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The Sheep Go on Strike

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The sheep on the farm are sick of getting sheared -- so they decide to go on strike! Things get heated as the rest of the animals start to take sides, eventually leading to a furry, feathery scuffle. But when they all sit down together, the sheep learn how important their wool is to the farm, and the animals come up with a creative solution to everyone’s problem.

This colorful, rollicking story demonstrates the importance of collaboration and teamwork and can lead to a wonderful conversation about the art of compromise.

34 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

3 people are currently reading
27 people want to read

About the author

Jean-François Dumont

52 books5 followers

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5 stars
14 (9%)
4 stars
39 (27%)
3 stars
54 (38%)
2 stars
34 (23%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Lucia.
503 reviews14 followers
November 8, 2018
Oddly enough, while I'm trying to read this book, a patron is telling me all the wonderful things of Trump and Sessions and how Sessions is just tired. I look at the page and see this line, "This is not going to end well. This is not going to end well at all."

Perhaps for that alone, I love this book. It seems like Karma is speaking to me.
Profile Image for Sydney Rames.
12 reviews1 follower
September 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was illustrated beautifully and and shows aspects of real life in a way a younger child could understand. I like the inclusion of these real world events because it shows children how they have a voice and can stand up for what they believe in.
Profile Image for Barbara.
15k reviews315 followers
October 18, 2014
In the same style with which he told The Chickens Build a Wall and The Geese March in Step, this French author once again tackles social justice through a farm setting. Fed up with being sheared of all their wool and subsequently becoming cold, the sheep mount a rebellion and refuse to do as they're told. Trouble ensues, and all the farm animals, including the dogs and the chickens get involved. Finally, the animals figure out a solution to the problem, and while the sheep still get sheared, they also get some of their wool back. I liked how Zita, the goose from the author's earlier title, makes an appearance here and how obvious the compromise turns out to be.
Profile Image for Nancy.
703 reviews14 followers
December 10, 2023
was disappointed; I thought this was one of the "Sheep in a Jeep" series.

Language is a little advanced for small children but the illustrations are great.
64 reviews
January 25, 2019
A good way to introduce young readers to the concept of striking, compromise and issues that often occur while attempting to right perceived wrong.
Profile Image for Terri.
2,347 reviews45 followers
December 9, 2023
The book is aimed more at the adult reading it than the child being read to. While the pictures are good, the story is just not there for kids...(.in my humble opinion as an adult).
Profile Image for Cheryl.
13k reviews484 followers
March 1, 2017
Complex but hilarious satire for older children and adults. I'm not too sure but that it's scary, too, in how true-to-life it is. And I'm not too sure about the ending. But yeah, details do require a reread, and tots aren't likely to get it....

(Pahrump)
30 reviews3 followers
February 6, 2015
The sheep are tired of being shorn every year and then being cold! They decide they aren't going to cooperate anymore and rebel. The other animals in the farm don't know what to do about it. Some agree with the sheep, but others think that giving wool is the purpose of the sheep on the farm. Eventually, they decide to actually march in protest of shearing. The author gives a detailed description of the protesters' march, and of the brawl that ensues when the other animals attempt to stop the sheep! The pictures are beautifully done in watercolor, and match the story wonderfully. At the end, the other animals come up with a delightful solution to the sheep's problem. This book is a humorous look at the protesting process.
3,035 reviews14 followers
December 12, 2014
This odd little picture book is either a cute little book about farm animals, or a complex allegory about injustice and responses to same, and perhaps about looking for compromise.
It all started with the sheep going on strike over the issue of involuntary shearing. After all, would YOU like to have all of your hair removed and turned into something for someone else's benefit?
The situation goes downhill from there, and chaos results until someone suggests an interesting compromise. I'm not sure the farmer, who is never shown, would agree that this compromise works, but as a story for children, it's cute.
Profile Image for Peacegal.
11.7k reviews102 followers
November 7, 2014
In the tradition of CLICK, CLACK, MOO comes a book about farm animals who organize for better "wages" and a better life.

With corporations rapidly quashing unions, the younger generation may be totally unaware of the concept. This book can bring up a lot of good conversations, including farm animal welfare, what we owe the animals we use, fairness, protests and boycotts, workers' rights, and bargaining for a compromise that helps both workers and the company.
Profile Image for Becky Shaknovich.
355 reviews12 followers
February 3, 2015
I like children's books about labor activism, so this may have gotten an extra star just for the premise. This is not a book for very young children - definitely not for story time. It's nice for older kids to read on their own or with an adult. It could be a good tool for for introducing topics in politics or history in a fun way. Overall, The Sheep Go On Strike is amusing.
223 reviews37 followers
May 6, 2015
Why do sheep have to get sheared? Why don’t horses have to lose their hair or why don’t ducks lose their feathers or cats their hair? Can the sheep organize a protest? Is it really possible for them to change lifelong traditions? This tongue-in-cheek picture book cleverly highlights out how important perspective and compromise are in life.
Profile Image for Stephanie Fujii.
617 reviews16 followers
July 27, 2015
Cute ending but...

It was a bit too "real", at least last "real" as striking sheep can be.... I like more whimsical, less realistic children's stories. This had a LOT of words per page, and a lot of unnecessary detail. It's a kid's story. I don't need all of that.

It read a bit too much like a pre-Animal Farm. No thanks :D
4,094 reviews28 followers
December 7, 2014
I'm a total fan of Dumont's Sheep books but this one may be my favorite. What a hoot! And really - when you think about it, the sheep have every right to protest. This could be really fun to use with older kids when introducing labor movements in history.
Profile Image for Lynn.
2,882 reviews15 followers
January 18, 2015
I enjoyed "The Geese March in Step" better, and not sure how this would go over in today's uproar over police brutality. I think this book is cute, but would hesitate to read it to a class of students.
Profile Image for Julia Beavis.
117 reviews22 followers
November 17, 2014
It was very wordy, and the pages looked cluttered between the illustrations and the typeface.
3,239 reviews
February 3, 2015
When the sheep on a farm go on strike rather than having their warm coats sheared off, the other animals begin taking sides until, at last, a compromise can be reached.
Profile Image for B.
21 reviews
February 10, 2015
Too much text! And such a terrible font. But I love sheep and explaining labor organizing to children, so I'll go for it.
Profile Image for Bookjeannnie.
625 reviews39 followers
May 10, 2015
I howled with laughter reading this book! it's becoming quite apparent that I LOVE picture books written and illustrated by artists from other countries.
Profile Image for Trish.
3,718 reviews3 followers
March 30, 2015
This book was okay. It felt like it took a long time to get to the point. It is for older little kids.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
120 reviews
September 27, 2015
It is cute. Kids will enjoy reading what would happen if the sheep actually do go on strike.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Bloem.
5 reviews
January 5, 2017
Best for older kids I would say...but my seven year old enjoyed it and it helped reinforce the activism concepts we are presently talking about this month.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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