THE MAN WHO DIDN'T LIKE ANIMALS

Is it possible that once, Old MacDonald didn’t actually live on a farm—or that he didn’t even like animals?

Underwood takes her signature flair for fairy-tale reinvention—on full display in retellings such as Interstellar Cinderella (2015), illustrated by Meg Hunt—and brings it to the world of nursery rhymes. “Old MacDonald” may not have much drama or conflict, so Underwood has smartly imagined a prequel in which a tidy man who dislikes animals reluctantly takes in the creatures that show up one by one on his doorstep. The man’s stance gradually changes; “I don’t like cats” evolves into “Maybe THIS cat isn’t so bad” as he discovers how much more rewarding life is when shared with his new companions. Pham’s busy, animated illustrations convey the main character’s trajectory; the opening endpapers show the man turning his nose up at every pet he encounters as he walks through town, but as he adopts more and more animals, his home becomes brighter and filled with life and sound. When the neighbors complain, he sends the animals away, only to discover the heartbreak of returning to life as it was before. Neither the farm nor the name “Old MacDonald” is revealed until the last spread—a delayed punchline that’s sure to delight. Old MacDonald presents Black; his neighbors are racially diverse.

Perfect for animal lovers and preschoolers with nursery rhymes still fresh on their minds.