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A Farmer's Alphabet
An alphabet book for families that lovingly celebrates traditional rural New England life, all the way from A to Z. “No matter where children live – on a farm, in the suburbs or the city – they will love this handsome book.”― Smithsonian Magazine
Before she became a renowned children’s book illustrator and printmaker, Mary Azarian was a teacher in one of Vermont’s last one-room schoolhouses. In the late 1970s, the state board of education commissioned her to create “a farmer’s alphabet” to provide balance in the classroom and provide rural children with reflections of their own lives. Those woodcuts, in bold, red-and-black, became this book, A Farmer’s Alphabet .
In rustic images that evoke the sights and sounds of daily life on a farm―with its chores, animals, and A is for Apple, being picked fresh from a tree. D is for Dog, asleep in a cozy armchair. J is for the Jump kids make into a hay mound. N is for Neighbor to chat with across a picket fence. Z is for Zinnia flowers and, of course, F is for Farm.
This oversized book, perfect for sharing, represents a side of life rarely seen in children’s books―a realistic view of a working farm as it provides an alphabetical view for children of country life.
Before she became a renowned children’s book illustrator and printmaker, Mary Azarian was a teacher in one of Vermont’s last one-room schoolhouses. In the late 1970s, the state board of education commissioned her to create “a farmer’s alphabet” to provide balance in the classroom and provide rural children with reflections of their own lives. Those woodcuts, in bold, red-and-black, became this book, A Farmer’s Alphabet .
In rustic images that evoke the sights and sounds of daily life on a farm―with its chores, animals, and A is for Apple, being picked fresh from a tree. D is for Dog, asleep in a cozy armchair. J is for the Jump kids make into a hay mound. N is for Neighbor to chat with across a picket fence. Z is for Zinnia flowers and, of course, F is for Farm.
This oversized book, perfect for sharing, represents a side of life rarely seen in children’s books―a realistic view of a working farm as it provides an alphabetical view for children of country life.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
48 people want to read
About the author
Mary Azarian
52 books17 followersMary Azarian has illustrated many books for children, including SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY, which won the Caldecott Medal. Her fine-art woodcuts and stationery are instantly recognizable and beloved by collectors everywhere. Mary Azarian lives in Vermont.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 28, 2019
Mary Azarian had done woodcut art for thirteen years before releasing A Farmer's Alphabet in 1981. She would continue to further her reputation as one of her era's finest children's book illustrators, but A Farmer's Alphabet was already a notable achievement, a loving ode to a slowly vanishing lifestyle. One can almost smell the sweet hay and hear the low hooting of an owl at night, sensations conjured by the images in this book. Mary Azarian proudly introduces us to the wonders all around an American farm.
Animals play a big part on a farm. That's why C is for cow, D for dog, H for horse, L for lamb, O for owl, and T for toad. Produce is also important; some comes from animals and some from the land, the fruit of the farmer's labor to supply the world what it needs. That's why A is for apple, E for eggs, G for garden, M for maple sugar, P for pumpkin, and V for vegetables. But not every moment on the farm is work. I is for icicles hanging from the roof like crystal spikes in winter; J for jump, the thrill of leaping from a high ledge of the barn into a mound of soft hay, alone or with friends; K for kite, flown on windy days across open fields; N for neighbor, the friendships that form the social fabric a farming community depends on. R is for rocker, where a farmer can nap on the porch following hours of work beginning at dawn; S for stove, to cook nourishing meals and heat the kitchen in winter; and Y for yawn, a small concession to how tired the farmer feels after a satisfying day's work. Falling asleep in a warm bed when you're exhausted is one of life's pure pleasures.
Eighteen years after this book, Mary Azarian's woodcuts for Snowflake Bentley won it the 1999 Caldecott Medal as the previous year's most distinguished American picture book. In the year 2000 she released a second alphabet book, this time in full-color woodcuts, titled A Gardener's Alphabet. But even without her later work, Mary Azarian would still have fans for A Farmer's Alphabet, a dignified slideshow of the farming lifestyle that wholesomely teaches the basics of the American language. Even in black and white, the woodcuts are superb. My favorite pages are B, the detailed rendering of the barn; E (for eggs), in particular the minute detail of the hen's feathers; F, the magnificent panorama of the entire farm; H, the two strong, noble horses ready to do whatever is asked of them; N, because of the beautiful zinnias in bloom by the fence as the neighbors converse; O, the owl in flight over its nocturnal kingdom; and W, a winter sledding scene on a steep white hill under bare-armed trees. If this book had a linear narrative, I'd rate it more than two stars. Mary Azarian is a wonderful artist, and we're lucky to have her woodcuts.
