Farm Flu

by Teresa Bateman, Nadine Bernard Westcott (Illustrator)

When the farm animals seem to catch the flu one after another, a young boy does his best to take care of them while his mom is out of town. By the illustrator of The Lion Who Had Asthma.

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

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Teresa Bateman was born in Moscow, Idaho, but moved to Washington State when she was three-years-old and that's where she has lived most of her life.

An avid writer and reader, Teresa has been making up stories and poems since she was in grade school. "To me it was as natural as breathing," says Teresa.

In school Teresa would drive her teachers crazy by 'creatively' completing assignments. She always met the letter of their assignment, if not the spirit. She worked hard to inject some humor into her work, knowing that the teachers would be reading hundreds of papers and wanting hers to stand out. It worked.

Teresa took English classes for fun in college and when she applied for a Washington State Teaching credential, the state looked at her transcripts and added an endorsement to teach English through the 12th grade!

Teresa cites her teacher Donnell Hunter at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, as having a big influence on her and her writing. He published a class magazine to which the class submitted their work under pen names. Their grades depended on how many stories were included in the magazine. Teresa submitted under about 15 different pen names--just to be annoying! But she knew her work was being judged on its merits alone. Mr. Hunter encouraged her journal writing and instilled in Teresa good writing habits that she continues to this day.

Teresa served an 18-month mission for her church in Argentina, and taught school for a year in Honduras. She also taught school briefly in St. Mary's, Alaska -- a little bush village with a population of 500 in the winter and 50 in the summer. She has been a librarian in the Federal Way School District in Washington for over 30 years.

Teresa writes every single day. She also works full-time, so that means some days she doesn't write much, but she always writes. When at home, Teresa's special spot for writing has a good view of the lilac bushes outside. A picture of a winding path through gentle rolling hills and meadows hangs on the wall. She tells herself, when stuck for an idea, that the story lies at the end of that path.

Teresa lives in Tacoma, Washington.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

What to do, what to do when your cow goes "Ka-choo!"

I tucked the Guernsey into bed
with tissues for her stuffy head.
I brought her hot alfalfa tea
and fluffed her pillows hourly.

Before the poor boy knows it, he's caring for an entire barnyard of contagious critters.

A cute story, with a sweet ending.

[Kalynne]

Storytime 67 kids ages 0-5
Book one (3-4 minutes): Farm Flu by Teresa Bateman

Song/rhyme/game one (3-4 minutes): wisconson milk
Give me a big “M” (Kids shout m)
Give me a little “m” (Kids whisper m)
Don’t Give me no pop, no pop (Clap on pop)
Don’t Give me no tea, no tea (Clap on tea)
Just give me that milk moo, moo, moo, moo (Pretend to milk a cow on each moo)
Wisconsin Milk moo, moo, moo, moo (Pretend to milk a cow on each moo)
*Repeat With I, L and K*

Book two (3-4 minutes): Job Wanted by Teresa Bateman

Song/rhyme/game two (3-4 minutes): B-I-N-G-O (Clap with each letter. Take letter off the end each time and just clap, can also use rhythm sticks)


Book three (3-4 minutes): Mrs. Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley

Song/ rhyme/ game three (3-4 minutes): The bath Song-Super Simple Songs -with pink balloons for soap (use after for craft)

Special Signs: cow, sheep, pig, dog, farmer

Activity: 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Xs1c49lA7JsAtsFslMBgqBpiqoK6E1Q1xKoTVF1QqmC4q2ZOLjnip3rmTSpd0/UfTFUya0xy5evDcdw2fHuMqprfS+tQ/3vZnb8AzbwqOVy8fT2rfmdin/68hNL+0jCa/G967Nny/xMJjYy5znZ0dLKjDmkqs8MmCgGxmWRFMitfJNk2A6JzCK0+KHxRkmh0WErK1smhqoyRQ+aKZZNE0GqEJhyykU7mIL5iAl7zRA9E0bdcoUTZGgaYGlMCmDVAtgcDkoRTDoHQ1gYukP5RdIFRmpCqNFoTSFVQloVSH0gGiVSsmSTLmg6FyZ8sE1crlZoMORaOxmxnP4iDKtscmFgjLQGiFDkZAqR0jiKdDHRRnkbLHGdaEwlRnVBqiuop3MQVssOpf/Z

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of our favorite bedtime stories!!!

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

On farms across America, hay fever is one thing, farm flu is another pile of Lima beans! A small boy works with his farmer mom (yes, mom is a farmer, so chauvinists be silent!) when their Guernsey cow comes down with flu. It's not mad cow disease, just "sad cow disease"! The boy takes the cow to bed and treats her same as his mom would treat him. But now the word has spread across the acres, and all the farm animals fake flus to get some o' that nice treatment! It's the nuttiest bit of manipulation by way of HAY-pochondria I've ever seen, and the kid has to come up with something real fast to "remedy" the dilemma of caring for a bumper crop of "sick" animals! Best part: the illustration of pigs, chickens and dogs watching TV and partying! Pretty hardcore! And fun!
Four stars
For fun and laughs, you need Farm Flu, that's all, nothing else!

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Farm flu is a delightful tale of a child who is helping with chores and finds the animals trick him into letting them live in the house.

Teaching application- This book can be used when the cold/ flu season starts to teach about spreading g of germs, hand washing... A cute project is tracing kids hands,cutting them out, draw their face and attach kleenex so it looks like they r blowing their nose.

