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Old MacDonald Had a Farm
A wholly original take on this beloved American anthem from renowned watercolor master, Gris Grimly--with a surprise twist ending bound to delight! Celebrated creator Gris Grimly, widely known for his gothic style illustrations, turns over a new creative leaf in his glorious interpretation of this beloved preschool anthem. Inspired by his son's love for Old MacDonald and his own family's farming history, and with stunning, sweeping watercolor illustrations, and a surprise twist ending that kids will relish, Gris brings this beloved song to glorious new life. Young children will love reading and singing along as they join our nimble footed Farmer on his morning jaunt across the farmyard and he greets each of his farm animals and beckons them to join his parade. Little ones will delight when the parade culminates in an unexpected e twist ending as Farmer opens the big red barn doors...and GASP...there's a BEAR hidden inside! With a moving artists' note from Gris explaining the history of this song, and his personal connection to it, this delightful retelling has all the makings of a classic.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2017
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83 people want to read
About the author
Gris Grimly
37 books308 followersGris Grimly is an artist and storyteller who is based in the Los Angeles area best known for his darkly whimsical children's books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
September 23, 2019
The classic American children's song, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, in which a series of animals is listed as belonging to the eponymous farmer, and their various sound words used in the refrain, is given an updated picture-book treatment by talented artist Gris Grimly. Many of the traditional animals you would expect to find in this song, from pigs to sheep, make an appearance, but in the surprise ending, so does a ...
First documented in the early twentieth century - apparently the first recorded variant was known as "Ohio," and was published in the collection Tommy’s Tunes: A Comprehensive Collection of Soldiers' Songs, Marching Melodies, Rude Rhymes, and Popular Parodies in 1917 - this song has become a staple of American childhood. It lends itself well to adaptation and child-listener involvement, as young people can be relied upon to supply the next animal in Old MacDonald's farmyard menagerie. Given that this is so, the conclusion of this version feels entirely appropriate, especially as Grimly mentions, in his brief afterword, that this is an animal his own young son likes to include in the song. I appreciated the narrative here, of course - I sung along to myself, as I read - but I also enjoyed the watercolor artwork, which depicts a sun-drenched world inhabited by a quirky cast of animal characters, characters whose faces are often quite drolly expressive. Recommended to Gris Grimly fans, and to anyone looking for new picture-book treatments of this old song.
First documented in the early twentieth century - apparently the first recorded variant was known as "Ohio," and was published in the collection Tommy’s Tunes: A Comprehensive Collection of Soldiers' Songs, Marching Melodies, Rude Rhymes, and Popular Parodies in 1917 - this song has become a staple of American childhood. It lends itself well to adaptation and child-listener involvement, as young people can be relied upon to supply the next animal in Old MacDonald's farmyard menagerie. Given that this is so, the conclusion of this version feels entirely appropriate, especially as Grimly mentions, in his brief afterword, that this is an animal his own young son likes to include in the song. I appreciated the narrative here, of course - I sung along to myself, as I read - but I also enjoyed the watercolor artwork, which depicts a sun-drenched world inhabited by a quirky cast of animal characters, characters whose faces are often quite drolly expressive. Recommended to Gris Grimly fans, and to anyone looking for new picture-book treatments of this old song.
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August 13, 2018Quirky, humorous illustrations to a traditional ditty but with a twist at the end.
February 19, 2019
My son loved this one. The illustrations were a lot of fun too.
November 5, 2017
Old MacDonald Had a Farm / Old Folk Song ; illustrated by Gris Grimly -- New York : Orchard Books / Scholastic, Inc., c2017. (36 pages)
SUMMARY: Join Old MacDonald as he leads his farm friends on a joyful parade across the fields. With stunning, light filled illustrations, humor, and a surprise twist ending, celebrated watercolorist Gris Grimly brings this beloved childhood anthem to new life. (Bookjacket)
REVIEW: Unsure about this one from the start -- I have seen Grimly's illustrations before and was not sure that it would fit this old folk song. But once I started, I could tell his love for the farm, the farmer, and the animals. His drawings were amusing, humorous, and cheerful. The storyline (song) is very traditional until the end when it takes a surprising turn of events....you will just have to read it for yourself to find out what happens....which was inspired by his son.
NOTE: Includes simple music for the song on the last pages
NOTE: Includes Artist's Note about growing up on an 100 year old Nebraskan farm. Includes pictures of his family..."This book reflects the magical recollection of my grandfather's farm and my rural upbringing revisited through the eyes of my son."
NOTE: Gris Grimly is an illustrator primarily known for his spooky-whimsical style. (bookjacket)
FURTHER FUN: 1) Sing the song and have the kids help make the noises; and 2) Have children add more animals to the mix and expand the story.
SUMMARY: Join Old MacDonald as he leads his farm friends on a joyful parade across the fields. With stunning, light filled illustrations, humor, and a surprise twist ending, celebrated watercolorist Gris Grimly brings this beloved childhood anthem to new life. (Bookjacket)
REVIEW: Unsure about this one from the start -- I have seen Grimly's illustrations before and was not sure that it would fit this old folk song. But once I started, I could tell his love for the farm, the farmer, and the animals. His drawings were amusing, humorous, and cheerful. The storyline (song) is very traditional until the end when it takes a surprising turn of events....you will just have to read it for yourself to find out what happens....which was inspired by his son.
NOTE: Includes simple music for the song on the last pages
NOTE: Includes Artist's Note about growing up on an 100 year old Nebraskan farm. Includes pictures of his family..."This book reflects the magical recollection of my grandfather's farm and my rural upbringing revisited through the eyes of my son."
NOTE: Gris Grimly is an illustrator primarily known for his spooky-whimsical style. (bookjacket)
FURTHER FUN: 1) Sing the song and have the kids help make the noises; and 2) Have children add more animals to the mix and expand the story.
November 4, 2017
It's not possible to have enough versions of the classic "Old MacDonald Had a Farm," and this one adds a funny twist at the end from the illustrator's storytelling experiences with his own son. I smiled at all the color- and light-splashed scenes of the old man's farm, rendered in watercolor. Youngsters will be amused at how all of the farmer's critters line up behind his tractor to follow him across the field to the barn where they expect to sleep for the night. But they have quite a surprise waiting for them when they arrive, and they have to turn around and go back where they started from. A nifty Artist's Note provides the song's history as well as telling some of the illustrator's personal history and showcasing some family photographs. I suspect this version of the song will become greatly loved and take its deserved place alongside the classic one.
March 12, 2019
1. None
2. AGE: 3-5
3. This book goes along with the original nursery rhyme but has its own little twist to it. A farmer goes for a walk through his yard and along the way says hello to each and every one of the animals he has in his farm. After greeting each animal they join him in a march to go see the next animal and greet them.
4. The illustrations of the book are beautifully done with water colors. This book will keep the children laughing because of the twist it has at the end. The children will also have most likely heard some sort of story like this prior so they can sing along as well.
5. This is a good book to read when you are introuducing animals to the children this is a good book that includes many animals at once. Also, this could be the introduction to a farm theme and it will allow the children to get a visual of what a farm is and what happens on a farm.
2. AGE: 3-5
3. This book goes along with the original nursery rhyme but has its own little twist to it. A farmer goes for a walk through his yard and along the way says hello to each and every one of the animals he has in his farm. After greeting each animal they join him in a march to go see the next animal and greet them.
4. The illustrations of the book are beautifully done with water colors. This book will keep the children laughing because of the twist it has at the end. The children will also have most likely heard some sort of story like this prior so they can sing along as well.
5. This is a good book to read when you are introuducing animals to the children this is a good book that includes many animals at once. Also, this could be the introduction to a farm theme and it will allow the children to get a visual of what a farm is and what happens on a farm.
November 26, 2017
It was fun reading OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM to my daughter. As I read, my daughter danced because it was written like the song. It sticks to the traditional version with a funny twist at the end. It was perfect for my daughter who loves animals.
The only thing I wish was that there was more at the end. It was still a fun read and even has some old farm pictures in the back of the book along with the author's note. The pictures were fun and I'll be looking for more from this author. I really loved how the author explains the original origin of the song in his author's note along with his connection to it.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children who love animals and love the song "Old MacDonald Had A Farm".
The only thing I wish was that there was more at the end. It was still a fun read and even has some old farm pictures in the back of the book along with the author's note. The pictures were fun and I'll be looking for more from this author. I really loved how the author explains the original origin of the song in his author's note along with his connection to it.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children who love animals and love the song "Old MacDonald Had A Farm".
March 4, 2018
Grimly, Gris Old MacDonald Had a Farm. PICTURE BOOK. Orchard Books (Scholastic), 2017. $18. 9781338112436
Farmer MacDonald has his farm with the pigs, sheep, chickens, and such. But in the barn there is a surprise!
Grimly attacks the subject with his characteristic dark edges. The animals are quirky; the only thing I don’t like was the lack of centers on MacDonald’s eyes – that upped the creep factor for me, though I am not sure children will actually notice. If you’d like a slightly different version of the traditional song, this is a definite winner.
Pre-K – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018/...
Farmer MacDonald has his farm with the pigs, sheep, chickens, and such. But in the barn there is a surprise!
Grimly attacks the subject with his characteristic dark edges. The animals are quirky; the only thing I don’t like was the lack of centers on MacDonald’s eyes – that upped the creep factor for me, though I am not sure children will actually notice. If you’d like a slightly different version of the traditional song, this is a definite winner.
