! Steve Bjčorkman    Björkman has fun galore with his star porkers and with puns and word play as he tells the story of the night when the young pig Hamlet senses someone creeping around the farmhouse. It's then that he discovers that Snoutbuster and Kernel Hog are the "Superhero Pig Patrol, Hooves of Steel and Snoutmasters of Glory." They allow the eager Hamlet to come with them for on-the-hoof training. He straps on a spare rocket-pack and the trio take off to "fame, glory, and maybe a nice mud bath when it was all over." At first Hamlet seems to be courting disaster, but the burglars are soon hog-tied. When the police pick them up the next day, their stories are unbelievable. Possibly true? "When pigs fly," laughs the farmer's wife. Loosely drawn ink and watercolors keep the double page scenes as lively and funny as the text. Each pig is a distinct personality; the burglars are sneaky fools; all in good fun. 2004, Holiday House, $16.95, Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-8234-1810-3 Tom's Tail Linda Jennings Illustrated by Tim Warnes    Tom the piglet thinks his curly tail looks silly. The other animals on the farm try to help him straighten his tail by stepping on it and pulling it, but Tom only ends up with a sore, curly tail. The cow's solution to cover Tom's tail in mud and let it dry works, but the tail is so sharp that it pokes and pricks Tom's brothers and sisters. When the mud washes off, Tom decides he likes his curly tail, but would prefer a more elegant nose. Preschoolers will enjoy Tom's antics as he tries to do the impossible. However, more trials leading up to Tom's temporary solution would have added to the humor. The illustrations are bright, colorful and as playful as the story's tone. It is a relief that the author does not moralize about loving yourself as you are. Youngsters will laugh when they realize that Tom has not learned his lesson. 1995, Tiger Tales/ME Media, Ages 3 to 6, $6.95. Reviewer: Laura Shovan (Children's Literature) ISBN:1-58925-383-3 A Visit to the Farm Blake A. Hoena    A very basic introduction to farms with an indicated reading level of 1, this book is suitable for only the youngest school-age children. Very simple information is provided in a very basic way. The text of the book is a mere 16 pages long, with half of the space given over to photographs. Farm buildings, farm animals and fields and crops are all very briefly discussed. A note on the CIP page for parents and teachers suggests that this is a good book for beginning readers because of the controlled vocabulary and repetition. However, the book is a fairly boring read. There is brief mention of harvesting crops, but surprisingly for a book about farms, no information about planting. The photographs illustrate the text well and are almost more informative. A glossary, index and suggestions for further reading and websites are included. 2004, Capstone Press, $17.26, Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Sharon Oliver (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-7368-2390-5 The Year at Maple Hill Farm Alice and Martin Provensen    This is a book about farm animals, and what happens during one year on Maple Hill Farm in New York. In January, the cows stay in the barnyard, and the chickens don't lay many eggs. Month by month, the animals and the people who care for them respond to the changing seasons. Not only do the authors talk about the "typical" farm animals--cows, horses, chickens, goats and cats--but they include the grasshoppers and blue flies as well. It is the best way to experience and learn about the work, play, challenges and rewards of living in farm country without an actual visit. 2001, Aladdin Paperbacks, $6.99, $5.00 and $4.75, Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Julie Eick Granchelli (Children's Literature) ISBN: 0-689-30642-3 ISBN: 0-689-20494-9 To stay up to date on new books on this topic, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here. Updated 8/16/04