[Robby Owen]

This book is a good alternative the the typical farm animal book. Although the animals do not actually make their sounds, you can engage with the child and have them make the sound of each animal that is portrayed in the book. It also teaches kids that when you do something nice for others, they will help you later in return.

[Bianca Orellana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun to read!

[Rachel Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book and it's fun message of knowing how to serve others by observing the way you are served

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute story about a boy who must take care of the farm while his mom is away and the animals get sick so he does what his mom would do.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

farm views, this read made me smile, great illustrations, well done. so fun. HEA ending. i really enjoy the expressions. so cute!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite for sure! Cute and funny rhyming story with adorable pictures.

[Lennox Burchette · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun!

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure what to think. They were all faking? Surely not based on the illustrations and thermometer readings. It's best not to teach children to make light of influenza.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a cute, silly picture book. Very fun.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preschool and school-age
Rhyming

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good children's book about the importance of contact tracing.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone is very aware of the flu concerns that are swirling through the media these days. I found this cute little book that might help ease anxiety regarding the dreaded flu shots. It may calm some fears if the actual event itself should come and invade your home for a while. Hopefully this book will impart useful information to your child and create soothing conversations regarding the flu protocol in your own home.
This is a humorous, silly rhyming story of mounting chaos. A mother leaves her son in charge of the farm one day and many animals come down with the flu. Caring for the sick creatures in the manner that he knows his mother would care for him, the book’s refrain is:” But I knew what my mom would do/if it were me who had the flu.” This gives lots of opportunity to discuss what your mom does for you when you have the flu and how your own personal household will handle the dilemma. The boy puts the cow in bed; complete with tissues and alfalfa tea and he pops the piglets into the tub to give them a belly rub. He even makes popcorn for the sick donkey to ease his pain and suffering.

The pictures are expressive and very hilarious. They truly make the text come alive. The boy discovers that pampering has its limits and he is being taken advantage of so he removes all the toys and the TV, just as his mother would do, resulting in instant wellness and healing in the animals. After all his nurturing and effort the boy himself comes down with the flu and well…read it to see what transpires. It is a great, fun read aloud. Seeing the turkey work the remote control and the chickens sipping juice boxes will bring lots of smiles and giggles to your family. I would recommend you get a copy and add it to your collection.

[JustOneMoreBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action-packed illustrations crammed with hilarious details and subtle humour betray the impish reality that is missed by the earnest narrator in this snappily rhyming adventure in learned compassion.

Listen to our chat about Farm Flu on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/1...

Other books mentioned:
* The Eensy Weensy Spider
* Skip to My Lou

Another great book for sick-day reading:
* The Grandmother Doll

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy and his mother ran a farm, and one day the boy was working alone when a cow sneezed. The boy realized she had farm flu so put the cow to bed in the house to take care of her the way his mother would take care of him. Eventually all the animals had farm flu - and they were all in the house being pampered. The next day they were well but they didn't want to leave, so the boy had to come up with a way to get them all out to the barn again.
Fun story in rhyme and funny illustrations.

[Rachel Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

When all the animals on the farm get the flu, the little boy takes care of them 'just as his mom would do' by feeding chickens barley soup, giving the piglets a bath, etc. Loved the end, when the boy finds all the animals playing games - "Too sick to be outside, I see. Then you're too sick to watch TV!"

[Amy Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute book. The storyline is based on a boy who attempts to take care of different farm animals as they come down with the flu. It shows how the flu is passed along among the different animals. Teachers can read this as a read aloud to show the importance of washing hands and covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing.

[Ina Silverness]

Farm Flu is about a boy who lives on a farm. The animals all seem to be getting sick. The boy brings them all into the house and treats them just like his mom would do.

Farm Flu could be used to teach students about rhyming and repetition. It is geared towards 4-8 year olds, easy words to read and many pictures to go along with the story

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the animals on the farm have the flu, so the little boy is taking care of them just they way his mommy takes care of him when he's sick. He helps the cow into bed, puts the piglets into a warm bath and gives the donkey some tea.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun rhyming book to use in a farm or sick-themed storytime. A boy takes care of the farm animals when they become ill, but spoils them so much that he has to firmly push them out of the house when they are better.

[Ashley Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book! I would use this in my classroom to talk to my children about spreading the flu to others and how we can prevent from spreading our germs to one another. We could also talk about the appropriate ways to blow our nose, sneeze, and wash our hands.

[Kyle Weener · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is SO HILARIOUS! This book really shows what community helpers do and what a wonderful read aloud for 1st or 2nd grade students. My favorite part is when the animals feed the boy at the end of the story.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute, funny rhyming story about a farm whose animals all mysteriously seem to get sick at the same time. But are they REALLY sick? Find out! Farm Flu was a huge hit during bilingual story time's farm-themed program this fall.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This rhyming story is wonderfully silly--all of the animals on the farm get the flu! Good thing the little boy in the story is there to help. Everyone ends up feeling better at the end...except for one! The pictures are great, and there are lots of ways for children to participate in this story.

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with simple rhyming text and wickedly funny illustrations, a young farm boy knows just what to do when all of the animals come down with the flu. My story time audience loved this book and giggled most of the way through it.

[Garrett Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good rhyming book similar to some of he others that Teresa Bateman has done! This book is about some farm animals that come down with the flu! It would be a good one to read to young students to encourage hand washing and other hygiene activities to keep germs from being passed!