Hard Scrabble Harvest

by Dahlov Ipcar

A hard-working farmer engages in an exuberant struggle with mischievous wild and barnyard animals to bring his crops to a worthwhile Thanksgiving harvest

Genres: Picture Books, Thanksgiving, Childrens, Fiction, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Dahlov Ipcar was an American painter, illustrator and author.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gnarly library find. Originally published during the mid-seventies, the illustrations are well . . . just SO SEVENTIES!

I could swear this was the wallpaper in my mom's kitchen circa 1974:



And look at the farmer's funky shirt!



You can just bet there's a disco ball in the barn!

The story itself is great fun. It's told entirely in rhyme, and sprinkled with a good deal of humor. Kids will learn an important farm-to-table lesson about all the work that's required to get a Thanksgiving meal on the table. . . and I'm not talking about how long it takes to bake your Butterball. First, we flash back to the spring. Things don't start out too well for our hip farmer. As he sows his seed, a drooling audience comprised of rabbits, raccoons and crows looks on in anticipation. He might as well be ringing the dinner bell. Soon every possible critter is dining on the crops. What's a farmer to do?

Chickens in the garden
scratching up the row.
Run, farmer, run!
Chase them with a hoe!

Somehow, the farmer and his wife (who looks a little like Cher without the Bob Mackie gowns) manage to gather a decent crop, but there's plenty more backbreaking labor in store.



Canning, making apple cider and putting up animal feed for the winter - the work is never done. FINALLY, the farmer gets to sit down and enjoy the fruits of his labors. But, look out! Here come the freeloading relatives to gobble up all the goodies! Even the wordless end page is funny - the family pets, completely ignoring their filled food bowls, prefer instead to nosh on the pumpkin pie waiting on the kitchen counter.

Enjoy your meal, buddy. Then crank up the Abba and get your groove on, seventies' farmer.
In a few short months you'll be doing it all again.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A farmer and his wife work hard on their crops, but must continually chase away various animals - crows, bunnies, hogs, deer, etc. - intent on eating what they have grown, in this rhyming picture-book from the 1970s. Eventually, the couple manage to put away a bounteous harvest, despite their "hard scrabble," and their family enjoys a delicious Thanksgiving meal together...

Originally published in 1976 as Hard Scrabble Harvest, and then reprinted in paperback as Bring in the Pumpkins , this autumn-themed tale is the first picture-book I have read from Dahlov Ipcar, an author more familiar to me through her works of fantasy for older children. I found it quite fun, enjoying both the rhyming text, and the vintage illustrations, which were vibrantly colorful, and made use of bold, stylized patterns that felt quite folk-art inspired. Recommended to readers who enjoy vintage picture-books, and to picture-book readers seeking somewhat quirky Thanksgiving stories.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations, fun, wry text, a great timepiece.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of the 1970s psychedelic "look," I really enjoyed the artwork in this one. This of-its-era book depicts a farm family and all of the hassles they go through to tend their crops for the end of the year harvest. This involves a lot of chasing of mischievous critters out of the garden.

Veg*n families note: Naturally, I didn't like sentient beings being depicted as just another farm crop: "fatten up the turkey; fatten up the swine." The final pages show a family gathering with roast turkey as the centerpiece. Veg*n families may want to look for a gardening book that more accurately reflects their traditions.

[Regine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, stylized illustrations, especially of the critters that menace a farmer’s crops. I could do without the rhyming verse.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The loveliest book about the battle to grow food when critters abound! Art and words are divinely done.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. My daughter and I didn't want it to end.

[Michelle Farella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life of a farmer

[Ume Hermanski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy poem, sarcastic humour, great art, lovely for Thanksgiving celebrations