Old MacDonald Had a Farm

by Jane Cabrera

Overview

Old MacDonald had a farm, and on that farm he had a whole barnyard of irresistibly cute and uproariously funny animals. With an oink-oink here, and a moo-moo there, the song ends showing the most precious resident of all, a very young MacDonald!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823421411
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	02/15/2008
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Jane Cabrera has written and illustrated numerous picture books that have been published all over the world. She has young children of her own with whom she loves to share nursery songs. She is a graphic designer and artist. Some of her titles for Holiday House includes "Mommy, Carry Me Please!", "Old Mother Hubbard", "Old Macdonald Had A Farm".

Editorial Reviews

Known for her other illustrated nursery rhymes such as "Old Mother Hubbard" and "If You're Happy and You Know It," Cabrera continues the tradition with the well known, child-loved song about a farmer named Old Macdonald. The text itself is traditional, with a few new (to me) verses, including one about Old Macdonald's wife (with a kiss kiss here) and even one about his otherwise unheard of baby. Other than these few alterations, the adaptation sticks to tradition and is focused more upon the illustrations than the story itself. The illustrations are bright, textured acrylic paintings, and though these might not be enough to enthrall the jaded adult who is immune to the story of Old MacDonald, a child reader would likely be attracted to the colorful and simple pictures. This is a worthy illustrated adaptation of a timeless children's nursery rhyme, though it has nothing earth-shakingly new to offer. Reviewer: Carly Reagan

Children's Literature - Carly Reagan

PreS-K- A gray-haired, rosy-cheeked Old MacDonald starts off by introducing his young-looking wife, with "a kiss kiss here, and a kiss kiss there...." Then it's off to the fields, barn, and pond to meet his dog, sheep, horse, hens, goat, ducks, cow, and pig. There is no cumulative refrain until the very end, when after all the animal sounds comes a "Waa waa" that puzzles the animals and readers until a page turn reveals-lo and behold-"Old MacDonald had a baby. Ee-i-ee-i-o!" Cabrer's bright, splotchy illustrations follow the text, with full spreads devoted to each verse. Young children can read along easily enough and can probably add their own verses to the mix. Purchase if there is a need for another version of this classic ditty.-Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

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School Library Journal

Eye-catching illustrations enliven a children's musical classic. A two-page aerial view shows rectangular farm plots of various sizes and colors, before we meet Old MacDonald, with abundant gray curls and rosy cheeks. A perky dog is always at his side. Cabrera's swirls and dabs of paint, besides covering a wide spectrum of colors, also give a three-dimensional appearance to her paintings. These show MacDonald rowing in a boat surrounded by quacking ducks, cradling a lamb while surveying his meadow of sheep, riding a horse, etc. After all the animals have a cacophonous reprise, MacDonald and his wife share one more verse, featuring . . . a baby! Nothing particularly original here, but a bright enticement to the very young to sing along, and learn about the farm animals. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews