Book Reviews Farming

Pack your bags for the ultimate farm getaway. Amelia is heading out on a fantastic family holiday to the countryside, and the absolute best part is that her best friend Willow is coming along for the ride. The girls have a massive list of exciting things they want to do, from petting the adorable baby lambs to picking fresh strawberries and learning how to ride horses. It sounds like the perfect vacation, except Amelia has one huge thing weighing on her mind. She has finally decided that it is time to tell Willow the truth about her secret chameleon powers. Figuring out exactly how to share such a magical secret is incredibly difficult. When the big moment arrives, the reveal goes completely wrong, leaving Amelia frustrated and worried about their friendship. Now, surrounded by barnyard animals and wide open fields, Amelia has to figure out a way to fix the mess. Find out if she can use her special abilities to turn things around and save their amazing farm adventure before it is too late.

The rooster crows loudly, and the small farm wakes up to a bright, blazing morning. The air is already sticky and hot as the farmer and his son head out to work in the fields. The animals seek out patches of shade, and everyone tries to stay cool under the beating sun. But as the afternoon rolls in, the sky grows dark and heavy. A sudden, crackling thunderstorm forces the whole family to run for shelter. You will feel the heat of the summer day and the sudden, cooling relief of the pouring rain in this vivid story. It captures the busy, beautiful rhythm of life on a family farm from sunrise all the way to sunset.

Mrs. Runnery is very proud of her beautiful farm, but she has a gigantic problem on her hands. Something mysterious is sneaking into her granary and gobbling up all of her stored grain! Could the culprits be tiny weevils? Hungry rats? Sneaky wolves? Or is it something even stranger? Luckily, wise old Granny Runnery knows exactly what kind of creatures are causing the trouble, and she has the perfect, clever plan to send them packing. This charming and delightful folktale combines a playful mystery with a touch of magic. It is a wonderfully cozy story that perfectly captures the lively spirit of farm life and the wisdom of grandmothers.

Long before massive delivery trucks and bright supermarkets existed, the Graves Family Dairy relied on three strong horses to pull wagons filled with fresh milk. For the milkman's boy, daily life is tied to the rhythm of the farm, the clinking of glass bottles, and the familiar clip-clop of hooves on morning streets. His father, Henry Graves, takes pride in their traditional ways and stubbornly resists the new, modern idea called pasteurization. But when a sudden and severe fever strikes the boy's sister, the family is forced to face a difficult reality. The old ways might not always be the safest. This compelling historical tale brings a forgotten era to life, showing how a family must carefully balance their beloved traditions with the essential changes needed to keep their community safe and healthy.

Have you ever wondered what life was like a long, long time ago? Meet the Ox-Cart Man, a busy farmer in old New England. Each autumn, his family works together to prepare for a special journey. His wife spins wool, his daughter knits mittens, and his son carves brooms. They gather all the things they’ve made and grown throughout the year, from soft wool to fresh goose feathers, and load them carefully onto the ox cart. Then, the Ox-Cart Man sets off, traveling over hills and through valleys to the bustling Portsmouth Market. He sells everything, piece by piece, even his loyal ox! With his pockets full of coins, he buys all the new supplies his family will need for the winter ahead. After a long journey, he returns home, ready for the next year to begin. This beautiful story shows how a family works together through the changing seasons, making sure they have what they need in a simple, gentle world. It's a wonderful look at a timeless yearly tradition.

Take a walk down to the barnyard for a fun and interactive guessing game with some friendly faces. Someone is hiding under the big flaps, and it is up to you to figure out exactly who it is. You will be given fun little clues to help you solve the mystery before you open the folds to reveal the surprise. From the pasture to the pigpen, you will meet all sorts of wonderful creatures that live and work on a farm. It is an exciting and joyful way to practice your animal knowledge while enjoying big, colorful pictures that bring the farm right to you.

Danny lives on a farm where his sisters take great pride in raising their very own pet pigs. When Danny finally gets a pet of his own, he doesn't get a piglet—instead, he is given a little lamb named Beanblossom. But Beanblossom doesn't act much like a sheep. Because she spends all her time following the pigs around the farmyard, she becomes entirely convinced that she is a pig, too! You will laugh as this confused but lovable lamb tries her hardest to fit in with her curly-tailed friends, eating with them and joining in their messy fun. This charming and funny story explores the bonds of friendship across species and the silly side of growing up on a farm where everyone belongs, no matter what they think they are.

Meet Mister Penny, a kind old man who shares his home with a very lazy bunch of barnyard animals. Instead of helping out, his pets spend their days getting into trouble. When they sneak into a neighbor's garden and create a giant mess, Mister Penny takes the blame. Seeing their dear friend in trouble finally wakes up this sleepy crew. The animals realize they need to change their ways to save the day. Soon, the hens are busy laying eggs, the cow is giving fresh milk, and the horse is plowing the fields. Watch how a mischievous animal family transforms into a hardworking team to help the man who loves them.

It is time for the big county fair, and Mister Penny is packing up his cart. Limpy, his faithful old workhorse, is feeling a little left out. Mister Penny tells Limpy that judges only want to see fancy, perfect animals, not tired old farm horses with bandages on their legs. But Limpy has a secret dream. When he looks at his bandaged leg, he does not see a clumsy farm animal. He imagines he is a sleek, lightning-fast racehorse! More than anything in the whole world, Limpy wants just one chance to run on the real race track. Cheer for the ultimate underdog in this heartwarming story about dreaming big, proving your worth, and showing everyone how fast you can truly run.

Some people thought he was eccentric, wandering the rugged frontier with little more than the clothes on his back and a sack full of seeds. But Johnny Appleseed was a man with a beautiful vision for the expanding American West. Believing that the earth belongs to all living creatures, Johnny traveled for miles across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana to plant vibrant groves of apple trees. Discover the fascinating true story of an unconventional pioneer whose quiet dedication, deep respect for nature, and simple acts of planting changed the landscape of a nation forever.

Taking a truckload of pigs to the market should be a simple chore for farmers Bert and Ethel, but their clever livestock have a completely different agenda. The pigs seem to know exactly where they are headed, and they are definitely not interested in making the trip. After a chaotic struggle to get them loaded into the back of the truck, the farmers finally hit the road for town. However, when Bert and Ethel arrive at the market and open the back of the truck, they discover an empty space. Their entire batch of pigs has mysteriously vanished into thin air. Strangely enough, the only clues left behind are pieces of clothing missing from the local clotheslines. This funny, fast paced mystery will have you laughing at the surprisingly resourceful escape tactics of these determined animals. It is a highly entertaining farmyard caper that proves you should never underestimate a pig with a plan.

Rancher Hicks wants excitement, so he rides eighty-four miles to Sleepy Gulch. The real excitement stays home. While Hicks looks for something interesting in town, his wife Elna is back at the ranch, where the impossible seems to happen one event after another. Oil, fortune, famous visitors, and outrageous surprises turn the quiet ranch into the wildest place around, all while Hicks misses the action completely. Meanwhile Back at the Ranch is a laugh-out-loud picture book built on comic contrast and tall-tale exaggeration. Young readers who enjoy silly western settings, repeated jokes, and larger-than-life surprises will have fun watching the boring place become anything but boring.