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Bob Artley's Book of Farm Chores: As Remembered by a Former Kid
For more than 50 years, beloved artist Bob Artley has delighted us with his distinctive, folksy recording of farm history. In Bob Artley’s world, every moment of farm life--from chores to walking to school--is an opportunity to impart his wisdom and insight into the rural way of life. His wonderful artwork and stories reflect his sense of pride about the country and farm heritage and speak to anyone with a farming background, or to those who yearn for simpler times. Bob Artley’s Book of Farm Chores is a delightful look at the farm chores facing a kid--many of them Artley’s own remembrances. From milking cows to baling hay, Artley presents farm life with just the right amount of whimsy, nostalgia, and wisdom.
96 pages, Paperback
First published December 14, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 8, 2026
I was wandering through my town library, my arms already loaded with a full stack of books, when this one caught my interest. (believe it or not!)
I spent the later years of my childhood deep in the backwoods, on a 10 acre parcel with two ponds, a tinkling spring, and rolling hills where my father began what can only be described as an obsession with birds. If I recall correctly, it began with two peacocks. Soon there were a dozen varieties of ducks, geese, chickens, guinea fowl, quail, turkeys, and eventually a pair of rheas (my father named Dia... I named Gona, my mother was horrified). Then came the Nubian goat and the mini goats, the silver foxes (my father had a license to raise them), and several other species. It was quite a menagerie.
Meanwhile, I visited New York City for the first time at one point in this era of my youth and returned home absolutely full-on depressed that there were kids growing up in the city with all of the fantastic trappings thereof and here I was surrounded by a beautiful yard, sure, but having to be careful to watch my step.
After reading this book, I am especially grateful as I look back and consider that never once was I asked to feed the chickens or gather the eggs or really have anything to do with the "livestock" out back aside from watching with a sort of distracted resignation on occasion.
I knew I was glad I didn't live on a farm. I had no idea there were so many reasons to be glad I didn't live on a farm. Holy cow.
What an interesting book though, and the aptly named Mr. Artley certainly can capture expressions of both animals and people impressively well. I find it interesting that this book caught my eye just after I finished reading High, Wide, and Lonesome. Both books illustrate life without indoor plumbing or electricity and remind me of how grateful I am to have been born in an era where both are readily available. Mr. Artley shares every facet of life on the farm, including forking manure, climbing into a silo (NO. Just. NO.), and cleaning the privy and swapping out the Sears catalog.
I spent the later years of my childhood deep in the backwoods, on a 10 acre parcel with two ponds, a tinkling spring, and rolling hills where my father began what can only be described as an obsession with birds. If I recall correctly, it began with two peacocks. Soon there were a dozen varieties of ducks, geese, chickens, guinea fowl, quail, turkeys, and eventually a pair of rheas (my father named Dia... I named Gona, my mother was horrified). Then came the Nubian goat and the mini goats, the silver foxes (my father had a license to raise them), and several other species. It was quite a menagerie.
Meanwhile, I visited New York City for the first time at one point in this era of my youth and returned home absolutely full-on depressed that there were kids growing up in the city with all of the fantastic trappings thereof and here I was surrounded by a beautiful yard, sure, but having to be careful to watch my step.
After reading this book, I am especially grateful as I look back and consider that never once was I asked to feed the chickens or gather the eggs or really have anything to do with the "livestock" out back aside from watching with a sort of distracted resignation on occasion.
I knew I was glad I didn't live on a farm. I had no idea there were so many reasons to be glad I didn't live on a farm. Holy cow.
What an interesting book though, and the aptly named Mr. Artley certainly can capture expressions of both animals and people impressively well. I find it interesting that this book caught my eye just after I finished reading High, Wide, and Lonesome. Both books illustrate life without indoor plumbing or electricity and remind me of how grateful I am to have been born in an era where both are readily available. Mr. Artley shares every facet of life on the farm, including forking manure, climbing into a silo (NO. Just. NO.), and cleaning the privy and swapping out the Sears catalog.
July 30, 2021
This is a delightful book of chores on the farm in the old days. The cartoon illustrations make it even better. It is a quick read , well worth the time.
February 12, 2026
Bob Artley's Book of Farm Chores is a very good, well-illustrated work about all the positives and unpleasantness involved in farm chores. He covers them very thoroughly, and it's an excellent introduction of the huge amount of work the average farm boy was required to do in the early 1900s. I've read several Bob Artley books, and this is one of the better ones. This would be a good book for an older child.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews