In a fit of metafictional worldbuilding, Farmer and four animals march gaily onto blank pages and proceed in steps to build a barn, pour out brown fields (from a bag of “Instant Farm Field”), plant tall cornstalks and haystacks, erect a scarecrow (a princess, thanks to Miss Cow) and finally paint in an evening sky. The five then march back to their bedroom for a snack and a quick bedtime recap of the day’s activities from Chicken, leaving the farm all set to be the background for further stories in the morning. Each composed from several pieces that aren’t always quite attached, Anderson’s loose-jointed cartoon figures labor—or in Farmer’s case goof off and make silly comments—in simple, increasingly full surroundings. Rounded off with a panoramic view of the deserted barnyard with a “Welcome to Story County!” sign posted in the foreground and a cozy final view of Chicken rocking her eggs to sleep, here’s a cheery invitation to children to imagine stories or story stages of their own. (Picture book. 4-6)
