Our Animal Friends At Maple Hill Farm by Alice Provensen, Martin Provensen
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.05 You Save: $3.94 (44%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.90 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Our Animal Friends At Maple Hill Farm
Book Review: A funny, realistic view of animals living on the farm with humans
Summary: 5 Stars
My youngest son is now 13, and a relative gave us this book as a gift when he was a baby. At age 2, it became his favorite book, and we would read it before nap time together, laughing at the personalities and foibles of these wonderful animals. Anyone who has lived with animals will recognize that the writers have known and loved their animals well, appreciating them for their strengths and adjusting to their faults. No matter how many times I have read this book, I still laugh at the silly sheep who faints when she is shorn, and the dog who loves rocks. As far as one criticism about the dogs who bite children and pee on beds being described as "useless," the writers live on a farm, and animals on a farm that cannot perform some useful, helpful function to offset their weaknesses are indeed a liability, and need to find other homes.
The illustrations are just as charming as the text, and I hope to read this to my grandchildren someday. Bravo for the reprinting!
Book Review: Our family favorite
Summary: 5 Stars
My mom saved the original book for me, and we purchased a new copy (paperback) only after our suitcase containing the original hardback was stolen (!) Our girls (ages 3 and 7) adore this book - and so do we.
The book tells about the different animals on the farm. Over several pages, for example, Mrs. Provensen tell about the four cats who live at Maple Hill farm: Gooseberry, who is a good mother; Eggnog, who is beautiful but not interresting; Willow, who is old; and Max, who is big, likes cottage cheese, but is not very clever with his claws. In a series of drawings, we see what the cats do around the farm. The girls love it - they laugh and giggle and listen intently.
The dogs, horses, sheep, and chickens all get similar treatment. We give this book to friends, as it is off the mainstream 'radar' of good books: we are sure they won't have it, and we are sure their kids will love it as our do.
Book Review: I LOVE THIS BOOK!
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember the very first time I read this book...over 30 years ago. I had my infant son sitting on my lap and we were both delighted by the different animals from the farm. I remember going from laughing to holding back tears. It is so true. Our own animal friends have the same affect...from laughter to tears.
Besides being very entertaining, I find a bit of widsom there that is priceless for dealing with the loss of a pet. It has become a tradition over the years to read from the book at our "pet funerals" and I took the book down from the shelf just for myself after the recent loss of a 16 year old cat.
Like many others here, we've worn out our original copy. Mom made sure each grandchild had a copy in their homes and I've done the same with my own grandchildren. We loved it so much, we've had many pets named after the characters in the book.
Book Review: A Classic Primer for Children
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is classic! A primer for Children on the nature of our relationship to animals, both domestic and wild, and on the cyclic nature of life. The story centers around farm life, and remains a favorite of mine from childhood. It is a favorite of my two children, as well, and provides an inspiring counterpoint to life in the suburbs. Wonderfully layered characters and illustrations bring values such as sharing, compassion, hard work, family and friendship to the fore, while the overall theme of birth and rebirth forms the background.
A very poignant and honest book, sure to evoke an emotional response, and provide many opportunities for important discussions with children. Valuable as a picture book or a read-aloud, and appropriate for most any age or stage of development.
Book Review: my childhood as a book!
Summary: 5 Stars
This was my all-time-favorite book growing up as a child--I literally read it until it was falling apart at the seams. I loved the wry humor of it and they way that it didn't "talk down" to kids, like a lot of other children's books in the seventies (as I remember them, anyway). When my mother and I learned it was going out of print (this was probably the late eighties), my mom bought all the copies she could find, and kept them in her closet to give to the young children her nieces and nephews kept having. And I think there is still the last copy hidded away in that closet for my as-yet-unborn child. I searched for it here on a lark, and I am so happy to see it back in print for a whole other generation to enjoy!! I definitely be buying copies for all the children of my friends!