From Publishers Weekly
Peterson assumes the likable voice of her husband, Gary, fashioning a folksy, lyrical portrait of the farm his great-grandfather started in the 1890s. "I grew up in the middle of the century in the middle of America on this middle-sized, Midwestern farm," says the conversational farmer. Throughout, the text emphasizes the many constants over decades that concurrently brought major developments. Visually, too, this warm volume is a pleasing mixture of old and new: Upitis's (who collaborated with Peterson on Horsepower) informal, contemporary shots of modern life are cogently paired with flashbacks, provided by sepia-toned photographs from family albums (e.g., Grandpa's tractor and Gary's share a spread, with a caption that contrasts the acre a day Grandpa could plow with the 25 acres his grandson plows today). Upitis's photos, taken over a period of a decade or so, allow youngsters to see Gary's children grow up and reinforce the sense of the farm's continuity. Peterson's theme is as clear as the Wisconsin sky in Upitis's photographs: though farming techniques and machinery, household appliances and fashions have changed radically in a century, the Petersons still catch fish in the same lake, all hands still pitch in to help birth a calf and, after the annual planting in the same plot of land, the corn "still reaches for the sun and whispers in the wind." Perhaps most valuable is the silent underscoring of the immeasurable rewards of strong family bonds and the fruits of hard work?a message worth carrying into the next century. Ages 7-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4-A look at a Wisconsin dairy farm owned by the same family for four generations. The current owner tells the story and weaves family history into the descriptions of early day operations. While the author details the many changes that have taken place in the past century, readers are also reminded that many things remain the same. Vintage sepia photos of the farm and Peterson's grandparents as well as good-quality, full-color contemporary photos enhance the text. Interesting captions add even more information. The author's respect for the history of the place and her knowledge of her subject is evident. This title is definitely quality-checked and deserves serious consideration.
Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KSCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
