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Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm: An Enchanting Tall Tale About the Secrets of a Magical Balloon Farm for Kids
Harvey Potter was a very strange fellow indeed. He was a farmer, but he didn't farm like my daddy did. He farmed a genuine, U.S. Government Inspected Balloon Farm.
So begins this enchanting original tall tale. Set in the rural south and populated with a truly unforgettable cast of characters--including, if you look very carefully, a rabbit, a Tyrannosaurus rex, a cat, a chicken, a cow, and a pig hidden in each remarkable illustration--this is a book that is filled with wonderful impossibilities and magical imagination. Told in the great tradition of summer nights and front porch yarns, Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm will lift your spirit right off the ground, just as it does Harvey Potter.
Harvey Potter was a very strange fellow indeed. He was a farmer but not like any farmer you've ever met. He didn't grow corn, okra, or tomatoes. Harvey Potter grew balloons. No one knew exactly how he did it, but with the help of the light of a full moon, one friendly child catches a peek of just how Harvey Potter does it. And keeps some magic for herself."This is the best sort of fantasy imaginative, inventive, and believable. Harvey Potter is a wonder he's the owner of a genuine U.S. Government Inspected Balloon farm. And Nolen's tale about this man, narrated by the African-American girl who learns balloon-farming magic from him, is equally wondrous.... This title should sail onto every library shelf. May Nolen grow a bumper crop of books." School Library Journal.
"Downright glorious."Publishers Weekly(starred review).
So begins this enchanting original tall tale. Set in the rural south and populated with a truly unforgettable cast of characters--including, if you look very carefully, a rabbit, a Tyrannosaurus rex, a cat, a chicken, a cow, and a pig hidden in each remarkable illustration--this is a book that is filled with wonderful impossibilities and magical imagination. Told in the great tradition of summer nights and front porch yarns, Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm will lift your spirit right off the ground, just as it does Harvey Potter.
Harvey Potter was a very strange fellow indeed. He was a farmer but not like any farmer you've ever met. He didn't grow corn, okra, or tomatoes. Harvey Potter grew balloons. No one knew exactly how he did it, but with the help of the light of a full moon, one friendly child catches a peek of just how Harvey Potter does it. And keeps some magic for herself."This is the best sort of fantasy imaginative, inventive, and believable. Harvey Potter is a wonder he's the owner of a genuine U.S. Government Inspected Balloon farm. And Nolen's tale about this man, narrated by the African-American girl who learns balloon-farming magic from him, is equally wondrous.... This title should sail onto every library shelf. May Nolen grow a bumper crop of books." School Library Journal.
"Downright glorious."Publishers Weekly(starred review).
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 1994
7 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
April 17, 2019
Narrated by a young African-American girl living in the rural American South, this original tall tale relates the story of Harvey Potter, an unassuming farmer who raises crop after crop of brightly-colored balloons. The girl befriends Harvey, who is the kind of man who lets "a person be," and the two enjoy calm afternoons on his porch. Curious about his unusual crop, which an ornery neighbor had reported to the government once, the girl spies on Harvey late one night, and discovers his method for raising balloons. Eventually, aided by this unusual friend and his balloons, the girl sets off into the world, becoming a balloon farmer herself...
I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I picked up Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm. I hadn't read anything by author Jerdine Nolen before, although illustrator Mark Buehner was known to me for the Snowmen at Night picture-books that he created with his wife. How happy I am that I gave it a chance! The story is told with a slight Southern dialect that feels authentic - Nolen grew up in Mississippi - and is immensely appealing. I enjoyed the matter-of-factly magical goings on, which reminded me a bit of the work of Chris Van Allsburg, and appreciated the fact that the friendship between the girl and Harvey crosses racial lines, but that this is never commented upon. It feels natural, just like everything else in the story. The artwork was colorful and expressive, capturing the sense of magic and fun in the tale. The nighttime scenes were particularly well done, playing with light in wonderful ways. All in all, a lovely book, one I would recommend to anyone looking for entertaining works of picture-book fantasy, or children's stories set in the South.
