From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K?An unusual introduction to the modern workhorse. No glossy photographs or precise drawings here; this tractor is depicted in warm earth tones and fuzzy lines as it goes about its work on a small farm in the Midwest. The straightforward, minimal text describes how the farmer uses the tractor and its attachments to prepare the soil, plant seeds, harvest corn, and haul it to market. The double-page illustrations, done in pastels, pen, and black ink, evoke the vastness of that rich land. A multitude of tiny black dots give the pictures a hazy look of a time when farming was simpler. The machine is seen from all angles and perspectives?even from a bird's-eye view. (But be aware that sharp-eyed youngsters may want to know what happened to its exhaust pipe in the final picture). Children will also find other aspects of rural life here?the changes in the seasons, a pair of robins rearing their young, a faithful dog following the farmer everywhere, and a young boy's delight in nature. A helpful illustrated glossary shows the various pieces of equipment in greater detail. The large illustrations and simple text make this title ideal for story time, as well as for sharing as a lap book. Those who want to know more on the subject may be ready for the more detailed presentation in Claire Llewellyn's Tractors (Dorling Kindersley, 1995).?Virginia Golodetz, St. Michael's College, Winooski, VT
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 4^-6. The cover shows a tractor hauling a load of corn in from the field, the final task of the day for the tractor. The machine isn't a high-tech model, but this isn't a book about factory farming. The various tractor tasks are often set against wide background vistas that also show what animals are doing while the tractor does its work--robins are feeding their young, a barn cat is caring for her kittens. Earthy browns and varieties of green dominate the color scheme, helping to characterize the farm as a place set apart. Mary Harris Veeder
