Farmer Fred never smiled much. “Farmin’ is serious business,” he’d say. “Nothin’ funny about corn.” And so life on his farm was pretty serious. None of the animals laughed or even smiled. But everyone has to laugh sometimes, including Farmer Fed. The animals try everything to get him to smile: dancing by the light of the moon in Farmer Fred’s clothes, singing chickens, sheep disguised in sunglasses and mustaches. Nothing works and finally the animals decide to leave Serious Farm in search of a more cheerful place to chuckle and graze. Will the animals find a livelier home, and will Farmer Fred ever lighten up?
Serious Farm
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3-There's nothing funny about life on Farmer Fred's farm until Edna, the cow, decides that it's time for a change and convinces the other animals to try to get the man to lighten up. Edna climbs onto the fence and crows like a rooster, but Farmer Fred fails to see the humor. When the pigs bark like dogs, he finds it "more weird than funny." The animals dress up in his clothes and dance, but he doesn't even crack a smile. Discouraged, the creatures pack up one night and leave home. After searching high and low, the farmer finds them in the woods and has a serious chat with them about how friends and family solve problems and take care of one another. However, after giving the animals a talking to, he chortles under his breath at the notion of "Cows and chickens runnin' wild in the woods." The understated tone of the text is supported perfectly by the humorous ink-and-watercolor illustrations, from the serious countenance of Farmer Fred, mirrored in the animals' faces to their antics to his ever-so-slight smile. The author/illustrator dares his audience not to smile, but he can't be taken too seriously.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"Egan's deadpan voice delivers maximum comic value, and his muted watercolors convey the animals' combination of shyness and hilarity." Publishers Weekly, Starred
"Egan's offbeat, understated humor is used to good effect in the highly amusing text and art, and it's the skillful interplay between the two that makes this book so darn funny." Horn Book, Starred
"The chunky figures of both Farmer Fred and the animals...seem to invite the reader to mimic the expressions... Even the colors--teals, emeralds, brickish reds and clay pinks--seem serious." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The understated tone of the text is supported perfectly by the humorous ink-and-watercolor illustrations..." School Library Journal
Egan is a pro at conveying important life lessons with a light, comic touch; his emphasis here on talking out and respecting differences seems especially apropos in today's world. A welcome blend of depth and humor, no kiddin'.
The Five Owls, Starred
"Egan's offbeat, understated humor is used to good effect in the highly amusing text and art, and it's the skillful interplay between the two that makes this book so darn funny." Horn Book, Starred
"The chunky figures of both Farmer Fred and the animals...seem to invite the reader to mimic the expressions... Even the colors--teals, emeralds, brickish reds and clay pinks--seem serious." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The understated tone of the text is supported perfectly by the humorous ink-and-watercolor illustrations..." School Library Journal
Egan is a pro at conveying important life lessons with a light, comic touch; his emphasis here on talking out and respecting differences seems especially apropos in today's world. A welcome blend of depth and humor, no kiddin'.
The Five Owls, Starred
Product Details
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More About the Author
Tim Egan is the author and illustrator of several offbeat and humorous tales for children. Born in New Jersey, Tim moved to California to attend the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He still lives in southern California with his wife, Ann, and their two sons.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is not only an offering of great comic satisfaction, but it has an excellent message in it as well - while being serious can be a good thing, it is also a good thing to have some fun ("all work, no play..."). The illustrations are golden and the expressions speak volumes. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who seeks a not so serious look at being serious.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
We just checked this book out from the library and I'm planning on buying it now. It is a very cute book with great illustrations. My 3 year old wants to read it over and over. I would highly recommend it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Thank goodness for Tim Egan and his wit. The animals' expressions when the farmer tells them about "lions" is priceless. I've known a few farmers in my life and many are very serious, so an animal rebellion for levity is truly enjoyable. Too many picture books today bore the adult reader, this book will make you laugh. The cow crowing like a rooster gets my son every time. And nothing is funny about corn.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Silly, Not Funny
I think this is a well-constructed story, and I love the illustrations. I also love the desire of the animals to not have to deal with somebody who is Serious one-hundred percent... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ohioan
very serious!
This book is very cute, and gives my son a chance to practice his "serious" face. The text flows well and the pictures are fun to talk about.
Published 13 months ago by A. Jones
Refreshingly meaty content for a children's book
My husband found this book at a second hand book store when I was pregnant with my now 21 m/o twins. Since Mom and Dad can be, well.. Read more
Published on June 11, 2009 by M & J with twins
Seriously Good
Serious Farm is a seriously good childerns book. The illustrations fantastic and teh story is even better. Read more
Published on November 19, 2006 by Boston Bluesman
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The pigs, the cows, the horses, the chickens, the rabbit, the sheep. All extremely serious. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Farmer Fred New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The pigs, the cows, the horses, the chickens, the rabbit, the sheep. All extremely serious. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Farmer Fred New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
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