Books That Take You There: The Farm

Farms are an essential part of our world. Farms provide us with food, materials for clothes, and so much more. There is so much to learn about the work that goes into making a farm function to provide us with our every-day needs. Here are some picture books that take you to the farm.

Thank a Farmer
By Maria Gianferrari
New York: Norton Young Readers, 2023. Informational. Picture Book.

There are so many things that we use every day that come from a farm. There are all different kinds of farms, from wheat to fruit to dairy and everything that we consume comes from them. This book helps us to remember that whether we have berries on our plate or milk in our cups, there is a farmer to be grateful for. A great informational book on the different kinds of work that is done on a farm.

Miss Macdonald Has a Farm
Written by Kalee Gwarjanski
Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic
New York: Random House Childrens Books 2024. Picture Book.

This book is a fun take on the classic song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” While the original song focuses on all of the animals that are on the farm, Miss McDonald loves things that grow from the earth. Miss MacDonald likes to plant a variety of seeds that grow into all kinds of colorful veggies. Along with planting she also weeds, waters, prunes, shucks, picks, washes, and cans the produce.

Construction Site: Farming Strong, All Year Long
By Sherri Dusky Rinker and Ag Ford
San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC, 2022. Picture Book.

Six large farming trucks make their way to a farm where they are greeted by the farm’s pick-up truck and tractor. The Bulldozer gets to work filling a crack in the road. The dump truck takes away the debris. The big tractor pulls a plow while the little tractor plants the corn seeds. We get to see all the ways each farming truck is used throughout the seasons.

The Barn

Written by Leah H. Rogers
Illustrated by Barry Root
Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2021. Picture Book.

Written from the perspective of the barn, we learn how this farm started from the work of many hands over a hundred years ago. It is the center and heart of the farm. The barn watches over the animals in its fields and provides safety and shelter for them at night.

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.

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