OUR FARM
By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary
by Maya Gottfried and illustrated by Robert Rahway Zakanitch
The third collaboration from this talented pair (Good Dog, 2005, etc.) presents an assortment of farm animals through short, humorous poems and whimsical paintings that give each animal a distinct personality. The 15 first-person poems are written in varied formats, each suited to that animal’s personality or characteristics. Grandmama Moo is an elderly cow who introduces herself in the first spread, Sesame Seed and Poppy Seed are brother-and-sister ducklings and Clarabell is a wandering goat. Most of the poems are free verse, a few are rhymed and two haikus are well suited to a pair of shy rabbits. Each poem is a nugget that captures the essence of that animal and also offers some pithy comment: Ramsey, the ram, observes, “You don’t look like my other sheep friends.” Zakanitch’s glorious watercolor paintings provide a full-length view or a head shot, with related pencil sketches and the animal’s name interspersed around the margins. The combined effect of subtle poems, striking art and thoughtful design add up to a sharply fresh view of these farm friends. (author’s note) (Picture book/poetry. 3-8)