Tractor Mac Farmers' Market

Tractor Mac

by Billy Steers

This favorite Tractor Mac title is now in paperback and with two colorful sticker sheets! Pete and Paul the pigs love food, especially snacks and sweets. But Tractor Mac knows there is a better way to eat, and that it can even be fun, too: buying food from the farmers' market! So Tractor Mac and friends visit the local farmers' market, pick out a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and cook up a big, healthy feast.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Transport, Juvenile

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

In April 1999, I introduced the first children’s book that I wrote and illustrated, Tractor Mac Arrives at the Farm. Originally published by Golden Books, Tractor Mac Arrives at the Farm tells the story of Sibley the work horse who feels slighted when a “shiny new tractor comes and takes over his chores.” Sibley and Mac overcome their differences and become “the best of friends.” Publisher’s Weekly called it a “bright, spirited read aloud” and after only five months the book was in its second printing.

I have continued on with several more enthralling and likeable Tractor Mac children’s books for boys and girls in the series. Children love the bright, detailed illustrations and absorbing stories, which have become “bedtime favorites.” Subsequent stories include Tractor Mac Learns to Fly followed by Tractor Mac You’re a Winner, Tractor Mac Builds a Barn, Tractor Mac Harvest Time, Tractor Mac Saves Christmas, Tractor Mac Parade’s Best, Tractor Mac Farmer’s Market and Tractor Mac Tune Up. The 10th title in the series, Tractor Mac Farm Days, is a board book developed for the littlest tractor fans and was released in the spring of 2012.

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great lesson on eating healthy, farm fresh foods.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cross-posted from Kiss the Book reviewer's personal Goodreads account

Tractor Mac : Farmers' Market by Billy Steers, PICTURE BOOK Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2009 (1st Paperback edition 2018). $6.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When the farm animals find that their food is missing, they discover that Pete and Paul (the pigs) got into the pantry. The next day the farmer takes them to the farmers market (thankfully not to sell them) and they learn about all the healthy fresh foods.

Pigs eat anything - so do goats, so learning about healthy foods? The animals eat what you feed them. The illustrations are fun, and I like the message to eat healthy foods. Inside the front cover is a picture of Farmer Bill and what foods are good for what parts of him. There's a bunch of stickers in the front and back, but nothing to stick them to in the book. Also includes recipes for Sautéed Kale and Basil Pesto (hmm, is this book for kids or adults?)

Lisa Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...

[Mary Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet story! The illustrations are adorable!! Today, I met the author; a very nice man. He personalized, autographed and drew a piggy on the title page for my nephew! I particularly like the emphasis in the book about "eating fresh" and the inclusion of great, healthy recipes that children can have fun helping to make as well as enjoy eating. Mr. Steers told me he consulted a chef when including them. There are recipes for applesauce, blueberry muffins, sautéed kale and basil pesto. On the final page are cute facts for kids.

[Joy Keil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new series to enjoy! We just came across these great books at the library (so might have got a few...).
Love the drawings and the stories are really great. So far seem like good values and fun reads.
3yo and 1.5yo approved :)

[H.A. Pruitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love the Tractor Mac books. The illustrations are wonderfully detailed, and each story has a clear lesson. This particular book teaches kids that nutritious foods are the best foods, and that they help us feel in the best condition.

[Kristina Hurd · Rating 4 out of 5]

*read with Zekey

A cute little story about a country fair/farmers market. Includes cute little recipes as well!

