A Family for Old Mill Farm

by Shutta Crum, Niki Daly (Illustrator)

A raccoon real estate agent is showing his animal clients—families of finches and foxes, deer and ducks—the woods, fields, and pond of Old Mill Farm. At the same time, a human realtor is trying to find a suitable house for a human family. Cabin on a mountaintop? Vine-smothered cottage? Mobile home on the prairie? None of those will do, and finally the tired realtor suggests one last possibility—a tumbledown property called . . . Old Mill Farm. Lively verse and funny, endearing art transport the reader to an intriguing variety of locations and make this quest both entertaining and satisfying.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 21, 2007

About the author

Shutta Crum is bi-peninsular, spending half the year in Michigan and half the year in Florida. She is the author of three middle-grade novels and fifteen picture books, as well as many poems, magazine articles, and two poetry chapbooks for adults. Her books have made Bank Street College lists as well as state award lists. THUNDER-BOOMER! was an ALA and a Smithsonian Magazine “Notable Book” of the year. WHEN YOU GET HERE (poems for adults) won a gold Royal Palm Literary Award, (FL). She is also the author of two nearly wordless books MINE! and UH-OH! both published by Knopf. MINE! made the Texas 2X2 list and was a Crystal Kite Award winner for the illustrator Patrice Barton. Of MINE! the N. Y. Times said, “a delightful example of the drama and emotion that a nearly wordless book can convey.” In 2005 she was invited to read at the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. She is a retired librarian and now blogs regularly for the Florida Writers Association, writes a bimonthly column for the Fl. State Poetry Association magazine Of Poets & Poetry, and leads the Friday Follies writing group. In addition, she writes and publishes THE WORDSMITH’S PLAYGROUND, a monthly newsletter for writers. For more info: www.shutta.com

Reviews

[Laura Heller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I'm a nature fiend/friend I enjoyed this book. Also, it is a rhyming story, fairly sing-song with some repetition that might energize the kids at storytime. Two realtors are describing homes: a human realtor leading a human family from one location to another, but no home seems to be ideal for the family. Another realtor, a raccoon, is showcasing Old Mill Farm to duck families, rabbit families, etc, and they are adore it. Finally, the human realtor shows Old Mill Farm to the human family and they love it, and human and animals live together... "happily ever after."

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book not only because of how heart-warming and warm and fuzzy it was, but because it also talked about diverse climates and different geographical features. In this book, a small family is trying to find a new home to move to, and the mother is about to have her second child. The real-estate agent takes them all over trying to find a house that would suite them, but in between each new place that she shows them, it continuously comes back to Old Mill Farm, a place in the country with everything that the family, and diverse animal families, would need to thrive. At the end of the book, the family chooses to buy the Old Mill Farm, and the ending illustration is one of the family happily smiling in front of their new home with the new baby. I think kids would like this book a lot because it shows them all sorts of new and exciting places, and the illustrations are so fun and neat to look at due to the details and diversity.

[Bailey Carlson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really was not a big fan of the story line in this book but I absolutely loved the illustrations. The grammar use was very poetic which made it difficult for me to read which is more of the reason why it was hard for me to enjoy. The idea how the raccoon was selling old mill farm to animals while a human was trying to sell many different houses to others and finally settled upon the dusty old mill farm was neat. The illustrations in the book were watercolor with a light pencil outline adding detail on every page. I love the color scheme, it was justly fitting for the book.

[Maria Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun picture book with two parallel stories of a human family and many animal families being shown potential houses by a real estate agent or a "real estate" raccoon. Full of beautiful illustrations, well done rhyming, and excellent end page extras. Fun way to explore the habitats of some familiar animals and the differences in houses in numerous locations across the country.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story, fun to read as much of it is in enjoyable rhyme and the illustrations are great.
While a real estate agent is trying to sell a family a home, a racoon real estate agent is selling animal families space at Old mill Farm. Perfect!

[Boni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely use of language!

[Danica Midlil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the racoon Realtor.

[ReadingWench · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR 3.1

[Erin Mahollitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course this resonated with me: I would love to find a home like Old Mill Farm.
Themes:
Repetition
Prediction (early)

[Ellen L. Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aided by enthusiastic real estate agents (one human and one a raccoon), families are in search of a home. The creatures—finches, ducks, cats, rabbits, foxes, deer, etc.—find Old Mill Farm first, but the human real estate agent takes a little longer to bring the people to the perfect home for them. Beautifully written and illustrated.

[Yolanda Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars for this delightful story about finding a home. Various animal families are invited to Old Mill Farm while a human family follows a realtor around the country searching for just the right spot.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is adorable! I loved the way the story built the idea of a home. We gave this book to our son when we moved to our home and we gave a copy to our realtor as a gift for helping us find our forever home!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A realtor is showing a family different houses they are not interested in, but a raccoon keeps showing animals Old Mill Farm, and they love it. I really, really like the idea of a raccoon as a realtor. This was outstanding.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two realtors finding homes for families. Lovely rhymes and wonderful art!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

AR 3.1

[La Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for just the right home :)

[Kelsie Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was super cute and the illustrations were very good as well. This has been one of my favorite books to read so far.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, wholesome.

[Adam Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like all the different regions it showed for houses.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda cute

[Mary Fletcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

My kids and I usually enjoy repetitive books, but this did not hold our attention.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

36 months - cute and enjoyed it.