EIEIO: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm

by Judy Sierra, Matthew Myers (Illustrator)

The Little Red Hen gives old MacDonald some pointers on composting — and a legendary farm is born — in this rhyming, rollicking read-aloud.

Once upon a time, Old MacDonald didn’t have a farm. He just had a yard — a yard he didn’t want to mow. But under the direction of the wise (and ecologically sensitive) Little Red Hen, Mac learns to look at the environment in a very different way, and whole new worlds start to bloom with the help of some mud, garbage, horse poop, and worms! Judy Sierra’s spirited verse, paired with Matthew Myers’s exuberant illustrations, yields a fresh take on a children’s classic, complete with raised-bed gardens and an organic farmers’ market—making this a perfect story for armchair gardeners and devoted locavores of all sizes.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Gardening

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 25, 2014

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting that the farmer works harder now than he did on his lawn, but it's worth it, feels better, because he's productive, growing produce instead of boring grass. And the neighbors realistically first protested, and then, perhaps less realistically, learned that a farm in the neighborhood is a good thing despite a little mud and a little stink.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old MacDonald decides to plant a garden instead of a lawn, and much hilarity ensues.

I LOVED this tale of suburban farming, and so did my husband - a suburban farmer.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hippies of the world, rejoice! Judy Sierra (an Oregon native, of course) has written a book about getting rid of the lawn and putting in an urban farm! And it's set to a familiar song! And it has a sense of humor!

Old MacDonald did not actually buy a farm, folks! He actually started out in the 'burbs.



But mowing is so boring, so he he got a goat to do that job for him.



Then, he got on the internets and bought a chicken.



Now, there's not any real explanation for why he got a chicken, other than "the plot began to thicken," but really, who doesn't want a chicken? Or three?



Also, most people start with chicks, but apparently, Old MacDonald didn't want to wait a couple of months for her to grow up. And I see this chicken, with her qualifications and resources, as a bit of a Mary Poppins figure.



Of course, haters gotta hate and all that, so the neighbors aren't exactly happy about these changes at Old MacDonald's (except that cute little girl in front, who's very progressive for this 'hood).



But if they thought MUD was bad, the compost and horse manure that Old MacDonald introduces next is really going to get their goat. I'll let you discover those wonderful illustrations for yourself.

Then, look, super-cute worms for the compost pile!



I'll also skip the bit where Old MacDonald and his growing band of supporters installs raised bed and plants a lovely variety of fruits, vegetables, etc. Let's go straight to the pay-off where all the neighbors are happy to buy organic produce from Old MacDonald's horse-drawn food cart.



This book is so delightfully earthy-crunchy west coast, I can hardly stand it.

By the way, this is my front yard, about 9 months after buying a house that had a beautiful, immaculate lawn:

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2* art
2* story

An odd one. Squirt was totally impressed by the horse poo, though. That's all he cared about. "Where's the poo?" Oh, and he loves lawnmowers, so he was sad when the book wasn't about mowing the lawn anymore. Obviously I'm not raising him right. He also loves to pretend to saw trees down. *cringes*

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

E-I-E-I-O_ how old MacDonald got his farm by Sierra_ Judy
Listened to this story. Story of how Mac got his farm. Love how this is the perfect story for starting youngsters into gardening.
Mac didn't want to mow his lawn. He's tired of doing that....he got a goat who would nibble at the edges then he'd eat the hedges.
He then got a chicken, she told him how to put newspaper, shirt, water from rain and he had mud then. The neighbors protested, they didn't like the changes.
Garbage will make things better as they layered the kitchen waste and he continued to get more animals.
Compost it came to be and he got seeds, and before he knew it he had a garden that was growing food.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judy Sierra has done it again. She is a master of the marriage of quality content and good fun. If I were a teacher on a deserted island and could only have one author's books with me, it would be Judy Sierra. In fact, this book could save our deserted-island lives because it has complete instructions on how to create a working farm in your own backyard.

I can't wait to teach with EIEIO How Old MacDonald Got his Farm. One of my obsessions is making sure kids know where food comes from. Another is making sure they know about the cycle of life. This book covers seed germination, manure, vermiculture, animal husbandry...with a blend of colorful art, adorable animals and a splash of mud-spattered humor on every page. When we are done reading and teaching this book, we will never think of the song as just a song again. We'll think of Old MacDonald cultivating fun in his back yard every time we sing it.

I'm seriously motivated to buy a vacant lot and start digging.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect, but this was really good. Too bad I didn't know about it during the Summer Reading science theme. This is a great way to teach a bit about fertilizing, growing stuff. Lots of humorous things throughout, most in tiny details that are best in a lap-read or read-alone. I think the school-age crowd will get that humor the most. But still worth a try for preschool ST. One whole star is for the humor alone.

