Farming

by Gail Gibbons

The activities and special qualities of farm life throughout the year.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Science, Nature, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1988

About the author

From gailgibbons.com: I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1944. Even as a little child, I was always busy putting books together. Sometimes I would bind them with yarn to hold the pages together. I've always loved drawing and painting. I was also a very curious child. My parents tell me that I was always asking lots and lots of questions.

Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learn about the seasons on a farm in this updated Gail Gibbons book that was originally published in 1988 and updated 21 years later in 2019. It would be fun to compare and contrast the two.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple, of-its-era look at the workings of a diversified small farm. The changing of seasons is presented along with lists and illustrations of all of the chores that must be done around the farm.

Farms such as this were getting rarer and rarer during the book's publication and today are in many cases niche farms only serving small markets. Animals are shown in uncrowded conditions, and the factory farming style that dominates today's marketplaces are not depicted.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We got a themed box of books from the library about Farms and this was one of the books. We all really enjoyed this one. Once again it brought back childhood memories of spending summers on my grandfather's farm. There was so much going on in the pictures my preschoolers were fascinated. And there was a perfect words to pictures ration to make it interesting for children of all ages. We loved seeing the big picture of the barn on every other page and watch how it looked different as the seasons change. It was fun for my kids to see what different kinds of work had to be done at different times of the year. And the small details like the little chipmunk were engaging for my kids as they watched him thru the yearly life cycle. Overall, a very enjoyable book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This updated version of the 1988 informational text is filled with rich colors and simple text as readers are introduced to farm life. Using the lens of the four seasons--spring, summer, fall, and winter, Gibbons shows the same scenes as they change according to the temperatures and weather. She describes and illustrates those changes and then uses panels to showcase the work that must be completed on the farm. There are many chores that require being inside but many others that mean going outside. By the time readers finish this book, they are sure to have renewed appreciation for the work farmers and farm families do. She concludes the book by distinguishing different types of farms and briefly discussing heirloom crops and genetically modified organism seeds and touting the value of buying produce that is grown locally.

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in 1988, this new and updated edition gives a nice overview of farming. Readers learn about farm chores, both inside and outside. Gibbons' clear, colorful illustrations show a family farm as it changes from season to season. The work, and the opportunities for fun, change as well. This is a solid addition to nonfiction collections. If you own the old one now is the time to replace it with this newer version.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book goes over what happens on a farm during each season of the year covering both outside and inside chores. It is nicely done, but might be a bit dated now as it was originally published 30 years ago.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are reading a lot of books on gardening and farming this summer. I found this book on a recommended list and it did not disappoint. It follows the changes of a working farm through the seasons. A fantastic overview of farming for young children.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary level picture book on farms detailing the changes in work and production for each season.

[gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic and a basic beginners book to teach your preschooler/child about how farms work, look, and help us have food.

[Erica Flory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of info

[CC's Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

Long and boring

[Chappyfamily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda a boring way to teach kids about how a farm is run.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gibbons gives a good basic overview of farming in this book written for children from grades K to 3. She shows how farms are used throughout the year, with sections for spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each seasonal section has three parts: an overview page, outside chores, and inside chores. Children can observe that some farm chores are seasonal, but some – like lugging water to the chicken house and milking the cows – take place year round. Children can also learn many farming specific vocabulary words such as “harrowed”, “tedded”, “baled”, and “silo”. The last three pages include some information about six different kinds of farms. The illustrations are functional but also pleasing to look at. Trees, leaves, bricks, cornstalks, animals, and other repetitive objects are drawn individually and not copied and pasted. Children will enjoy looking at the many details in the pictures.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A non-fiction book to talk about all aspects of farming through the seasons. Great to use for vocabulary lessons and strategies using context clues. Very appealing and easy to follow. Recommended for grades 2-4.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

We really enjoy Gail Gibbons books. They are informative with clearly described and labeled images. This one is about chores on a farm in every season. In winter the farm is quiet but there is still work going on....

[Partridge Public]

Gibbons, Gail K-1st

[CFAITC]

An introduction to farming and the work done on a farm throughout the seasons.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Booooooooooring.