Funny Farm

The illustrations are wonderful and give the reader much fodder to share with the listener. So even though there are not many words, I have found this to be a fun book to discuss with my two year old who seems to love exploring the pictures. Mark Teague is a master at drawing children's books. We are glad we own this edition!

My 6-year-old son & I really enjoy the pictures in this book. They are very vibrant & incredible. The story itself is very short, there's only about 6-7 words every other page. The story tells about Edward the dog visiting his relative's farm for the first time. Edward tries to help out with the chores on the farm but has a few mishaps along the way. This story is cute but the pictures make the whole book worth getting. I'd recommend this book. Children 3-6 should enjoy this book.

If you're looking for a story told through finely-crafted words, you won't find it here. But if you're an art lover, award-winning artist Mark Teague's Funny Farm is rich in color and humor and will delight your senses. Each scene is packed with so many humorous details, that more are discovered each time it is read. The story is about Edward, a bull dog attired in a black suit and red bow tie--obviously from the city--who arrives at Hawthorne Farms. Surprised, he observes cows playing tetherball and pigs swinging on tires roped to tall oaks. He pitches in and helps with the chores, but scene after scene he bumbles through tasks foreign to him. The story shows the family patiently training Edward, while in the background the farm animals tease him and snicker at his mistakes. New to farm life, Edward is unsure of what he's doing, but the pictures show it is okay for him to make mistakes and that it's just part of learning. After a long, exhausting day on the farm, including an old-fashioned barn dance, Edward falls into bed, asleep before the lights are out. If your child likes humor shown in pictures and you'd like to heighten his/her appreciation of art, Funny Farm is an excellent choice. Reviewed by Susan L. Roberts