4/29/15 I knew that some of the concepts might be over their heads, but I don't think it was too early to introduce concepts of growing things. Used this in my Farm theme and led into my Old MacDonald Literacy Moment pretty well. They seemed to like the pictures. Lots to feast from there. :-)

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fed up with mowing his large backyard lawn, Old MacDonald decides to make some changes and is able to do so with the help of a very smart hen. As the neighbors look on with disdain, he turns that green space into a productive garden, complete with goat, horse, and yummy vegetables. The rhyming text and acrylic and oil illustrations add considerably to the pleasures of reading this one. My favorite illustration is the last one featuring a proud farmer and his red hen surveying the well-tended plots of fruits, flowers, and vegetables that surround them. if this is how Old MacDonald got his farm, several of us might want to consider following his lead.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute new kid's picture book for 2014, this one tells the tale of how Old MacDonald came to be a farmer in the first place. The story rhymes and tells of how Old MacDonald was just a guy with a house...and a lawn that he was tired of mowing. The tale includes the word "poo", which was a big hit with my 4 year old. My son did comment on the illustrations though that he thought that Old MacDonald didn't look human.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting tale about how old McDonald got his farm! I loved like absolutely loved the artwork. I just wish I could follow the rhythmic pattern because it was kind of difficult.

[Nikole Benfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: E-I-E-I-O
Author: Judy Sierra
Illustrator: Matthew Myers
Genre:Nursery Rhyme/ Mother Goose
Theme(s): Animals, Rhyming, Nursery Rhyme, Gardening
Opening line/sentence:
Old Macdonald had a house,
E-I-E-I-O!
Around the house there was a yard….
Brief Book Summary:
The story follows Old MacDonald as he decides to build a farm in his yard because he is tired of mowing his lawn. He begins by getting a goat to eat the grass, but he just ends up eating his hedges. Then he decides to get a chicken, who ends up being brilliant and helps him build his farm.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Connie Fletcher (Booklist)
A sustainability take on the old nursery rhyme, this humorous go-round places the Little Red Hen in the role of consultant to Old MacDonald. Sierra quickly veers from the original situation here, MacDonald only has a suburban yard. And he s sick of mowing it. So he gets a goat, but the goat just grazes. He goes online to get a chicken and ends up with the world's smartest chicken, the Little Red Hen, who tells him he'll never have to mow again if he just follows her instructions. The yard is covered in cardboard, paper, and, dirt and gets extremely muddy, which leads to a neighborhood protest. When the hen and MacDonald bring in manure to build a worm farm, the protests escalate. At last, though, the once-useless plot of grass has been transformed into a local farm, everyone rejoices, and MacDonald has become a true farmer. Myers acrylic-and-oil illustrations are eye-popping, with wildly exaggerated faces and bodies. A fun twist on an old favorite.
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...

Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices)
At the beginning of this story, told in the familiar pattern of the song, Old MacDonald isn’t a farmer; he’s just tired of mowing grass. He gets a goat, then a chicken when the goat proves a failure. Not the average bird was she, but the smartest hen in history. The chicken soon oversees a transformation. Food scraps tossed into the yard combined with poop from the horse Old MacDonald purchases, along with the effort of worms, create rich composted soil. Soon skeptical neighbors who d been holding protest signs ( This Stinks, Grass Smells Better ) join in on the creation of a huge garden. Well, all but one of them (This Is Still Weird ). But even he is ready to concede as he enjoys some of the garden bounty by story’s end. Illustrations playfully extend the humor in this entertaining offering.
http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both basically summarize the book. They also both agree on the humor and entertaining aspect of the book.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book is perfect for young readers because of its constant repetition and bright colorful pages. The book is great to read along to the original Old Macdonald rhythm and beat. The plot is simple and easy for kids to follow as they probably already know the Old Macdonald nursery rhyme.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
You can make a lesson plan related on crops and planting. Maybe allow the kids to plant seeds and watch them grow. Also have them sing along and clap to the rhythm of Old Macdonald.