4 stars - love it.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Jenica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
Tractor Mac is a charming story of a tractor and farm animals. In this particular story Tractor Mac and some of the animals find some food missing from the farm. When they look into it, they find that the pigs had stolen all the food! Tractor Mac told the other animals not to worry because they were going to the farmer’s market. While at the farmer’s market they learned what foods are good for you and what is not. The illustrations in the book are colorful and bright and work well with this story.
Response:
This book reminded me of my Grandpa. He was a farmer and had a tractor that looked just like Tractor Mac. My Grandpa passed away in October and this book brought back all kinds of good memories of going to the farmer’s market with my Grandpa. I rated this book with 4 stars because of the message of the book. It shows how fresh food is better than fried foods. I also really enjoyed the illustrations.
Classroom Connection:
I would use this book as a start to a health lesson about vegetables and freshly grown items. I would have the students tell some of their favorite foods and then show the students the food pyramid. I would ask the students if they could come up with a favorite food from each category. I think this will help students realize that they need to eat a well-balanced diet.
Text Complexity:
I was not able to find information about the text complexity. However, I believe this book is at a 1-3rd grade interest level. I think this book could be read by a late second grader into 3rd and 4th grade. This is why I believe this book would be better suited as a read-a-loud book.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I do love that this Tractor Mac story shines a positive light on locally sourced fruits and vegetables, it falls into the typical problematic duality of Good Food and Bad Food without much room for all foods to be allowed at the table. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying fair food and the other foods the pigs raid before heading to the Fair, but they are labeled “junk food” which is problematic language. The pigs are correct in realizing that eating too much of that all at once made them feel poorly but there is no discussion about enjoying those foods in an amount and frequency that doesn’t make you feel icky later. The mantra at the end “eating fresh and mostly green will keep you healthy and keep you lean” is catchy but not accurate for all body types and lifestyles. This book may end up doing more harm than good by having such a narrow focus on what constitutes “healthy” despite the other positives it has about trying a variety of fresh foods prepared in a variety of ways.

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Mommy's review from 1/21/11)


Not one of books we've read by Billy Steers has been less than a five star book. Not one. They're just so cute! Julia really adores them and I can't wait to get the rest of the books he's written!
Steers should be more well-known - I'm surprised his books aren't everywhere but maybe someday it'll happen....

In Tractor Mac: Farmer's Market Mac and his fellow farm animal friends have a mystery to unravel. During the course of the story Mac and his friends manage to teach the farm pigs Pete and Paul (along with the young readers!) all about eating healthy.
Easy to read, fun to read, the reader (and any listeners) can laugh right out loud at certain parts. Definitely a winner!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

When the farm animals find that their food is missing, they discover that Pete and Paul (the pigs) got into the pantry. The next day the farmer takes them to the farmers market (thankfully not to sell them) and they learn about all the healthy fresh foods.

Pigs eat anything - so do goats, so learning about healthy foods? The animals eat what you feed them. The illustrations are fun, and I like the message to eat healthy foods. Inside the front cover is a picture of Farmer Bill and what foods are good for what parts of him. There's a bunch of stickers in the front and back, but nothing to stick them to in the book. Also includes recipes for Sautéed Kale and Basil Pesto (hmm, is this book for kids or adults?)

Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the pigs raid the garbage can on Farmer Bill's farm, the animals and Tractor Mac end up going to the farmers' market to sample the wares and see the sights. Even better, when they return to the farm, they get plenty of yummy leftovers. The story allows readers to realize that not everything is good or healthy to eat. There are four recipes using natural ingredients in the back matter. The endpapers feature an illustration of Farmer Bill alongside lists of foods to eat for each part of the body and a diagram of Tractor Mac's various parts. This is a neat series, and while this title is pretty didactic, I like the idea behind it and the celebration of rural life.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both of my kids are big Tractor Mac fans. In this edition, two pigs on the farm are eating up all of the “junk food”. The other animals teach them about the delicious fresh foods available from local farms at the farmers market. Soon the pigs are delighting in a new feast. The story is cute and we always enjoy the animals and Tractor Mac, but this one doesn’t fit my philosophy towards food perfectly so I rated it a 3 star rather than 4. I liked the inclusion of recipes in the back of the book.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great slice of life storytelling.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is similar to books like "Thomas the Tank Engine". This is a good read aloud for students and informs them of good food choices. Good for elementary students K-3.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series! What a fun and well-illustrated adventure to the farmers' market explained with a youthful approach.