Farmer Will [Hardcover]

Jane Cowen-Fletcher (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001 | Age Level: 2 and up

A young farmer brings his toy barnyard to life in Jane Cowen-Fletcher’s idyllic celebration of the innocence and wonder of childhood.


Will loves farm animals. He loves to say, Neigh! Moo! Baa! and Wink! He has a special farmer’s hat and his own little horse, cow, sheep, and pig. His family calls him Farmer Will. The author-illustrator of the best-selling BABY ANGELS brings her gentle focus to a familiar image of childhood — that of a child engaged in imaginary play with favorite toys. Sparely, eloquently told, and illustrated in the soft colors of a country springtime, this book will speak volumes to young children who are devoted to their toys, and who know how to live and play in the world of the imagination.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cowan-Fletcher (Baby Angels) depicts an idyllic interlude of preschooler pretend, filled with giggles and games and the simple joys of larking about. Young Will has four toy animals: Orsey the horse, Dow the cow, Bah the sheep and Wink-Wink the pig. Indoors, they fit snugly inside his straw farmer's hat. But when he takes them outside to the soft green lawn "so they can stretch out," they become life-size friends that can romp and play hide-and-seek (the horse likes to hide behind the scarecrow). When everyone is "played out," Will's animals magically shrink to toy-size again, and join "the happiest little farmer in the whole wide world" in bed for a nap. Gossamer, sunlit pastel drawings in spreads and vignettes complement an unadorned text that exudes authenticity. The author/artist demonstrates her keen understanding of a child's sense of imaginative play, as Will gleefully and determinedly throws his entire body into the act of running and frolicking. As for Will's playmates, they're everything an imaginative child could ask for: roly-poly, bright-eyed, utterly devoted and always poised for adventure. Ages 2-5.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Every morning a preschooler rounds up his toy animals inside his farmer's hat and takes them outside for a day of fun and adventure. Once out-of-doors, his toy animals stretch to become a life-sized horse, cow, sheep, and pig. Will feeds and waters them. Then it's on to games, including "Hide-and-Seek" and "Ring-around-the-Rosy." "Then, when they are all played out and very, very tired," Will gathers his toys up and heads inside for a rest. The final double-page spread shows a peaceful, napping child, "-the happiest little farmer in the whole wide world." Cowen-Fletcher's endearing story will appeal to youngsters ready to embrace a bit of fanciful play. The pastel and colored-pencil illustrations are soft and reassuring and the large scenes make this selection ideal for storytime.
Meghan R. Malone, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; 1st edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763609889
• ISBN-13: 978-0763609887
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure for two-year-olds, June 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Farmer Will (Hardcover)

I loved this book the first time I read it. The story is simple, but magical. The illustrations are beautiful. The book is similar in quality to another of my favorite children's books, "Owl Babies", (also published by Candlewick). After reading the story to my 2 year old son he immediately asked to hear it again. My 5 year old daughter also enjoyed the book, although the story is better suited for younger children.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful imagination, August 11, 2002

By 

W. S. Smith (OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Farmer Will (Hardcover)

I fell in love with this book, as did my son. It truely captures the wonderful imagination of a child and lets adults see into their world with them! The pictures are excellent. I highly reccomend it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book - Our favorite at our house, January 7, 2004

By 

L. Hennessy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Farmer Will (Hardcover)

This is the best book ever. My sister gave this to my son when he was about 2. We read it if not every day, almost every. I don't even have to read now, I just turn the pages and he tells me the story.

It's such a lovely book, how it is written about a boy and his farm animals. A must have in any library.