Customer Reviews

Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary

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This is one of the best children's books I've ever read (and I'm no Spring chicken). The illustrations are exquisite. I love that the designer included the illustrator's sketches. The poems are whimsical and touching. Opening this book always makes me smile.

As an admirer of this author-illustrator team, I thought it couldn't get any better than Good Dog. But Our Farm does. It doesn't get any better than Gottfried's Violet the Pig whose self-image brings a smile whenever I think of it. I have ordered more for children and friends in my life, and recommend it highly.

My kids, ages 4 & 7 squeal with laughter every time we read about JD the Piglet. The artwork and poems remind me of my childhood on an Indiana farm and all the times I tried to commune with the animals, when clearly they weren't too keen on the notion (read Ramses the ram). This book also reminds me that I really need to share first-hand the joy of watching silly piglets and curious in-your-face goat kids with my suburban-reared children.

Not all farm life is tranquil as on Old Macdonald's farm and on the Farm Sanctuary in upstate New York, a sanctuary that "promotes compassionate living through rescue, education and advocacy." Some animals on farms are mistreated and have found a new home in its rolling pastures and farm yard. In this book you will hear many of the animals talk about themselves in verse. They rollick, frolic, shy away from you, tell you how they lay in the sun, shake their tails, or strut around the barnyard as they invite you to get a glimpse into their lives in their new home.

A Flower's Life
by Violet, a pig

My name is Violet, and I am a flower:

See:

My bed is made of grass.
My hooves are planted firmly in the dirt.
I perk up like a daffodil after it rains,
And I smell sweet, like a lily.
(I take a sunbath nearly every day!)

I must be a flower;
Truly.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to roll in the mud.

You'll be delighted to meet the animals as they talk about their lives in their very own creative verse. This charming book will introduce the reader to a wide variety of farm animals and their interesting personalities. You will meet Maya the cow, Mayfly the rooster, J.D. the piglet, Gabriella the bantam chicken, Clarabell the goat, several adorable ducklings, Ramsey the ram, Whisper the turkey, Bonnie the donkey, Violet the pig, Ari and Alicia the baby goats, Whitaker the calf, Diego the duck, Hilda the ewe, and Cece and Barnaby, the rabbits.

The artwork is very appealing and is sure to please the little ones whom, I'm sure, will treat you to many imaginative animal sounds. This book can be simply used to learn about animals in the early grades or, in conjunction with the website, can be used by the more mature student to discuss the more serious issues of animal abuse and/or vegetarianism. In the back of the book is a serious discussion about the sanctuary for adults or older students. There is a web site listed for the sanctuary that promotes awareness, educates the public, and advocates for the animals.

OUR FARM: BY THE ANIMALS OF FARM SANCTUARY pairs Maya Gottfried's fine photos with paintings by Robert Rahway Zakanitch to provide a lovely farm collection perfect for spring. The water-and-ink drawings accompanying each poem are packed with animal personality and lots of fun!

Our Farm is a great children's book. The verse playfully captures the spirit of some very spunky farmyard critters. The watercolor illustrations are truly phenomenal: exquisitely well-executed and full of personality. Reading this treasure, you'll wish you were an animal at the Farm Sanctuary.