On the Farm
Dana V. Swartz, Francesca Ferri
Rag Book
(B.E.S. Publishing, Sept. 1, 2004)
This unusually handsome padded cloth book for toddlers is shaped like a small briefcase, complete with carrying handle. It opens at its top from a pair of Velcro tabs, then unzips at its side and bottom, revealing an eight-page cloth book that�s filled with farmyard fun. A pocket on the inside cover contains a small cloth basket, which children can remove, then fill with farm produce that they�ll find on each following page. From the chicken coop comes a fresh white cloth egg that pulls free from a Velcro patch to be placed in the basket. In the orchard, toddlers will find an apple that they pull from a tree, and in the barn they�ll discover a can of cow�s milk. A carrot and flowers can be picked from the garden, and then back in the farmhouse, kids can take the items from their basket, placing some of them in the refrigerator and others on the table. Pictures on every page are rendered in bright, cheerful colors, and the words which parents can read to kids are simple and easy for toddlers to understand. An entertaining added feature is a little door on the outside cover. It opens to reveal a friendly bunny with a basket containing a stuffed cloth carrot. Here�s a lot of fun in a small package. (Ages: Infant�3)