Tractor Dance

by Matt Forrest Esenwine

24 pages, Board Book

Published October 8, 2024

About the author

As a radio broadcaster, Matt spent a good deal of time writing and producing commercials and comedy bits. He also wrote poetry, which was published in various national journals and anthologies including the Donald Hall tribute, "Except for Love" (Encircle, 2019). Little did he know all this short-form writing would lead to his debut picture book, the Kirkus-starred "Flashlight Night" (Astra Young Readers, 2017), which was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the Best Books for Kids 2017 and even showed up on Encyclopedia Brittanica’s list of “11 Children’s Books That Inspire Imagination.”

Matt now has more than a dozen books to his credit including "I Am Today" (POW! Kids Books, 2022), which received the 2023 NH State Literary Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature, and "Once Upon Another Time" (Beaming Books, 2021), co-authored with Charles Ghigna (aka, Father Goose®), a book that ALA’s Booklist called “a necessary addition to picture book collections.”

Meanwhile, Matt's children’s poetry can be found in anthologies like "The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry" and "The Poetry of US," (National Geographic Children’s Books, 2015 & 2018), "Construction People" and "School People" (Wordsong, 2020/2018) and 'Highlights for Children' magazine.

Matt may be an adult, but he refuses to be a grown-up. Feel free to connect with him at https://www.MattForrest.com!

Reviews

[Tonnye Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a board book, Matt has filled this one full of layers. You have farm equipment, animals, lots of dance terminology and a rip-roaring hoedown of a good time. The illustrations are joyful and complete the festive farm mood. This one is perfect for every tractor-loving dancing toddler/preschooler out there! A fabulous addition to preschool and daycare bookshelves. You could have a lot of fun with this one in your classes for littles or story time or anytime at home! Super-fun and full of down-home farm happy goodness on every spread. This book will have your littles boogying down on the farm!

[Lynsaroo · Rating 5 out of 5]

When dusk arrives in the countryside, the 🐸 frogs and 🦗 crickets strike up the band. The farm 🚜 equipment need no invitation after a hard day's work. Each with their own 🎶 moves, they can't help but dance the night away. That is until the 🐓 rooster crows, announcing a new day.

If you have a little who goes wild for tractors, farms, or dancing, this vibrant, rhyming board book checks all the boxes. So playful and fun!

[Kirsten Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A board book with a tractor and other equipment that can be sung will always be a hit with littles! Beautiful illustrations and playful rhyming text follow the tractor and its friends as they host a lively dance party on the farm. Short, sweet, and delightfully silly, it’s a perfect choice for fans of Sandra Boynton and for fans of farm equipment.

[Roxanne Troup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute! Great artwork, fantastic rhyme, and a fresh take on a farm book for littles.

[Laura Salas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun rhyme, joyful dancing, farm vehicles, & vibrant art--I love it! Board books are the perfect holiday gift for babies and toddlers 😉 #boardooks #kidlit #farmequipment

[Mirka Hokkanen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun rhyming read aloud for kids who like tractors and farm equipment.

[Katie Mazeika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book for kids who like farm animals and trucks/machines. The musical rhyme and beautiful illustrations guarantee this will be a book kids will want to hear again and again.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

So adorable! A rhyming board book that combines farm equipment, farm animals, nature and music in a delightful bedtime read-aloud.
“When darkness settles on the farm
and tools are put away . . .
when laughter turns to dreams . . .
frogs and crickets start to play.”