On Sally Perry's Farm [Library Binding]

Leah Komaiko (Author), Cat Bowman Smith (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996 | Age Level: 5 and up

At Sally Perry's place, everyone helps out as they can, except for one little girl who needs Sally Perry's encouragement to help plant the tomatoes, push the wheelbarrow, and build the horse on this strange farm.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A nifty concept and nimble visual execution makes this effervescent book worth a good look?rather, two looks, as a second reading will probably be required for the full meaning to sink in. A girl joins a group of children happily working at their neighbor Sally Perry's farm, but doubts her own abilities. Through Sally's encouragement, she learns to take risks, think creatively and persist. The farmyard tasks aren't exactly ordinary: transforming junk into a magnificent grape arbor, and chicken, pig, and horse statuary. The farm, however, isn't ordinary either?as the final illustration shows, Sally's agrarian paradise is really an urban garden, tucked within a block of apartment houses. Smith's slightly skewed, garden-bright gouaches sing with energy and optimism. But Komaiko's (Annie Bananie) odd wording ("Ho/ Hon?/ Look who's back!/ ...Who wants to work before that sun leaves?) and strained rhyme scheme may require a little extra digging. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2?Sally Perry invites a multiethnic group of kids to her "farm" and puts them to work, employing a variety of equipment, protective clothing, and rules (" 'One?we have fun. Two?respect my tools' "). Together they tackle some pretty interesting, if not unusual chores, such as creating a wooden horse large enough for them all to ride. Told from the point of view of a shy and insecure newcomer to the group, the narrative shows how the girl bonds with Sally as they undertake a special job-designing and building a house of grapes. The slightly uneven rhyming text requires a couple of read-throughs to recite well but conveys the upbeat mood reflected in the camaraderie of Sally and her youthful gardeners. Bold and bright gouache paintings with a basic simplicity incorporate enough detail to carry the story to the last double-page spread where it is revealed that the woman's farm is behind her city building.?Rita Soltan, Baldwin Public Library, Birmingham, MI
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Library Binding: 1 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Juv); 1st edition (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689800835
• ISBN-13: 978-0689800832
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,235,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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