[Sunah Chung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old MacDonald didn’t have a farm but a yard, and he did not want to mow. He came up with an idea to purchase a goat to eat grass. He also hired a hen who had a diploma and certificates in agricultural disciplines. The hen ordered Old MacDonald around and told him what he had to do to transform his yard into a farm However, the neighbors protested and claimed that Old MacDonald ruined the environment of the neighbors with the construction and composting which causes lots of rotten smells. At the end of the smelly compost and farming, organic vegetables and fruits were harvested, and the community enjoyed the outcomes.
The author must come up with the idea of this storyline from the nursery rhyme, “Old MacDonald had a farm EIEIO.” In this book, Old MacDonald did not have a farm at first. But he finally has a farm and it gives the nursery rhyme context. However, regarding the story, I disagree with the attitudes of Old MacDonald and the hen who ignore the protest of the neighbors. Growing organic food is an excellent idea for the community, but before that, they should consider their neighbors’ discomfort. They should show some actions to persuade them. The story ends with the satisfaction of the neighbors enjoying organic ingredients, but young readers could misunderstand that it would be forgiven if you meet a goal regardless of the justice of the means. The illustrations are well done, but not exquisite.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Soon the plot began to thicken: Old MacDonald got a chicken. E-I-E-I-O!” While flipping through the storytime book suggestions, this line got me and convinced me to read the rest of the book LOL. Old MacDonald has a home and a yard that needs mowing, so he tries to solve this by adding animals, who end up getting rid of his grass, starting a compost pile, and then eventually starting a farm with home-grown produce. It’s funny for all ages (the adults will appreciate some of the smaller details) but would be better for very-early-elementary-school-aged children, not for toddler storytimes. I particularly liked the portrayal of skeptical neighbors with their signs against change, and seeing how the change can be a good thing – it reminds readers that change can be hard for us at first and can seem bad, but can also lead to good results and improvement. Basically – an Old MacDonald story with composting/home gardens and mentions of change. 1-2 sentences per page that rhyme. Illustrations have color but are more animated film style.

[Danielle Ferro · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. None
2. K-2
3. This is a newer version of the classic Old MacDonald song, but instead it is telling us about how the farm got started. The man is tired of mowing his lawn and tries to bring in animals to make it easier. Old MacDonald is trying to turn his backyard into a garden and by doing so is bringing in different animals based on what the one prior to them did to the lawn.
4. This book is very cute and have nice illustrations. I liked the idea of transforming the old song into a newer one that we can relate to as well. I think it shows the kids creativity and to not be afraid to try new things even if they are out of the ourdinary.
5. I would use this in my future classroom. I think it would make a great lesson on thinking outside of the box and trying new ways of doing things. Also, it ties into the environment and using what you have to build up.

[Missy Matula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took the classic Old MacDonald Had A Farm to the next level. The illustrations were beautiful with its bright and rich colors. The rhyming in the book was great for young readers to hear as they start to recognize words that rhyme. This book had a good message about life on a farm and the work that goes into it. Nothing good comes easy but if you stick to a goal, something great will come out of it. The drawings of the animals and people were unique and fun to see page after page. This book was a fun read!

[Paige]

Old MacDonald had a beautiful yard, but he hates to mow it, so he bought a goat. The whole book goes through all of his struggles that he went through to actually get his farm together. He got a very smart chicken who helped him with his decisions. A huge rain storm came through and ruined everything. He eventually had help from the town to get his garden together. He had a huge feast and will not go hungry.

[Samantha Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good spin on the original tale of Old MacDonald. In suburban districts, many students don't get the experience of a farm, but they might have helped their parents make a small garden in the backyard. Old MacDonald gets help to stop mowing his yard by a plan from his super smart chicken. I think teachers in a suburban district should keep this one handy! Just something new to read while keeping old traditions of nursery rhymes.

[Ang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: Once upon a time, Old MacDonald didn't have a farm. He just had a yard he didn't want to mow. But then, under the direction of the wise (and ecologically sensitive) Little Red Hen, Mac learns to look at the environment in a very different way, and whole new worlds start to bloom. -- inside left jacket flap

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute book!!! My 3-year-old loved it and made us read it twice in one sitting. Each time, we spotted new things. He has a speech delay, but he would point and talk and get all excited! Great read aloud book!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old MacDonald had a farm --- but wait! This is how he got started, and it all happened because he grew tired of mowing his lawn. And that he got a smart hen.
Very cute rhyming story and fun illustrations.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I absolutely love the concept of the book. It's funny and the illustrations are cute. It is a little big wordy for the kids I have for storytime, especially considering the size of my groups, but I feel like it could be good for storytime with pre-K and kindergarten kids.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so surprised with how much I enjoyed this book! It is not your typical Old MacDonald. The story was great, pictures were fun, along with laughter and a lesson - good for kids and an enjoyable read for the grownups.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book in the way that it teaches very young children about composting.
And I really love that independent and smart "Little Red Hen" is the consultant to Old MacDonald on this topic!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is kind of a back story of how Old MacDonald got his farm started. It's very cute.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of fun and funny details in the artwork. Cute city farmer spin on the Old MacDonald nursery rhyme

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terrific book to share about gardening and taking care of the earth.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved the illustrations!

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A silly story about how Old Macdonald built his farm mishap by mishap. Elementary and up for humor. nice take on a classic

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

over their heads
good message
great illustrations
story was a bit long
and a bit less meaningful to young children
didn't quite hit the target

[Kareena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for garden and farm storytime. Don't love the rhyming, but the moral is great. Plus it's really funny.