I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I picked up Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm. I hadn't read anything by author Jerdine Nolen before, although illustrator Mark Buehner was known to me for the Snowmen at Night picture-books that he created with his wife. How happy I am that I gave it a chance! The story is told with a slight Southern dialect that feels authentic - Nolen grew up in Mississippi - and is immensely appealing. I enjoyed the matter-of-factly magical goings on, which reminded me a bit of the work of Chris Van Allsburg, and appreciated the fact that the friendship between the girl and Harvey crosses racial lines, but that this is never commented upon. It feels natural, just like everything else in the story. The artwork was colorful and expressive, capturing the sense of magic and fun in the tale. The nighttime scenes were particularly well done, playing with light in wonderful ways. All in all, a lovely book, one I would recommend to anyone looking for entertaining works of picture-book fantasy, or children's stories set in the South.
June 25, 2013
This has to be hands down my favourite children’s book! Having a farm that grows balloons right out of the ground intrigues kids and gets their creativity going when used in the classroom. The illustrations are so intricately detailed that I can still read it and see things I never noticed before. The Southern style language makes it a tad trickier for a young reader, but it introduces them to all kinds of different words that can make it a good book for a vocab lesson. Whether it’s writing, art or literacy, this book is great for a classroom or to have in your personal stash of children’s books. I wish more people knew about it because I consider it to be a classic!
October 26, 2017
Jeredine Nolen's fantasy fiction picture book Harvey Potter’s Balloon farm is about a mysterious man who grows balloons on a farm. The government and neighborhood question him and his balloon farm. A small African-American girl, who is the narrator, watches Harvey Potter and befriends him in attempt to discover how the man grows his balloons. One night, she sees that Harvey Potter has a magic stick that makes the colorful balloons. The man magically floats up into the air with the stick and starts screeching. The girl takes three balloons for herself and Harvey grows her a huge balloon to carry her away to a land where she creates her own balloon farm.
This picture book has a bizarre plot line but it's really great for a younger audience who feeds off of creativity and imagination. The full-bleed illustrations are bright and colorful and the descriptive text easily sparks inspiration. The author uses a lot of alliteration to describe the balloons, like Yellin' Yellow, which is always a fun literary device. Some of the characters are also hidden within the illustrations, which makes the book exciting to read. The book features an interracial friendship which gives the plot and the book itself more depth and meaning. Overall, the audience needs to keep an open and imaginative mindset to enjoy this fantasy picture book.
This picture book has a bizarre plot line but it's really great for a younger audience who feeds off of creativity and imagination. The full-bleed illustrations are bright and colorful and the descriptive text easily sparks inspiration. The author uses a lot of alliteration to describe the balloons, like Yellin' Yellow, which is always a fun literary device. Some of the characters are also hidden within the illustrations, which makes the book exciting to read. The book features an interracial friendship which gives the plot and the book itself more depth and meaning. Overall, the audience needs to keep an open and imaginative mindset to enjoy this fantasy picture book.
April 5, 2022
loved the illustrations in this book!
October 23, 2009
Brief Summary: Harvey Potter’s Balloon farm is about a mysterious man who grows balloons on his farmland, which causes the neighbors and government to question him. The narrator, who is a small African-American girl, watches him and gets to know him throughout the book to see what is behind the balloons and how they get their character. She discovers one night that he has a magic stick that creates these balloons of extraordinary colors. He appeared to be performing some kind of magic and floated up into the air screeching. One summer, Harvey grew her a balloon big enough to carry her away to land on which she one day created her own balloon farm.
Potential Audience: This book is great for fluent readers, who are looking for a source of creativity and imagination. If they are looking for inspiration for a story that they need to write, this book is a great reference for that. This book embraces letting your imagination run wild to places that have abundant sources of inspiration. Even though the picture book is a fiction fantasy, it is a great reference for students who are having trouble thinking outside of the box in writing.
Specific Curricular Uses: This book would be great for a read-aloud because the students would find this book entertaining due to the illustrations and the narrator’s point of view. Other uses for this book include independent reading for a child who is in need of a little inspiration when writing a fantasy story.
Literary Elements: This book uses alliteration such as Bloomin’ Blue and Grassy Green, descriptive language to describe characters, and repetition throughout the book to address the purpose.
Social Issues: The social issues that this book addresses include: coming to terms with the unexplainable, and the friendship of two people of different races and ages.
Interactions between text and image: The illustrations in this book do not support the text closely, but they come alive and appear to be three-dimensional. There are characters hidden on each page so that children can search for them in a game of mystery. The illustrations are very engaging and students will love this book because of the wide variety of colors and shapes.
