Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm [Paperback]

Mark Buehner (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Harvey Potter was a very strange fellow indeed. He was a farmer but not like any farmer you've ever met. He didn't grow corn, okra, or tomatoes. Harvey Potter grew balloons. No one knew exactly how he did it, but with the help of the light of a full moon, one friendly child catches a peek of just how Harvey Potter does it. And keeps some magic for herself.

"This is the best sort of fantasy  imaginative, inventive, and believable. Harvey Potter is a wonder  he's the owner of a genuine U.S. Government Inspected Balloon farm. And Nolen's tale about this man, narrated by the African-American girl who learns balloon-farming magic from him, is equally wondrous.... This title should sail onto every library shelf. May Nolen grow a bumper crop of books." School Library Journal.

"Downright glorious."Publishers Weekly(starred review).

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Harvey Potter has a latex thumb: he grows balloons. The girl who assists him is the only one to learn his secret, and it changes her life. "[Buehner's] expert use of light and shadow makes a day in the fields look downright glorious," said PW in a starred review. Ages 4-up.-- expert use of light and shadow makes a day in the fields look downright glorious," said PW in a starred review. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-This is the best sort of fantasy-imaginative, inventive, and believable. Harvey Potter is a wonder-he's the owner of a genuine U.S. Government Inspected Balloon farm. And Nolen's tale about this man, narrated by the African-American girl who learns balloon-farming magic from him, is equally wondrous. The author's understated, down-home text combines with Buehner's rich, rounded paintings to create a most satisfying whole. Buehner is a master character painter who gives three-dimensional life to the girl, Harvey, and all the wonderful balloons. This title should sail onto every library shelf. May Nolen grow a bumper crop of books.
Kathleen Whalin, Greenwich Country Day School, CT
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 23, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688158455
• ISBN-13: 978-0688158453
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Short Story Collections

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Illustrations are what make this book great, November 11, 1999

By 

J. Asay (stanford, california) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm (Hardcover)

I bought this book for my daughter when she was 18 months old, and although the text was too advanced ,she was captivated by the colorful and creative illustrations. More than a year latter, this is still her favorite book simply because of the illustrations. The reason is that every time you read the book you find something in the pictures that you hadn't seen before. My daughter has had such fun discovering the animals(cow,hen,pig and cat)hidden in every illustration. Mr.Buehner's talent is immense. I give this book as a gift for children, as well as adults. I would also recommend Mr. Buehner's book, "Fanny's Dream" for the illustrations as well as for the wonderful story.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun story complemented by superb illustrations, April 30, 2002

By 

Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm (Hardcover)

Before there was Harry Potter, there was Harvey Potter, gentleman balloon farmer. Jerdine Nolen's story is fun and plays off a child's natural curiosity. The story is great--a little girl spies on the farmer of a balloon farm to figure out exactly how he grows those balloons (and, of course, it turns out that he uses good old-fashioned magic). But what really makes this book a stand-out are Mark Buehner's superb illustrations. Slyly employing a style and upright look that recalls both Grant Wood and Edward Hopper, Buehner turns the volume up by using super-saturated colors--perfect for a book about magic and balloons. There is almost more humor and wonder in the pictures than in the text. I highly recommend this book, especially for budding artists. The pictures are just a joy to gaze upon and enjoy.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for a child's bookshelf!, June 24, 2005

By 

Mom moves fast (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm (Paperback)

Both of my children love this book! What kid doesn't like balloons? Balloons are kind of magical themselves and this book creates a story around that magic. One person in Aug, 99 disagrees with the use of language. It's Southern slang pure and simple. Not offensive! It's fun to use my "southern" (from GA) voice when reading this book to my children and they laugh when I do it.