ON THE FARM

Cheerful yet realistic-looking farm animals introduce toddlers to farm-animal sounds and environs.

Each double-page spread highlights one type of animal and its baby—calf and cows, chick and chickens, duckling and ducks, foal and horses, lamb and sheep, and piglet and pigs. The relevant verb (“moos,” “quacks,” “snorts”) is highlighted in colored type in each sentence, and then the onomatopoeic sound is reproduced as “dialogue.” The animals are idealized depictions of the real thing, not anthropomorphic cartoons. The really fat pigs loll in the mud, and the teats are clearly visible on the sow's belly. A side view of a Holstein cow shows her udders. The pose of the horse is awkward; the foal looks like it is on its mother's back. The pure white duck is just plain pretty—not at all like those found in most barnyards. Although the text mentions where each animal lives, there is no picture of a chicken coop or stable. But these are quibbles. With just enough information for the board-book audience, young toddlers will soon be mooing, quacking, and oinking along, practically ready to sing “Old McDonald.”

A fine board-book addition to an already full field of farmyard books.