Little Rabbits' First Farm Book (Little Rabbit Books) - Softcover

Preschool--While the text and color illustrations are charming and will no doubt delight young children, they give a false impression of modern American farms. This is problematic because the book aims to provide an understanding of life beyond urban society, to help children "appreciate how nature affects our everyday lives," and to "develop an affinity with the natural world-." Misleading information includes pigs in a sty (not the case on most hog farms), mallard ducks (wild, not domesticated), a dairy cow with a Hereford bull (beef), and a ram with horns (a rarity on today's farms). Still, the author's intentions are good. Four rabbits introduce various aspects of the farm, sharing the double-page spreads with boxed, simple facts about the makeup of animal families (ram, ewe, lamb) and the products they provide (wool). Wheat and apples are also included. The illustrations show warm and friendly creatures in a realistic folk-art style. However, comparative size is disregarded-the rabbits are nearly as large as the cow. The book's strength is the "Note to Parents," which includes suggestions for using this title to develop vocabulary, verbal and observational skills, and reading readiness. Simple games are suggested to continue the playful learning experience. Unfortunately, the combination of story and facts in sidebars may be too confusing for the intended audience.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

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