Farmer's Garden: Rhymes for Two Voices

by David L. Harrison

Farmer's dog is a curious dog. He wanders through Farmer's garden greeting each creature, fruit, and vegetable he meets with a question: Butterfly, where have you been? Strawberry, how do you like the garden? Corn, how do you grow? The result is a lyrical conversation in rhyme for two voices.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2000

Reviews

[Laura Salas · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun collection of poems for two voices. Each poem is a conversation between the narrator, Farmer's Dog, and a creature in the Farmer's garden. Each is like a tight little interview. Here's one of my favorites:

Bunny

Bunny, Bunny,
what do you do?

I nibble and chew,
nibble and chew.

What if Farmer
shakes his hoe?

I hippity-hop
and off I go!

They aren't all rhyming poems, but each has a strong meter--great for reciting aloud. They have a nursery rhyme feel to them. It would be cool to divide your class up, assign students to each animal, and then do this book as a Reader's Theater piece. Delightful!

[Ileana Lindner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title:Farmer's Garden: Rhymes for Two
Author: David L. Harrison
Grade: 1st

This literary science treasure helps students realize the characteristics of basic needs of plants and animals by observing a story that takes place on a farm. It is a neat way to see the perspective of different animals and their environment. An example of a basic need of a plant illustrated in the book is that the corn needed water to grow. There are more examples of this relationship of basic needs of plants and animals in a different type of setting.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful book for the very youngest of children, giving them a chance to read poetry about things in the garden as the dog wanders through, asking questions like Redbird, Redbird, Why do you sing? and the other voice: I sing for joy!/It’s spring/It’s spring. Early readers will enjoy reading this in alternating voices for a small performance project. It’s very sweet.

[CFAITC]

Farmer's dog is a curious dog. He wanders through Farmer's garden greeting each creature, fruit, and vegetable he meets with a question.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great partner reading book once you have a child or two who can read. Short poems.