A Family for Old Mill Farm [Hardcover]

Shutta Crum (Author), Niki Daly (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 21, 2007 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A raccoon real estate agent is showing his animal clients—families of finches and foxes, deer and ducks—the woods, fields, and pond of Old Mill Farm. At the same time, a human realtor is trying to find a suitable house for a human family. Cabin on a mountaintop? Vine-smothered cottage? Mobile home on the prairie? None of those will do, and finally the tired realtor suggests one last possibility—a tumbledown property called . . . Old Mill Farm. Lively verse and funny, endearing art transport the reader to an intriguing variety of locations and make this quest both entertaining and satisfying.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–3—An exuberant realtor drags a young couple and their son to a series of possible new homes with catchy, descriptive names. Still, the waves near Breezy Lake Lodge are too splashy, the landscape at Dry River Ranch is too sandy, and the vines around Briarwood Cabin are too thorny. At all of the unsuitable residences the pair, who are expecting another child, implore, "May we see another house, please?" Meanwhile, a raccoon dressed in a long overcoat and bowtie shows off the appealing qualities of a run-down but idyllic farm to the local animals. He invites families of finches, ducks, cats, foxes, and deer to "Raise your babies here." They all agree that the farm is "Perfect." Finally, the real-estate agent takes her clients to see it and they declare, "No other house will do." On the last page, the family—they are now four—stand proudly in front of their refurbished home. The rhyming verse is enhanced by delicately shaded, atmospheric watercolors that aptly contrast the unfriendly settings of the rejected homes with the shady green tranquility of Old Mill Farm. This story does not address the concerns children face when they have to move. However, it does cleverly celebrate the importance of turning an unfamiliar house into a beloved home.—Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA
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Review

"Cleverly celebrate[s] the importance of turning an unfamiliar house into a beloved home." School Library Journal

"Two enthusiastic realtors offer different spins on the same...property as their clients search for the perfect home." Kirkus Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (May 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618428461
• ISBN-13: 978-0618428465
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,128,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!, October 12, 2007

By 

Bonnie Garrison - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Family for Old Mill Farm (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully written, delightful, and heartwarming book with a captivating rhythm that is both fun to read, and to hear. I enjoyed it so much, I'm keeping it at my home to read to my grandchildren when they visit! Thank you to both author and illustrator!
Most sincerely, Bonnie Garrison

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Babies like this, too, October 1, 2007

By 

G. R. Haldeman (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Family for Old Mill Farm (Hardcover)

This is the favorite book of my 15-month-old grandson. He chooses it from his shelf-full of books for reading each day...and sometimes multiple times a day. His father reports that his son seems to love the rhythm of the words read aloud, as well as the pictures of the animals, even though he's too young to understand the meaning of the story, which is delightful for older children.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good good, January 24, 2011

By 

Mike K - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Family for Old Mill Farm (Hardcover)

I gave my 6 year old niece several books for Christmas and this was one of them. It's one of her favorites and she loves the story and the pictures. I'm told by her mother she has read this book a bunch of times.