Grade 5 Up-- An ambitious photo essay which paints a portrait of the modern American farm family. Anderson and Ancona have chosen three families with which to document daily work on a farm and to explore larger questions concerning the future of agriculture: the MacMillans of Massachusetts, inter-generational dairy farmers; the Adamses of Georgia, who are part of a co-op of black farmers; and the Rosmanns of Iowa, grain/hog farmers who are outspoken advocates of farming without pesticides and fertilizers. As the different families are presented, many similarities surface, the most striking of which is the intensity of their work: "There's no stopping our daily routine, ever," observes one of the farmers. Another similarity is the acknowledgement of each family's dependence on elements outside their control: "Everything we do depends on the weather, and nature can be pretty cruel some: times." Insightful visits with each family are conveyed through smooth prose accompanied by beautiful, page-dominating, black-and-white photographs which often tell a deeper tale. A compelling, attractive book that informs and entertains, providing readers with new acquaintances and new understandings. --Lee Bock Pulaski, Brown County Public Libraries, Green Bay, WI
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
A compelling, attractive book that informs and entertains, providing readers with new acquaintances and new understandings.--School Library Journal
See all Editorial Reviews
