Take your read alouds to the farm with our picture book picks packed with good farm fun! Go on the prowl in a moonlit farmyard with a very hungry fox, hunt for the perfect pumpkin for a fall potluck with friends and family, train a new watchdog to guard a flock of sheep, and more! Perfect for thrilling and laugh-out-loud storytimes with readers of all ages.
One Fox
A Counting Book Thriller
by Kate Read
One hungry fox with two sly eyes is on the prowl…three plump hens had better watch out! Rich and colorful illustrations plunge the reader into a dramatic and exciting story set in a moonlit farmyard. With something different to count on each page, learning to count from one to ten has never been so thrilling! This surprisingly simple counting book with a gripping tale, great for early education and read-alouds, has a hugely satisfying ending that’s sure to delight generations.
Amara’s Farm
by JaNay Brown-Wood
illustrated by Samara Hardy
Amara is hosting a potluck for friends on her farm, and her snacks won’t be complete without pumpkins. She’s searched and searched, but she’s grown so many plants that she needs help finding them. Where, oh, where could those pumpkins be? Little gardeners will compare, contrast, and hunt for visual clues, exploring the unique characteristics of the apples, cauliflower, eggplant, okra, persimmons, and more that grow there. The first entry in the Where in the Garden? series, Amara’s Farm is perfect for early childhood and elementary education units on agriculture, farming, gardening, and healthy eating.
Stanley the Farmer
by William Bee
From plowing the field, to planting and watering the seeds, to harvesting the wheat—all on his trusty red tractor, big green combine, blue baler, and trailer—Stanley the hamster has a lot to do on his farm. Luckily, his friends Shamus and Little Woo lend a helping hand. And at the end of a day of hard work, Stanley returns home where it’s “Time for supper! Time for a bath! And time for bed!” A simple yet engaging look at how farmers grow and harvest crops, Stanley the Farmer is full of equipment, tools, and vehicles and features bold, brightly colored illustrations with thick black outlines that are perfect for a young audience.
Lana Lynn and the New Watchdog
by Rebecca Van Slyke
illustrated by Anca Sandu
The sheep pasture is in an uproar when they find out a new watchdog is coming to protect the flock, so the intrepid Lana Lynn decides to take training matters into her own hooves. And when a fierce-looking canine emerges from the woods, Lana Lynn jumps right into her efforts. The new “watchdog” doesn’t quite catch on to herding or staying up all night guarding the sheep, but Lana Lynn isn’t deterred. As she continues showing this new “watchdog” the ropes, she gets a creeping suspicion that something isn’t right. And her fellow sheep could be in jeopardy! An ideal read-aloud full of good farm fun!
Three Hens and a Peacock
by Lester L. Laminack
illustrated by Henry Cole
The Tuckers’ farm is a peaceful place where everyone has a job and no one complains. That is, until a hapless peacock falls off the back of a passing truck and stirs things up. Soon, customers are flocking to the farm to see what all the fuss is about. But the hens don’t like the newcomer getting attention while they do all the hard work. When a wise old hound sees the problem, he helps orchestrate a job swap. What follows is the riotous tale of three hens who get in way over their feathered heads, and one very distressed peacock who just can’t figure out how to lay an egg. A comical look at envy, finding your strength, and what happens when we underestimate the value of others’ work.
P. Zonka Lays an Egg
by Julie Paschkis
Extraordinary hen P. Zonka spends her time taking in the beauty around her: the shiny green of the grass, the buttery yellow of the dandelions, the deep blue of the sky. The other hens can’t understand why she never lays eggs like they do―they think she’s just plain lazy. But when P. Zonka finally decides to give egg-laying a try, the other chickens are in for a spectacular surprise! A lovely story, inspired by the Ukrainian tradition of pysanky, about enriching the imagination and appreciating the beauty of the world.