Old MacDonald Had a Farm [Paperback]

Holly Berry (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

Holly Berry has taken the best-known version of the nursery song and given it her own unique reinterpretation. In this version, Old MacDonald forms a band, so the animals not only oink, meow, moo, cluck, quack, bow wow, and baa, but they also play musical instruments in one raucous hoedown. Full color.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Berry's picture book debut treats readers to a rollicking good time down on the farm. This spirited rendition of the popular children's song stars Old MacDonald as a kindly, musically inclined father-figure to his animals. The familiar tune is energized by Berry's bordered pencil-and-watercolor compositions, which take up three-quarters of each spread. The remaining quarter-page contains the lyrics, in which the name of each successive creature--and a small drawing of it--and the EIEIO refrain are highlighted in bold, zippy type. Young readers will enjoy the added visual story line as the farmer presents each new animal with an instrument to play in a final foot-, hoof- and paw-stomping jamboree. Berry's warm hues and friendly faces buoy the all-join-in spirit. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1-After Old MacDonald finishes bringing in the crops, he assembles his animals for a harvest hoedown. As each animal is named in a verse of the familiar song, the farmer provides it with a musical instrument. The action culminates in a jamboree that shakes the barn to the rafters. Although not as action-packed as Tracey Campbell Pearson's rendition of the song (Dial, 1984), Berry's illustrations still feature plenty of activity. Children will enjoy tracking the antics of various animals, including a pesky bee and spider, from one double-page spread to the next. The flat perspective in the framed scenes bring to mind old-fashioned quilts. All of the watercolor-and-pencil illustrations exhibit folk-art characteristics. Notes about the song's origin and variations and a simple piano arrangement complete an attractive volume with appeal for young readers and singers.
Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: North-South / Night Sky Books (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558587039
• ISBN-13: 978-1558587038
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,083,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Old MacDonald Had a Farm - The Musical, October 3, 2000

By 

GW (Kent, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Old MacDonald Had a Farm (Paperback)

This beautifully illustrated version of Old MacDonald's farm is a night time favorite for both of my children, ages 4 and 2. Farmer MacDonald reaches into a chest in the barn to progressively equip the animals with musical instruments.

Each page has a new animal receiving an instrument while the others are playing in the background. Each page's text has a picture of the animal being featured. This allows my 2 year old to participate by calling out the animal as well as reading the E-I-E-I-O's. The page after the grand finale shows the farm at night which elicits the response "Night, night farm". The end of the book also includes information on the origins of the "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" song.

I have a fun time reading/singing this book, and the imaginative pictures are fun to look at as well.