Publishers Weekly
Minor (Look to the Stars) introduces readers to common farm animals, portraying them at close range in watercolor gouache paintings that outshine the narrative. Some entries have little substance ("Roosters crow all day long/ They say cock-a-doodle-doo/ When it's early in the morning/ Will you cock-a-doodle too?") while others mention more interesting tidbits (pigs roll in the mud to stay cool, since they don't sweat, and barn cats like to nap on other animals' backs). Well- tailored to a preschool audience, Minor's large-scale art trades some of the meticulous detail and sophistication of his previous work for lifelike (if idealized) animals that exude personality and a gentle old-fashioned feel. There are splashes of visual humor: illustrating the fact that cows "drink a bathtub full of water" daily is a picture of a cow in a field drinking from a tub while a boy takes a bath. However, the verse's lack of consistent meter ("Lots of baby animals/ live on the farm too/ And guess what--/ They would all love to have/ A visit from you!") may contribute to a bumpy read-aloud. Ages 3–5. (Jan.)
School Library Journal
PreS-K—Listeners are greeted by chirping birds, a mooing cow, and a crowing rooster, and welcomed to the farm by narrator Tom Bodett whose soothing, folksy delivery enhances this charming picture book (Putnam, 2011) written and illustrated by Wendell Minor. The pace is slow enough for listeners to take time to pour over the luminous illustrations and consider the rhyming text that offers fun facts about common farm animals, with a humorous twist. Bodett's voice is especially well-suited to sharing wry insights like, "cows drink a bathtub full of water to produce milk every day, but suppose you tried to take a bath and a cow got in the way?" Bodett seems as surprised as listeners to learn that a content turkey purrs like a cat and that a horse often sleeps standing up. Bodett steers clear of singsong cadence, which is fortunate, as some of the rhymes are a bit awkward. The narration of each page is accompanied by its own quiet but jaunty tune performed by woodwinds and strings. Sounds of the featured animals are also audible. The book concludes with additional bits of trivia about each of the ten highlighted animals. Listeners will enjoy their experience at the farm and want to revisit often.–Constance Dickerson, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, OH
Kirkus Reviews
Inspired by childhood visits to family farms, Minor shares descriptions and facts about different farm animals and their behaviors. The interactive verse playfully engages readers, asking, "When it's early in the morning / Will you cock-a-doodle too?" or, "...suppose you tried to take a bath / And a cow got in your way?" Some of the rhymes and the rhythm are frankly awkward: "Turkeys can be very friendly / Sometimes sitting in your lap / They even purr when they're content / Just like a kitty cat!" Nevertheless, this book begs to be read aloud, individually or with a group. Multiple readings may be in order, as young listeners will want to visit this iconic farm over and over. Rich watercolor-gouache paintings fill each page and evoke a timeless feeling, at once recalling the past but perfectly at home in the present. Every scene is depicted realistically with a just a touch of anthropomorphism for child-friendly appeal. Whimsical facts at the back extend the information offered, and a list of Internet sources includes several farm and farm-sanctuary websites. (Informational picture book. 2-5)
