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The Farmer Books #1
The Farmer and the Clown
Whimsical and touching images tell the story of an unexpected friendship and the revelations it inspires in this moving, wordless picture book from two-time Caldecott Honor medalist Marla Frazee.
A baby clown is separated from his family when he accidentally bounces off their circus train and lands in a lonely farmer’s vast, empty field. The farmer reluctantly rescues the little clown, and over the course of one day together, the two of them make some surprising discoveries about themselves—and about life!
Sweet, funny, and moving, this wordless picture book from a master of the form and the creator of The Boss Baby speaks volumes and will delight story lovers of all ages.
A baby clown is separated from his family when he accidentally bounces off their circus train and lands in a lonely farmer’s vast, empty field. The farmer reluctantly rescues the little clown, and over the course of one day together, the two of them make some surprising discoveries about themselves—and about life!
Sweet, funny, and moving, this wordless picture book from a master of the form and the creator of The Boss Baby speaks volumes and will delight story lovers of all ages.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 23, 2015
7 people are currently reading
1170 people want to read
About the author
Marla Frazee
76 books184 followersMarla Frazee was awarded a Caldecott Honor for All the World and A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever and the Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Picture Book for The Farmer and the Clown. She is the author-illustrator of Roller Coaster, Walk On!, Santa Claus the World’s Number One Toy Expert, The Boss Baby, and Boot & Shoe, as well as the illustrator of many other books including The Seven Silly Eaters, Stars, the NYT bestselling Clementine series, and God Got a Dog. Marla has three grown sons, a Little Free Library in her front yard, and a studio in her back yard under an avocado tree.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 648 reviews
April 10, 2021
I'm at a loss for words on how to review this wordless picture book. It's rare that a book can cause me to get teary eyed, but this one surely does evoke emotion for me.
A hard-working farmer is working in the wheat when I little clown falls off a moving train near by. They become friends and learn about each other. The farmer is sharing and kind to the little clown. He want's to make him happy and comfortable in his home. You get the feeling that the farmer is the type of person that would give you the shirt off his back. It's wonderful. Follow along in the book to see what becomes of this new and unexpected friendship.
The illustrations are really neat and interesting. They're detailed enough to feel realistic. The story is powerful and I loved the little surprise at the end. Children will love this one...
5*****
To see this review and other Wordless Picture Books, please visit www.readrantrockandroll.com
A hard-working farmer is working in the wheat when I little clown falls off a moving train near by. They become friends and learn about each other. The farmer is sharing and kind to the little clown. He want's to make him happy and comfortable in his home. You get the feeling that the farmer is the type of person that would give you the shirt off his back. It's wonderful. Follow along in the book to see what becomes of this new and unexpected friendship.
The illustrations are really neat and interesting. They're detailed enough to feel realistic. The story is powerful and I loved the little surprise at the end. Children will love this one...
5*****
To see this review and other Wordless Picture Books, please visit www.readrantrockandroll.com
November 2, 2018
Now while I do very much and heartily appreciate the main (the entire) wordless storyline of Marla Frazee's The Farmer and the Clown, I am if truth be told simply not all that much (if at all) a fan of the illustrations themselves. For although I am indeed and definitely well pleased that The Farmer and the Clown is not ever overly cluttered with too much superfluous visual details and is thus thankfully also not as potentially confusing and distracting as many other wordless picture books I have read in the past have tended to be (and with this I do in particular mean offerings by David Wiesner, whom many do consider spectacular, but whose wordless illustrations I have generally found so lush and detailed that without accompanying textual explanations, I tend to get majorly lost), from a personal aesthetics point of departure, I must admit that I have found both Marla Frazee's drawings, renderings and the entire colour scheme of The Farmer and the Clown much too drab and visually uninspiring for my own personal artistic tastes, and with especially the farmer also rather appearing a wee bit creepy to and for my eyes with his long and lanky almost tentacle like arms and legs. And considering that in a wordless picture book, it is of course ONLY the illustrations which count, as there are ONLY visual, there are only pictorial renderings featured, if one does not really find these all that visually and aesthetically appealing, this will (or at least can) quite naturally negatively influence and affect reading (viewing) pleasure.
Now certainly there is nothing in any manner remotely problematic with regard to The Farmer and the Clown as a wordless tale in and of itself (and I actually thematically and content-wise have in fact much enjoyed visually following how the farmer and the baby circus clown he has rescued slowly become used to one another and how both learn from the other as well, with the farmer learning to act and behave spontaneously and clown-like in order to amuse and divert his rescued guest and the baby clown happily figuring out how to do farm chores, how to milk cows and work in the fields, even though with the ending of The Farmer and the Clown, I was actually kind of hoping that the farmer and the young clown would remain together, that he would not rejoin the circus when the train returned). However, as much as I have indeed enjoyed the wordless storyline of The Farmer and the Clown from a plot and themes point of departure, I really cannot grant more than a three star rating, as indeed, Marla Frazee's illustrations really and truly are not at all my aesthetic cup of proverbial tea (and I also do believe that my three stars are actually quite generous, as if I were to truly consider the pictures encountered in The Farmer and the Clown as to how much I have visually liked seeing them, I should probably only be rating this with two stars).
Now certainly there is nothing in any manner remotely problematic with regard to The Farmer and the Clown as a wordless tale in and of itself (and I actually thematically and content-wise have in fact much enjoyed visually following how the farmer and the baby circus clown he has rescued slowly become used to one another and how both learn from the other as well, with the farmer learning to act and behave spontaneously and clown-like in order to amuse and divert his rescued guest and the baby clown happily figuring out how to do farm chores, how to milk cows and work in the fields, even though with the ending of The Farmer and the Clown, I was actually kind of hoping that the farmer and the young clown would remain together, that he would not rejoin the circus when the train returned). However, as much as I have indeed enjoyed the wordless storyline of The Farmer and the Clown from a plot and themes point of departure, I really cannot grant more than a three star rating, as indeed, Marla Frazee's illustrations really and truly are not at all my aesthetic cup of proverbial tea (and I also do believe that my three stars are actually quite generous, as if I were to truly consider the pictures encountered in The Farmer and the Clown as to how much I have visually liked seeing them, I should probably only be rating this with two stars).
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February 17, 2021[Book #24 for my grad school Children's Lit class]
December 23, 2016
I really like Frazee's style in general, so it's not that surprising that I LOVE her illustrations in this wordless picturebook. The very first page is probably my favorite:
So simple yet so rich (which, by the way, is true of the whole book)!
I also wanted to share my aha moment, which made me love this book even more. At first, I couldn't get why the little clown was smiling when he fell off the train. Didn't he just got separated from his family? And why did he get sad only when his face paint got washed off? And then it dawned on me: he was actually sad all along and his smile was only painted!
Just like the little clown, the farmer also wore a "mask" at the beginning as he appeared to be grumpy but deep down was a very kind man. For me, this realization added more significance to the fact that by the end the clown and the farmer managed to make each other genuinely happy. They helped each other to take off their masks, so to speak.
P.S. Sorry, if my aha moment seems obvious to you but I felt genuinely happy when I finally got it :)
So simple yet so rich (which, by the way, is true of the whole book)!
I also wanted to share my aha moment, which made me love this book even more. At first, I couldn't get why the little clown was smiling when he fell off the train. Didn't he just got separated from his family? And why did he get sad only when his face paint got washed off? And then it dawned on me: he was actually sad all along and his smile was only painted!
Just like the little clown, the farmer also wore a "mask" at the beginning as he appeared to be grumpy but deep down was a very kind man. For me, this realization added more significance to the fact that by the end the clown and the farmer managed to make each other genuinely happy. They helped each other to take off their masks, so to speak.
P.S. Sorry, if my aha moment seems obvious to you but I felt genuinely happy when I finally got it :)
March 6, 2017
A baby clown falls off a train and is helped by a farmer. Great story about our common humanity...a lesson for both children and adults.
April 1, 2015
Awwww!
The illustrations in this story without words hearken back to maybe the 1950's? They remind me of the original Curious George pictures.
Baby clowns are not scary even though both babies and clowns are terrifying.
Grumpy Amish-looking farmers are also not scary.
And circus trains look like boxes of Animal Crackers cookies.
The fifth star is missing because I was not convinced of Baby Clown's emotions that first night.
Regardless, this book is adorable.
The illustrations in this story without words hearken back to maybe the 1950's? They remind me of the original Curious George pictures.
Baby clowns are not scary even though both babies and clowns are terrifying.
Grumpy Amish-looking farmers are also not scary.
And circus trains look like boxes of Animal Crackers cookies.
The fifth star is missing because I was not convinced of Baby Clown's emotions that first night.
Regardless, this book is adorable.
August 10, 2015
How Marla Frazee managed to make this book endearing rather than creepy is true talent because, let's face it, clowns are creepy. This book, however, will convert even the most persistent of clown-haters.
July 24, 2015
I really loved this. Little clown lost, finds a farmer, they connect, learn from each other, two sad sacks alone who befriend and amuse each other. I especially love the artwork, the muted color, the elongated farmer, the little clown and the train of clowns he needs to be reunited with. Has a little sentimental tug in it. That it is a farmer and a clown (huh?) is part of what makes it sweet and melancholy.
August 30, 2019
A little clown falls off the circus train in this wordless picture-book from artist Marla Frazee, and is taken in by an old, gray farmer. The farmer takes the clown-child home, and takes care of him until the train comes chugging across the prairie a second time, and he can be restored to his family...
As another online reviewer has noted, Frazee accomplishes quite a bit in The Farmer and the Clown, in the sense that she makes clowns, which can sometimes be read as rather creepy, quite endearing here. Her artwork is lovely, capturing the loneliness of the farmer, his surprise and chagrin at his new charge, and his eventual transformation, as a result of the encounter. The visuals are naturally all-important, in a wordless book such as this, and here they succeed in telling a coherent, and quietly engaging tale. Recommended to anyone looking for wordless picture-books, and to all Marla Frazee fans.
As another online reviewer has noted, Frazee accomplishes quite a bit in The Farmer and the Clown, in the sense that she makes clowns, which can sometimes be read as rather creepy, quite endearing here. Her artwork is lovely, capturing the loneliness of the farmer, his surprise and chagrin at his new charge, and his eventual transformation, as a result of the encounter. The visuals are naturally all-important, in a wordless book such as this, and here they succeed in telling a coherent, and quietly engaging tale. Recommended to anyone looking for wordless picture-books, and to all Marla Frazee fans.
November 19, 2018
3.5 STARS I will preface this review by saying I'm not much a fan of clowns. That said, I still found this somewhat charming but not altogether remarkable. It's a sweet little story, I enjoyed how the farmer and the toddler clown grew to enjoy one another's company and learn from one another and I was touched by the ending. (I also chuckled a little at the final page.) I will add that my three-year-old's impression was decidedly less favorable -- he did not even want to read the book and indeed asked me to "take it away" --perhaps he shares his mother's aversion to clowns in general?
October 29, 2016
A charming picture book where an old farmer takes in a young clown that gets separated from his circus caravan. The pictures are minimalist but still manage to convey a range of emotions and setting. The ending is bittersweet - but mostly sweet. :)
December 2, 2015
Lovely pictures tell the story of a little clown who falls off the circus train and is found by a farmer.
At the beginning the little clown is the one trying to cheer up the farmer. After all he is a clown, isn't he? But when his face is washed out he starts feeling sad. Now is the farmer's turn to cheer the clown up, and this will transform his life. A beautiful friendship has born.
But the day arrives when the circus train comes back looking for the lost little clown. Then the farmer is left lonely again. Or is he?
We have enjoyed in the past other beautiful books illustrated by Marla Frazee, like Mem Fox's Harriet, you'll drive wild!, and Mary Ann Hoberman's The seven silly eaters. She is such a talented illustrator!
Age range: 3 to 7 years old
Check out more children's book reviews in my Reviews in Chalk Blog!
At the beginning the little clown is the one trying to cheer up the farmer. After all he is a clown, isn't he? But when his face is washed out he starts feeling sad. Now is the farmer's turn to cheer the clown up, and this will transform his life. A beautiful friendship has born.
But the day arrives when the circus train comes back looking for the lost little clown. Then the farmer is left lonely again. Or is he?
We have enjoyed in the past other beautiful books illustrated by Marla Frazee, like Mem Fox's Harriet, you'll drive wild!, and Mary Ann Hoberman's The seven silly eaters. She is such a talented illustrator!
Age range: 3 to 7 years old
Check out more children's book reviews in my Reviews in Chalk Blog!
December 11, 2014
This is a wordless picture-book that has been been getting so much positive attention that I had to check it out. Honestly, I was a little hesitant because clowns freak me out. Thankfully, instead of being freaked out, I was perfectly charmed. It's such a warm and endearing book. Yep, I even teared up at the end. Who knew that a clown could make me cry and not because I was scared? It was a big day for me. Without sounding too sappy, this is a great example of why and how children's book are wonderful for all ages. Yeah, that was pretty sappy but it's true!
December 28, 2014
I had a lump in my throat when I finished this one. It hits so many of my tender spots: farm out in the country, old farmer, homesickness, reunions. The spread where the farmer tries to cheer up the little clown when he awakes, by dancing and acting silly, right away made me think of my favorite scene in Babe, when the farmer sings and dances for the sick little pig. This is my favorite picture book of the year, and I'm going to have to buy it for myself.
April 4, 2015
Wordless picture book about a young clown who falls/jumps off a moving train in the middle of nowhere and is (luckily for him) taken in by a kindly but apparently mute old farmer until the clown clan returns for him.
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August 6, 2025The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee is a touching, wordless picture book that tells a heartfelt story of friendship, kindness, and compassion. This beautifully illustrated book follows the unexpected friendship between a lonely farmer and a joyful clown who falls from a circus wagon.
Frazee’s expressive artwork tells the entire story without words, using vivid colours, detailed facial expressions, and gentle body language to convey deep emotions and the growing bond between the two characters. The simplicity of the narrative allows readers to interpret the story in their way, making it perfect for children of all ages.
The themes of kindness and empathy shine through as the farmer cares for the clown, and their friendship blossoms despite their differences. The book’s gentle tone and warm illustrations create a comforting and uplifting reading experience.
Ideal for children ages 3–7, The Farmer and the Clown is perfect for read-aloud sessions and for encouraging discussions about friendship, caring for others, and understanding emotions.
Frazee’s expressive artwork tells the entire story without words, using vivid colours, detailed facial expressions, and gentle body language to convey deep emotions and the growing bond between the two characters. The simplicity of the narrative allows readers to interpret the story in their way, making it perfect for children of all ages.
The themes of kindness and empathy shine through as the farmer cares for the clown, and their friendship blossoms despite their differences. The book’s gentle tone and warm illustrations create a comforting and uplifting reading experience.
Ideal for children ages 3–7, The Farmer and the Clown is perfect for read-aloud sessions and for encouraging discussions about friendship, caring for others, and understanding emotions.
November 23, 2018
Second read. I still don't have much to say about it. Something seems to be missing, at least in my opinion. Maybe I'd like it better if I understood why other reviewers see the farmer as 'reluctant' 'grumpy' or 'curmudgeonly.' I see one slanted brow, that's it.
Third read clicked. I saw whole sections that didn't register the other times, like when the farmer danced for the clown, and when the clown milked a cow. Now I realize that it is a great book... don't know how I was missing so much before.
Third read clicked. I saw whole sections that didn't register the other times, like when the farmer danced for the clown, and when the clown milked a cow. Now I realize that it is a great book... don't know how I was missing so much before.
September 22, 2014
I'm not a fan of clowns but it's impossible not to like this touching, whimsical wordless picture book.
December 18, 2014
I would have rated this 4 stars for "love" except, you know, clowns...
to-read-short-stories
June 2, 2015Maybe this will counter the effects of It and make clowns seem less terrifyingly creepy to me?
June 14, 2021
This is a wordless picture book about a farmer who is in his field. When a circus train goes by, a baby clown falls off the back. It is really about two characters who look one way but who are pretty different. We assume the farmer's grumpy and the clown is a little, happy character. In reality, the farmer's very kind and nurturing, and the clown is lost and scared. It shows us that sometimes when we're out in the world, we get a first impression that can be wrong.
This book also focuses on the kids who may not know how to read, but they're visually literate. It's a beautiful way to tell a love story, so unique and unforgettable.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/mar...
This book also focuses on the kids who may not know how to read, but they're visually literate. It's a beautiful way to tell a love story, so unique and unforgettable.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/mar...
April 11, 2025
Read the whole trilogy:
● The Farmer and the Clown
● The Farmer and the Monkey
● The Farmer and the Circus
So precious! Wonderful story told only thru lovely illustrations!
● The Farmer and the Clown
● The Farmer and the Monkey
● The Farmer and the Circus
So precious! Wonderful story told only thru lovely illustrations!
February 29, 2016
Oh how I love this tale of a small clown who falls from the traveling circus train. Landing in a farmer's field, both are curious of each other. As the farmer gently takes care of the clown, he grows to love the ways of this very special being, and likewise, the clown embraces farming and the farmer.
Seamless and wordless, the author creates a magical story of loneliness, of love, and of trust.
The theme is universal, and incredibly rendered. This is a book to give as a present to adults as well as children. As the clown and farmer come together and then depart, they may have bounced into each other's lives, but they will forever be solidly anchored by love.
Seamless and wordless, the author creates a magical story of loneliness, of love, and of trust.
The theme is universal, and incredibly rendered. This is a book to give as a present to adults as well as children. As the clown and farmer come together and then depart, they may have bounced into each other's lives, but they will forever be solidly anchored by love.
November 24, 2014
I have admired Marla Frazee's illustration style for several years now. I really liked the somber, brownish gray back grounds against which the colors really popped. And each of the pages or panels expertly moved the story along. The story in this wordless book was very clearly depicted, so that children can readily see what is going on in each picture and how the story is progressing. The story of friendship between the old farmer and the young clown is universal, and needs no words to share it.
February 9, 2015
I have said it before and I will say it again: I am in awe of authors/illustrators who can convey story and range of emotion in wordless picture books. Frazee is a marvelous story-teller and here, in her brand new book, we're treated to the story of a lonely farmer and what happens when he meets a little lost clown. This picture book is gorgeous, the palette feels appropriately subdued; it's a story full of warmth and a touch of melancholy.
October 27, 2014
In her newest title, The Farmer And The Clown (Beach Lane Books), Marla Frazee, without benefit of words, visualizes a single day of being lost and found for two very different individuals. It is an experience neither of them will forget.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
October 16, 2014
Just when I've slogged through my millionth "elephant gets lost" or "forest animals help a friend" or "this princess has spunk and pizazz" or "I surely really do love you, kissy kissy gag gag" book - I am rewarded with perfection. My choice for Caldecott as well as being the best thing I've seen this year.
February 14, 2015
My six year old niece was furious that there were no words. I was wishing my home was that bare and clean. It is a simple and powerful story told with pictures. I loved it.
March 18, 2016
Beautiful, sweet, and fun.
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February 25, 2018Genre: Realistic Fiction because the characters are not real, but clowns could travel on a train to the circus or wherever they are going. The train could hit a bump or something causing the clown to fall off in a field and be left to stay with the farmer.
Target Audience: Intermediate because the reader has to use their knowledge and thinking skills to interpret and understand the story.
Text to Self: The way in which I felt this related to me is when I moved out of parents house. I was sort of lost, but excited to meet new people just like the clown. I was a little scared at first, but I met people that I trusted to help me find my way, just like the farmer did for the clown.
Text to Text: This book reminds me of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum because Dorothy is trying to find her way home just like the clown is in this book. Dorothy comes across people that help her find her way, just like the farmer did for the clown.
Text to World: We all get lost at some point in our life whether it is physically lost or just lost in life. We all use our resources and seek advice and help from others on how to get back to where we were headed.
Target Audience: Intermediate because the reader has to use their knowledge and thinking skills to interpret and understand the story.
Text to Self: The way in which I felt this related to me is when I moved out of parents house. I was sort of lost, but excited to meet new people just like the clown. I was a little scared at first, but I met people that I trusted to help me find my way, just like the farmer did for the clown.
Text to Text: This book reminds me of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum because Dorothy is trying to find her way home just like the clown is in this book. Dorothy comes across people that help her find her way, just like the farmer did for the clown.
Text to World: We all get lost at some point in our life whether it is physically lost or just lost in life. We all use our resources and seek advice and help from others on how to get back to where we were headed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 648 reviews