Animals play a big part on a farm. That's why C is for cow, D for dog, H for horse, L for lamb, O for owl, and T for toad. Produce is also important; some comes from animals and some from the land, the fruit of the farmer's labor to supply the world what it needs. That's why A is for apple, E for eggs, G for garden, M for maple sugar, P for pumpkin, and V for vegetables. But not every moment on the farm is work. I is for icicles hanging from the roof like crystal spikes in winter; J for jump, the thrill of leaping from a high ledge of the barn into a mound of soft hay, alone or with friends; K for kite, flown on windy days across open fields; N for neighbor, the friendships that form the social fabric a farming community depends on. R is for rocker, where a farmer can nap on the porch following hours of work beginning at dawn; S for stove, to cook nourishing meals and heat the kitchen in winter; and Y for yawn, a small concession to how tired the farmer feels after a satisfying day's work. Falling asleep in a warm bed when you're exhausted is one of life's pure pleasures.
Eighteen years after this book, Mary Azarian's woodcuts for Snowflake Bentley won it the 1999 Caldecott Medal as the previous year's most distinguished American picture book. In the year 2000 she released a second alphabet book, this time in full-color woodcuts, titled A Gardener's Alphabet. But even without her later work, Mary Azarian would still have fans for A Farmer's Alphabet, a dignified slideshow of the farming lifestyle that wholesomely teaches the basics of the American language. Even in black and white, the woodcuts are superb. My favorite pages are B, the detailed rendering of the barn; E (for eggs), in particular the minute detail of the hen's feathers; F, the magnificent panorama of the entire farm; H, the two strong, noble horses ready to do whatever is asked of them; N, because of the beautiful zinnias in bloom by the fence as the neighbors converse; O, the owl in flight over its nocturnal kingdom; and W, a winter sledding scene on a steep white hill under bare-armed trees. If this book had a linear narrative, I'd rate it more than two stars. Mary Azarian is a wonderful artist, and we're lucky to have her woodcuts.
March 24, 2009
This is a gorgeous ABC book of woodcuts depicting life on a farm. Although I love all the pages, I think my favorite is ‘C’ showing a woman milking a Cow with a Cat at her feet and another up in the hayloft. I used to milk a cow named Princess every morning before going to school when I was young.
February 19, 2012
The woodcut illustrations capture the beauty and simplicity of a Vermont farm--at least, the Vermont farm of my imagination. What an elegant yet unsophisticated way to teach a child letters! I felt noticeably calmer after reading it than right before.
August 4, 2008
Love these beautiful stark black woodcuts of farm life, a great addition to my alphabet book collection
December 9, 2021
One of my new favorite alphabet books. I did not know I could love black and white illustrations so much, or that a book with only a word (or two) for each letter could be such enjoyable reading. My kids really liked this one, too.
March 3, 2023
This book, including author's note and font information, is an absolute treasure. I plan to look for her other works. What a delight, visually and the aesthetic which is brought to life by these gorgeous wood cuttings.
August 8, 2020
Great woodcuts for art
February 14, 2013
As always, Azarian has beautiful illustrations, but I was a little disappointed in this book. Perhaps that is because I was expecting a little more prose than just the letter and the word the picture is supposed to illustrate. If you're looking for something that simple, this is a great choice, showing some beautiful pastoral scenes - but around here, I think we prefer 'G is for Goats'.
October 22, 2014
This book is beautiful. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not as sometimes this type of artwork seems sad to me, but the pictures are very positive feeling and seriously good considering they are carved into wood. I'm impressed and plan to buy this for all children that I know. :)
October 27, 2016
I really liked this alphabet book. A lot of the letter examples are what I did growing up. For example, J was for Jump and this picture was of kids jumping off of bales into hay in the barn. For the classroom it would be a good illustration of how different communities have different interests.
May 18, 2010
"No matter where children live – on a farm, in the suburbs or the city – they will love this handsome book."
—Smithsonian Magazine
"A beautiful gift; a treasure to own."
—The Boston Globe
—Smithsonian Magazine
"A beautiful gift; a treasure to own."
—The Boston Globe
October 18, 2011
12 months - great illustrations.
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November 18, 2015A farmers alphabet is a great way to get students to picture a farm.
Students can sing oh McDonald as well as draw their own picture of how they envision their own farm.
Students can sing oh McDonald as well as draw their own picture of how they envision their own farm.
September 13, 2016
Beautifully done block printing artwork
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September 27, 2013A noteworthy picture book depicting an older, agrarian way of life.
April 6, 2014
Gorgeous art, lovely paper.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews