BOOKS

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

by Gris GRIMLY
illus. by Gris Grimly. 40p. Orchard. Oct. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781338112436.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—Grimly has given young children a new interpretation of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm." The elderly agronomist has a white beard, overalls with a number of patches, a large hat, and very pointy feet. He appears to be well liked by animals, including chickens, ducks, pigs, sheep, a donkey, a cow—and a bear! Of course, there are lots of "E-I-E-I-Os" throughout. All the characters are drawn with great humor and whimsy. The addition of the bear, which Grimly reports is his young son's favorite way to end the song, adds an element of surprise and excitement to the book's conclusion. He also includes photos of his family's Nebraska farm and the musical score.
VERDICT A fun addition to any children's book collection, especially where picture book versions of familiar songs are popular.
Reviewed by Elaine Lesh Morgan, formerly at Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR , Dec 01, 2017

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