Customer Reviews

Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I just read Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm to my little brother who is 6 years old. He got it at the library and had it sitting on the table when it caught my eye. The illustrations are excellent! I am a future art teacher, finishing up my last year of college. We have been looking at different books that could be incorporated into lessons. This book is a must for my class! I love the possibilities that this book gives for stretching a child's imagination and creativity. It's very appealing because of it's colorful images and magical story.

My son (3-1/2 years old) and I love this book. It is absolutely delightful. The colorful illustrations, the hidden images, the story itself...it's wonderful. The text demands to be read outloud and is completely appropriate. We read it several times a week and I look forward to it each time. I highly recommend it!

I love it. My daughters love it. This is the magical world sticking a pin into the real world. The resulting pop is marvelous.
It has a progressive story line that could almost be broken down into chapters. Unlike most young children's literature, this has a protagonist and an antagonist. Think of that! The natural language makes the story feel like a personal conversation.
Many Harry Potter readers will find that it contains the same level of magic and imagination as those books, but at a level meant for small children. In fact, there are many of the same items. There are so many similarities that I tell my 7 year old, who has read the first two of the other books, that it is the story of Harry's uncle back in the 50's. This really adds to the dimension of magic.

This is a story about a farmer named Harvey Potter and a little girl. Now Harvey Potter didn't farm corn, potatoes, or wheat, he farmed balloons. A little girl became friends with Harvey Potter. One night the little girl went and found out Harvey Potters secret. Harvery Potter grew her a balloon so big it carried the little girl off and she started her own balloon farm. I liked the book very much. It had colorfull pictures and if you look hard enough you will find the same animals on each page.

By Natalie

I've read this book out loud to pre-schoolers at library storytimes, to kindergarteners and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders in their classrooms, with great success -- without fail, children love this book, as do I. "Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm" is full of a magical wonder, terrific language for reading out loud, a joyful warm humorous spirit, drama, and a lot of love. The illustrations are pretty wonderful, too.

I was given a copy of this book as a gift from a fellow Balloon Artist! We work with party balloons every day, and what a delight it was to recieve Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm! I have since given copies to other Balloonies around the world and on every occasion they have been as delighted as me. The book is beautifully illustrated...the story magical! I look forward to the day I have a grandchild to read it to so that they will understand the magic of balloons!
Sue Marston-Weston, UK.

Harry Potter's Balloon Farm is an enchanting tale with marvelous pictures. A young girl is fascinated about Mr. Potter's balloons. She secretly spies on him one magical night to see how they are created. The drawings are vibrant and visually entertaining. My kids enjoyed finding the cat, cow, rabbit, chicken, T.Rex, and pig hidden on every page.