Potential Audience: This book is great for fluent readers, who are looking for a source of creativity and imagination. If they are looking for inspiration for a story that they need to write, this book is a great reference for that. This book embraces letting your imagination run wild to places that have abundant sources of inspiration. Even though the picture book is a fiction fantasy, it is a great reference for students who are having trouble thinking outside of the box in writing.
Specific Curricular Uses: This book would be great for a read-aloud because the students would find this book entertaining due to the illustrations and the narrator’s point of view. Other uses for this book include independent reading for a child who is in need of a little inspiration when writing a fantasy story.
Literary Elements: This book uses alliteration such as Bloomin’ Blue and Grassy Green, descriptive language to describe characters, and repetition throughout the book to address the purpose.
Social Issues: The social issues that this book addresses include: coming to terms with the unexplainable, and the friendship of two people of different races and ages.
Interactions between text and image: The illustrations in this book do not support the text closely, but they come alive and appear to be three-dimensional. There are characters hidden on each page so that children can search for them in a game of mystery. The illustrations are very engaging and students will love this book because of the wide variety of colors and shapes.
July 10, 2008
This is a fun story about a girl who befriends a balloon farmer. Eventually, as we find out, she learns how to grow her own balloons, just differently.
The narrator does not speak Standard American English, she speaks a different dialect. That is appropriate, given the setting. At any rate, I think it's important for children to learn that not everybody will speak the way they do. Like knowing two or more languages, knowing two or more dialects is a skill that can only enhance communication.
This is a wordy book, and it is probably more appropriate for children on the older end of the 4-8 range.
The narrator does not speak Standard American English, she speaks a different dialect. That is appropriate, given the setting. At any rate, I think it's important for children to learn that not everybody will speak the way they do. Like knowing two or more languages, knowing two or more dialects is a skill that can only enhance communication.
This is a wordy book, and it is probably more appropriate for children on the older end of the 4-8 range.
April 28, 2010
I really liked this book and it helps children think outside of the box. Harvey Potter has a farm where he grows balloons and it sparks the idea of dare to be different in the main character. She is a little black girl that watches Potter and in the end she dares to be different in her own way. The illustrations are colorful and very bright and fun. I enjoyed it a lot.
April 22, 2009
The story had a very uplifting message about being true to yourself even when you are different from everyone else. Amazing illustrations. I bought and loved this book before I had my first child.
July 23, 2012
Very unusual fantasy about Harvey Potter (who grows balloons) and the young girl who follows suit -- but in her own way. Great book.
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February 6, 2020This book is about a man named Harvey Potter and his magically balloon farm. The story is told from the perspective of a girl remembering a memory from her childhood. She talked about how Harvey had a farm where he grew balloons and sold them in town to the locals. everyone loved Harvey's balloons everyone except Wheezle. He tried to have the government come and take the balloon farm away. It backfired on him and the government let Harvey keep his balloon farm after finding nothing wrong with it. The story later goes on to talk about that the little girl talked to Harvey every day and that they hang out. The girl wanted to find out how Harvey planted and his balloon crops. One night while she was sitting in the tree at night and Harvey went out into the field and took control of a stick that he liked to hold. when he started dancing around the stick and it started to glow a bright orange. He then took it and hit the ground. After he finished Harvey, looked up and saw the girl sitting in the tree. The story goes on to show that the girl and Harvey started working together and would work. Wheezle the man who hated the farm left town. When the story ended we see the little girl had grown up and had her own farm with balloons.
I like this story it is cute and is fun and colorful for kids and would like to focus and stay involved in the book. I love the illustrations and the brightness of the book.
this would be good activity to talk about growing and making fun balloon activities.
I like this story it is cute and is fun and colorful for kids and would like to focus and stay involved in the book. I love the illustrations and the brightness of the book.
this would be good activity to talk about growing and making fun balloon activities.
September 8, 2020
This book is one of the best of the best among picture books. I loved reading it when I was young and I really enjoyed reading it again. I know that as a kid the main appeal was the vibrant colors of the balloons, but the magic and intrigue kept me coming back every day. I sat on the edge of my seat for every read-through to discover Harvey Potter's secret to growing balloons. I'm happy to report that the suspense holds up even all these years later. Any kid can enjoy this story and, after the final page, delight in wondering how they would grow their own balloons.
