Ninja on the Farm

Moby Shinobi #1

by Luke Flowers

In the first book in this fun Level 1 reader series, Moby Shinobi heads to the farm! Moby tries to collect eggs, gather hay, and feed the pigs, but each try ends in a funny mess. Moby wants to help Farmer Bob, but what if his ninja skills aren't right for the job? Then the cows break down the gate-can Moby use his ninja tricks to save the day before the runaway cows ruin the farm? Rhyming text and energetic full-color artwork make this the perfect book for young readers!

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Humor, Comedy, Juvenile, Animals

32 pages, Paperback

Published December 27, 2016

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ninja helping out on a farm! Funny book about modifying your skill-set and how you never should give up trying.

[Kate prefers books to people · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating as an adult:
Art..... not great
Plot.... none
Annoying... very
Worth the money... 100%.

This is a current favorite with my kindergartener who can't quite read yet and his big brother who isn't super confident reading out loud. On the plus side, there are 5 of these books, so when you're tired of hearing one, you can just swap it out. Just be prepared for your kids to act like ninjas for a while.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely more like what I expect* in a young reader book! I mean, I still feel a little weird about ninja being so mainstream when the idea of them was to be covert spies and the like. It's like superheroes having public identities or something!

Anyway, a cute story about a ninja (Moby Shinobi) looking out to help others (again, not really the idea of ninja, but why not, let's run with it) and finding a notice about help wanted at a farm. He doesn't do a good job of it, but they appreciate his energy and keep looking for something he can do well. Finally, he stops some runaway cows from eating all the corn. Mission accomplished! He retires having done... one good thing.

Well, it's a young reader story, so I wouldn't expect anything life-changing. It's a good lesson about not giving up and trying your best, even if maybe your best just shows that something isn't a good fit for you, but something else might be.

Recommended for young ninjas! (Young farmers, maybe less so—I don't know how much they would appreciate ninja on the farm, haha.)

*me coming immediately off a review of a disappointing book (and not just because I couldn't read it)

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Young readers are sure to enjoy this outing of ninja Moby Shinobi. Although he has great ninja skills, they don't seem to help him as he takes on a new job at a farm. At first, it seems as though everything he tries to do goes wrong, and farming isn't his cup of tea. But after he uses some rope to bring back the farmer's runaway cows, he thinks he might just be able to handle it, after all. The use of rhyming text makes the story easy to read and engaging for its intended audience who are just learning to practice their newly-acquired reading skills. The focus on the ninja, though, was lost on me.

[Patrice Sartor · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

I'm a fan of ninjas to start with (I have a ninja tattoo!), and my best friend owns a farm, and I help her out on the farm quite a bit...so I feel destined to enjoy this title. It was cute, approachable, with bright colors and playful drawings. Moby Shinobi (our ninja on the farm) tries a number of various farm chores, but has difficulty transferring his ninja skills to farm life. Will he ever figure it out, complete with lots of age-appropriate rhymes? I smiled a lot reading Moby's adventures, for I experienced similar issues (especially with the pigs!) during my early farm days. Recommended!

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moby Shinobi tries to use his ninja skills to help Farmer Bob, but everything he tries seems to end in disaster. Can he do anything right?

You would think a ninja would be able to do most of these jobs, but not Moby Shinobi. His failures do provides lots of entertainment for readers though. The illustrations are super colorful and the text is done well in a fun rhyme too. If you're looking for a beginning reader to suck a reluctant child into reading, Moby Shinobi just might be the key.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well meaning ninja tries to assist with farm work and has some disastrous results. My son enjoys reading this series and, while the books are familiar to one another, it keeps him reading. Bright, colorful, and shows the need to persevere and use one’s talents.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for emerging readers, especially kiddos who love bad guys, ninjas, and heroes!
Easy to read aloud with the rhymes and sound effects and I’m a big fan of the colorful, detailed illustrations— lots to engage a toddler listening and a kindergartener who can read.

[Concetta Kellough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book written at about a first grade level. I think kids will love the ninja's antics as well as the illustrations.

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love Moby Shinobi. Great books for first grade readers.

[Joy Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

AR 1.5 and 0.5 pts...recommended by a young reader
cute rhyming and has a story

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I like when Moby kept trying his best and always came back. He never gave up. The rhyming words made this a fun and easy book to read.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looks like it would be an easy reader, but the vocab doesn't seem really easy. Still, I think first graders will like it.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Action-packed, with vibrant illustrations and lots of sound effects.

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an adorable bok

[Pamela Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moby has to find his own way to help on the farm.

[Bella Emy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! Kids loved it!

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ninja isn't good at choosing eggs, pitching hay, or feeding hogs. However, he is good at bringing the cows home.

[Teresa Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moby is training to be a ninja and wants to practice his superb ninja skills so he offers his help to Farmer Bob. Unfortunately, ninja skills aren't always practical with chickens and pigs. Moby is feeling a bit discouraged when nothing goes right. But then the cows break loose and he has a chance to save the day. Nice colorful pages, cute story.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moby Shinobi, boy ninja, tries to put his ninja skills to use by helping on the farm, but every attempt ends in disaster! When the cows break loose, however, Moby discovers that he's the best one for the job. This is a sweet, funny story about finding out where your true talents lie. Luke Flowers's illustrations immediately draw the eye, filled with bright colors, expressive characters, and lively action poses. The rhyme scheme is a little awkward at times ("Farm life starts with a rooster's crow./Now to the chicken coop we go."), but the rhymed couplets are still a helpful learning tool for kids who are starting to read on their own for the first time. An appealing choice for young readers who love ninjas!