An intriguing introductory look at a real farm family and their helpful dog.
This introduction to the life of a working farm dog focuses on a day in the life of a border collie named Cadi.
The Baker family lives on a farm with livestock including cows, turkeys, goats, pigs, ducks, chickens, and rabbits. The family, who present white, includes a mom and dad and six children ranging in age from about 3 through the late teens. Cadi’s work herding cows is described in simple terms, illustrated with photographs showing the dog in action. Cadi is also shown interacting with the family’s children and the other animals, getting a bath, and riding in the farm truck. While the storyline is centered on Cadi’s important job herding cows, it also provides an introduction to farm life and farm products such as eggs, milk, and vegetables (but not meat). Some aspects that are not covered are the family’s home and their barn and the dog’s diet in addition to the milk she is shown drinking. The book’s appealing design includes bold backgrounds of purple and bright green, a large type size, and high-quality photographs. The concluding pages include an introduction to the family with all the children’s names, more about Cadi’s lifestyle, and two pages of informative tips on taking care of animals in general. The photo-illustrated story is geared to a preschool audience while the concluding pages are written at a slightly higher level.
An intriguing introductory look at a real farm family and their helpful dog. (Picture book. 2-6)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4263-3679-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: National Geographic Kids
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Simple, encouraging text, charming photographs, straightforward, unpretentious diversity, and adorable animals—what’s not to...
This entry-level early reader/picture book pairs children with farm animals.
Using a simple, effective template—a full-page photograph on the recto page and a bordered spot photo above the text on the verso—Rotner delivers an amiable picture book that presents racially and ethnically diverse kids interacting (mostly in the cuddling department) with the adult and baby animals typically found on a farm. Chickens, chicks, cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, pigs, piglets, cows, and calves are all represented. While a couple of double-page spreads show the larger adult animals—pigs and cows—without a child, most of the rest portray a delighted child hugging a compliant critter. The text, simple and repetitive, changes only the name for the animal depicted in the photo on that spread: “I like the cat”; “I like the piglet.” In this way, reading comprehension for new readers is supported in an enjoyable, appealing way, since the photo of the animal reinforces the new word. It’s hard to go wrong combining cute kids with adorable animals, but special kudos must be given for the very natural way Rotner has included diversity—it’s especially gratifying to see diversity normalized and validated early, at the same time that reading comprehension is taught.
Simple, encouraging text, charming photographs, straightforward, unpretentious diversity, and adorable animals—what’s not to like? (Picture book/early reader. 2-6)Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3833-4
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: May 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2017
A clever conceit but a bland execution.
In this minimalist Australian import, readers are encouraged to guess animals based on select written and visual clues.
On each recto, readers see the hindquarters of an animal, and three simple clues ask them to guess what kind of animal they may belong to. “I have long furry ears and a small nose. / I live in a burrow in the ground. / I have a white fluffy tail. / I AM A….” The splashy watercolor rear legs and tail are ambiguous enough that they may have readers second-guessing the obvious answer. Turning the page, however, readers discover both the well-defined front half of the animal and the animal’s name: “RABBIT.” Canty uses stock 19th-century animal illustrations layered with watercolor enhancements, creating a somber yet surprising tone. Two tailless animals, a frog and human readers, are included in the roster, making the “tails” referenced in the title symbolic rather than literal. Two red herrings, the image of a mouse between the clues for and image of an elephant and (inexplicably) a squirrel leading to a giraffe, fall flat, with no other cues to young readers that they are jokes. The quirky illustrations, earthy colors, and lack of exhibited enthusiasm will make this book’s audience a niche one. There is no backmatter.
A clever conceit but a bland execution. (Informational picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Oct. 23, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0033-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: July 29, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
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