A captivating exploration of how a family gets a farm ready for the snow of winter, Sleep Tight Farm lyrically connects each growing season to the preparations at the very end of the farm year.
Book Details:
Sleep Tight Farm: A Farm Prepares for Winter by Eugenie Doyle
Illustrated by Becca Stadlander
Chronicle Books
Published Aug 2, 2016
Hardcover, 36 pages
Ages 5 - 8
Content Rating: G
Book Description:
A captivating exploration of how a family gets a farm ready for the snow of winter, Sleep Tight Farm lyrically connects each growing season to the preparations at the very end of the farm year. This beautiful and informative book paints a fascinating picture of what winter means to the farm year and to the family that shares its seasons, from spring's new growth, summer's heat, and fall's bounty to winter's well-earned rest. All year long the farm has worked to shelter us, feed us, keep us warm, and now it's time to sleep.
Our Review:
Reviewed by Laura Fabiani & Son
Ever since our kids were young, we would take them to the apple orchard / farm in the autumn for apple picking and to the sugar shack (in the woods) in spring for maple syrup. Because we are city folk, I always found this was a good way to introduce the kids to farm life. But I never thought of what farmers need to do as winter approaches. My son and I loved reading about the family in Sleep Tight Farm who put their farm to sleep.
When the harvesting season is over, the strawberry patch needs to be covered in straw, the raspberry bushes are cut down, bales of hay are put around the beehives to protect them from the wind and the farm equipment is stored in the shed. These are just some of the activities done. We liked how the family worked together, the mom, dad and their two kids.
The children would bid goodnight to the different parts of the farm as they worked to put it to sleep. This creates a great analogy of nature that "sleeps in winter" to reawaken in the spring. There is much to discuss and learn with children in the pages of this book. I learned a few things too! And it makes one appreciate and want to support the local farmers in one's area.
The illustrations work well with the book's topic and for this age range, filling the pages with earth-toned colors, and two-page-spread scenes.
This book is a great teaching tool. It would make a good addition to any home or school library and can be used in the school curriculum to teach young children about science. You can even download a teacher guide with experiments that can be done in class or at home (see link below). Reading about how a farmer protects the farm that is his livelihood and prepares for the next season is well portrayed in Sleep Tight Farm.
Download Teacher Guide
Disclosure: Thanks to Raincoast Books for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
About the Author & Illustrator:
Becca Stadtlander is the illustrator of many children's and young adult publications. She was born and raised in Covington, Kentucky.
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I used to dream of living on a farm when I was a kid and never thought about this part of farming. I'm sure I would have loved the book then (and now)!
ReplyDeleteI remember as a kid visiting the local farm with my dad where he bought milk to make cheese and ricotta.
DeleteThis sounds absolutely lovely and just your few descriptions remind me of preparing our farm for winter. I'll have to look for this one.
ReplyDeleteStacie, I didn't know you had a farm! Yes, I'm sure you'll love this book as it will most probably resonate with you.
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