Tractor Mac Builds a Barn

Tractor Mac

by Billy Steers

Tractor Mac is used to driving across the fields-after all, what good are wheels if you can't use them? So he's disappointed when Farmer Bill parks him to run a saw mill and he sees that all of the other animals and machines around him are very busy with their chores on the farm. But when Farmer Bill finally unhooks him from the sawmill, Tractor Mac turns to see what work he has done-and he finds out that he helped raise a whole barn!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Juvenile

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

In April 1999, I introduced the first children’s book that I wrote and illustrated, Tractor Mac Arrives at the Farm. Originally published by Golden Books, Tractor Mac Arrives at the Farm tells the story of Sibley the work horse who feels slighted when a “shiny new tractor comes and takes over his chores.” Sibley and Mac overcome their differences and become “the best of friends.” Publisher’s Weekly called it a “bright, spirited read aloud” and after only five months the book was in its second printing.

I have continued on with several more enthralling and likeable Tractor Mac children’s books for boys and girls in the series. Children love the bright, detailed illustrations and absorbing stories, which have become “bedtime favorites.” Subsequent stories include Tractor Mac Learns to Fly followed by Tractor Mac You’re a Winner, Tractor Mac Builds a Barn, Tractor Mac Harvest Time, Tractor Mac Saves Christmas, Tractor Mac Parade’s Best, Tractor Mac Farmer’s Market and Tractor Mac Tune Up. The 10th title in the series, Tractor Mac Farm Days, is a board book developed for the littlest tractor fans and was released in the spring of 2012.

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Week after week the kids I babysit ask upon my arrival for more Tractor Mac books. It's worrisome since we've nearly run out of them! (I'll have to start going back through them all over again and hope they don't realize they're books they've already read.) Some of my favorite things about the Tractor Mac books: the large cast of characters (the two-year-old and I can spend a lot of time on each page naming animals and machines), the storylines that usually have some kind of lesson, and farming life being conveyed in accurate detail even though this is a children's book. And this Tractor Mac book has all of these things. Tractor Mac learns that work can look different (it's not always chugging and scurrying around), and we learn about how a barn gets built. Lucy, another tractor, was a detail that the two-year-old did not miss, asking "who's that?" every time she appeared. He loves tractors, so the more tractor characters the merrier!

[Kristi Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tractor Mac, always buzzing around the farm, finds himself sitting still as he runs the sawmill for Farmer Bill. Mac is upset because everyone is moving about the farm while he sits idle. After weeks of sitting a large crowd arrives on the farm to help raise a new barn with Farmer Bill. Mac soon realizes he has been helping to build the new barn.

The Tractor Mac series of books is filled with colorful, fun illustrations of anthropomorphized farm equipment. The front and back cover of each of the books provides a very detailed illustration and description of Tractor Mac and either one of the pieces of equipment or a relevant object in the story. For this title the cover images includes a barn and Tractor Mac.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son is a huge Tractor Mac fan. In this edition, Mac helps to build a new barn. He struggles a little with the job because instead of being on the go like usual, he’s stuck in just one place. Mac eventually sees the product of his work as the barn is raised and understands that he played a big role. This story is relatable, as many of us have times where we don’t feel useful or otherwise feel out of our element and challenged to do something we don’t like or understand. As always the with the Mac books this one has fun characters and nice illustrations full of detail.

[Jena Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little wordy for a toddler, but she sits through more of it than expected. I chose it from the library because she's super into tractors right now. I like the illustrations and info found in the books... For instance, in this one, there were lots of tools to talk about, community, and tradition (evergreen on the barn roof?)

And by "talk about," I mean muse aloud as I read it for the billionth time, because my daughter is 2 and doesn't care.

[Kristina Hurd · Rating 4 out of 5]

*read with Zekey.

The illustrations are beautiful in the tractor Mac books and Zeke loves all of them!

4 stars - love it. Would recommend for anyone with littles who love animals and farm equipment!

[H.A. Pruitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute story for kids, and it is a good reminder for everyone that it is okay to be still and that just because we aren't doing what we want or what looks like hard work, we can still be doing something that matters.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feels too long and clunky for the target audience.

[Nancy Messina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books was so interesting to see how a tractor could do so much more than pull farm equipment.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

megan fall reading 2016, children's book, picture book, series, tractor mac, farms, animals, tractors, barn, building, first grade, second grade, kindergarten, prek,

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tractor Mac loves all the work he does out in the field for Farmer Bill. But one day, Farmer Bill decides that it's time for a larger space for all his machinery and equipment, and poor old Mac has to sit quietly while everyone else is working hard around him. As it turns out, the tractor has been a very important part of preparing the lumber that is used in that big new barn. Tractor Mac even gets to help raise the walls when all the wooden pieces are joined. Youngsters who live on farms will be thrilled to see parts of their own lives depicted here as in all the books in this series while those who live in the city may learn a thing or two about building and how the community comes together to complete a new project.

[Julia Jasztal · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Mommy's review from 2/5/11)


Another winner! Can't wait to get the rest of Steers' books for Julia! This is a really good one, probably one of my favorites out of the books we've read by Steers so far. I always enjoy reading them as much as Julia likes hearing them!

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

For grades pre-school-2. The strong point for the series is the colorful and expressive illustrations. I think that the tractor will be appealing to youngsters, and his eyes convey his emotions they can relate to.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both of my kids have really enjoyed this series. While the writing isn't necessarily as good as the overall concept, these books are unique and have cute characters.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a very cute one in the series about being useful in ways we don't always know we can be.