Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm [Hardcover]

Jerdine Nolen (Author), 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 he didn't farm like my daddy did. He farmed a genuine, U.S. Government Inspected Balloon Farm.

So begins this enchanting original tall tale. Set in the rural south and populated with a truly unforgettable cast of characters--including, if you look very carefully, a rabbit, a Tyrannosaurus rex, a cat, a chicken, a cow, and a pig hidden in each remarkable illustration--this is a book that is filled with wonderful impossibilities and magical imagination. Told in the great tradition of summer nights and front porch yarns, Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm will lift your spirit right off the ground, just as it does Harvey Potter.

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

Everything's coming up balloons in this original tale about Harvey Potter, a "very strange fellow," and his unusual crop. As recounted by a local observer, Potter seems to have a latex thumb and has raised balloons in all sizes and shapes, in colors like "Pleasin' Purple," "Orange-Ray Sun" and "Jelly-Bean Black." Such spectacle naturally piques the curiosity of townsfolk and prompts the female narrator to perform a secret investigation of Harvey's planting methods. Perched in a tree one night, she witnesses a sort of dancing ritual that Harvey performs with a magic "conjure stick," and her life is changed forever. Debut author Nolen's full-bodied text is peppered with shades of a Southern dialect and has the cozy feel of a back porch storytelling session. Her fiercely independent characters add even more pizzazz. Buehner's ( The Adventures of Taxi Dog ) rich acrylics are chock-full of zippy colors. His expert use of light and shadow makes a day in the fields look downright glorious. And the sea of bright balloons growing straight and proud is something to behold. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1994 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.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (April 29, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688078877
• ISBN-13: 978-0688078874
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #444,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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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.