October 4, 2023
This book was definitely a lot more interesting than I thought it would be, based off of the title and cover. Inspired by a tall tale, this story follows the magical and mysterious Farmer Potter who somehow is able to grow balloons out of the ground. A young curious girl is intrigued at this and starts to hang around his farm and become close to him, with a desire to discover his secret. There's also an I Spy element to the story along the way. Great book to celebrate National Balloon Day (October 1st)
February 23, 2019
This was one of my favorite books as a child and it helped me become the great reader I am today. This book is a great way for children to transition into larger chapter books and will also give them a chance to become more comfortable with the text. The illustrations are very details and colorful and create a nice flow with the text of the story. I think the balloons and warm underlining theme behind the story makes this book enjoyable for kids.
November 8, 2022
Great book!--fun story and Mark Buehner's illustrations are DELIGHTFUL. So many surprises related to this book that delighted me--1) the child telling the story is BLACK, 2) Buehner's wife, Caralyn has written a number of books that he has illustrated (a number of which are now on my library request list), 3) the Buehner family lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. I googled both Mark and Caralyn and found some fascinating information about them.
February 19, 2024
I went down the rabbit hole of how balloons are made one day on a History Channel marathon (obvi this was before having a child, when things like vegging and free time were totally taken for granted), and let me tell you, I much prefer the whimsical approach of this book than actuality. Even if Harvey goes stark raving mad partway through. It was just quite charming and just odd enough to be interesting without eye-roll inducing.
March 25, 2017
Jerdine Nolan's other work in tall tales compliments this nicely, though this story reminds me more of something that Chris Van Allsburg or Allen Say would write. It's got a profoundly magical feel that leaves the reader reeling with wonder. I long for more books like this. It's one of those stories that is built from a child's sense of what is possible. That's the sort of story that sticks with you.
December 23, 2020
Harvey Potter is a farmer, but instead of produce, he grows balloons! Some other farmers are upset with Potter (and even call the government), but everyone else enjoys the balloons. A young girl takes special interest, and even stays in a tree overnight to see Potter's secret.
A cute idea, but the conflict/resolution happened too soon, and it made the actual point of the story a little lacking.
A cute idea, but the conflict/resolution happened too soon, and it made the actual point of the story a little lacking.
July 18, 2022
ANIMALS.
I really enjoyed this. I liked the tone and the voice, and the illustrations with the little details, and the way the girl leaves in a balloon and we see her on the last page all grown up. It was exactly what I wanted.
I have no idea why the library filed it under animals. I don't think balloons are animals -- I mean, maybe they count as plants in this book? It's baffling.
I really enjoyed this. I liked the tone and the voice, and the illustrations with the little details, and the way the girl leaves in a balloon and we see her on the last page all grown up. It was exactly what I wanted.
I have no idea why the library filed it under animals. I don't think balloons are animals -- I mean, maybe they count as plants in this book? It's baffling.
June 28, 2017
This is one of our favorite books to read to our kids ages 3 and 5. It's such a fun story with a fantastic voice that makes anyone who reads it have fun while reading to children! It is our go-to birthday party gift for my children's friends.
May 18, 2019
I wasn't sure what to make of Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm until I read a review that referenced the authors "other work in tall tales". That it is: a fun, bright, imaginative tall tale full of fantasy and wonder. Mark Buehner is one of my favorite illustrators.
December 23, 2018
Literally gave me goosebumps. Great for inferencing, predicting, writing prompts. One of my favorites.
April 15, 2020
This is one of my favorite children's book.
July 13, 2020
Imaginative, colorful, fun.
July 27, 2020
The kids tried to guess how he planted the balloons. They really enjoyed this book, they liked the pictures.
January 29, 2021
This was a good, fun story!
May 24, 2021
Cute book. Simple and sweet. Loved the pictures
December 12, 2021
A tall tale about a farmer who grew balloons.
More text than your average picture book.
Told in a very folksy storytelling style.
More text than your average picture book.
Told in a very folksy storytelling style.
January 21, 2022
Read this after showing Kinder how balloons are made.
February 3, 2022
This might be my favorite picture book ever. I love the pictures. I love the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews