A beautiful documentary of haystacks. The exquisite colored etchings and the informative text bring to life a fascinating aspect of the working farm. "Big landscapes with tiny, precise details, plus the pigs that are a Geisert trademark, will entice readers to linger over this eye-opener and to think about a rural staple usually only glimpsed from the window of a passing car. . . . A timely appreciation of the lowly haystack." -- Kirkus Reviews, pointer
Bonnie Geisert grew up on a farm near Cresbard, South Dakota, and her childhood adventures there inspired many of the events in her Prairie trilogy. Ms.Geisert now lives in a small town in northern Illinois, where she still revels in beautiful prairie winters.
Geisert's colored etchings are always pleasing, and I learned a lot about haystacks - that they can be huge and provide not only food, but shelter for cattle during winter, then food and shelter for pigs.
- this book takes the reader on a cyclic journey through the seasons of a haystack, from the cutting and drying of grass to the stacking and packing of the hay until only a pile of manure remains, poop that ever so helpfully grows new grass for next year's haystack - the wonderful text is paired with melodic, thorough and breathtaking etchings - my favorite illustration is the snow-covered haystack that's protecting a herd of cattle (stinky bliss)
I really enjoy the pictures and information that the book gives for processing hay. It is informational and a lot of facts for children to learn that they probably do not know.