Pre-K – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018/...
October 8, 2017
Every child knows the song, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, but this book has a GREAT BIG surprise ending! Author/artist Gris Grimly, raised on a farm and now lives in a city, decided to share his family’s version of this song with young readers. His illustrations are fun, action-filled, and include several surprises and sub-stories to delight the visually alert readers, including a ‘heart’ patch on the farmer’s overalls. A great family story.
Back matter includes a brief history of the song—an early version sung during WWI—its music, as well as old-timey pictures of Gris Grimly’s farming family.
Back matter includes a brief history of the song—an early version sung during WWI—its music, as well as old-timey pictures of Gris Grimly’s farming family.
September 5, 2017
{My thoughts} – I have always been a fan of Old McDonald stories. This book didn’t disappoint me. It has a wonderful cover that is nicely illustrated.
The story itself follows the basic Old McDonald structure. The illustrations inside the book match the story within its pages.
The story also had a fun little twist at the end that I’m sure readers will enjoy as much as I did when I shared the book with my daughter.
I think that any child that enjoys this kind of story structure will enjoy hearing or reading this book.
The story itself follows the basic Old McDonald structure. The illustrations inside the book match the story within its pages.
The story also had a fun little twist at the end that I’m sure readers will enjoy as much as I did when I shared the book with my daughter.
I think that any child that enjoys this kind of story structure will enjoy hearing or reading this book.
April 14, 2018
A pretty straight forward version of this classic song, which I have found is surprisingly hard to find in children's lit- so many books are variations, but this one stays true to the song. I am a fan of Gris Grimly's illustration style, and I liked the author's note in the back that talked about his experience growing up on a farm. I also learned Old MacDonald can be traced back to a song first found on the North Carolina coast, which is pretty neat!
August 24, 2018
I can remember singing this song over and over again as a child. The book kept the lyrics of the song, but added visuals to go with it. Also, at the end, Gris Grimly added a funny twist, which is why I rated this book three stars. The illustrations are a little odd, which is why I didn't give the book four starts, but I loved the content. The theme of the book was the old classic song, but was just another version, which never gets old.
Genre: Fantasy, Picture-Books
Age: Grades K-4th
Genre: Fantasy, Picture-Books
Age: Grades K-4th
October 4, 2017
I think the best thing about this book is that it's really nothing special, but it so is... it's totally fun. The illustrations are a little quirky, and the ending made me laugh. A solid telling of a favorite song with chords in the back for those that want to play along. Not a must-have, but get it for your library if you can.
January 11, 2018
Love Gris Grimly' works. Found this one on the shelves today and have fallen in love with the next generation Grimly, Gris's son! Love the addition of the bear to the song and Grimly's illustrations are a hoot! What a treasure! Little kids are sure to enjoy this take on a traditional song from - WW1? Who knew! Fun for all!
May 6, 2018
Gris Grimly’s twist on Old MacDonald Had a Farm allows readers to become engrossed in the illustrations of his interpretation of this nursery rhyme.Grimly truly brings this story to life with his surprising twist at the end. Grimly also includes an author’s note at the end of the story, allowing readers to learn about his farming background.
Review written by Emily Yanky
Review written by Emily Yanky
September 11, 2019
I liked the illustrations but the kiddo wasn’t crazy about them. He was also pretty thrown (and not in an amused way) by the bear at the end, since bears aren’t farm animals. But I think he may be too young for this one right now. Would be curious to try it again in a year or two and see if he responds differently.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2017
We all know the song, but the illustrations are what really shine in this book. They have a wacky, manic energy that's like Chuck Jones meets "Opus & Bill." It's a fantasy farm that unlike other children's books, doesn't attempt to present itself as anything other than a Looney Tunes landscape.
October 30, 2017
The thing that sets this version apart, aside from the whimsical illustrations, is the SURPRISE at the end! The lead up goes on a bit long, but you can skip a few pages with younger audiences and not lose any of the story.
December 3, 2017
I was thinking this is too happy and whimsical for Gris Grimly until I read his author notes - then it all made sense. But still, the illustrations were great and definitely had his touch to it. I loved them!
December 26, 2017
Definitely whimsical and a bit spooky (check out the egg the chicken is sitting on and all the beetles crawling on the pumpkins...) but also surprisingly clever. And I loved the note at the end that places the entire book in context. Not just another Old MacDonald retelling - that's for sure!
March 17, 2018
A traditional children's song in picture book form. All animals live on the farm until the last page when there is a surprise wild animal in the barn! It was a fun book to sing together as a group.
Reviewed from a book fair copy.
Reviewed from a book fair copy.
March 19, 2018
Old MacDonald has always been one of my favorite nursery rhymes and this version, by Chris Grimly, is super cute! There is a surprise twist at the end which was fun and the illustrations are amazing!! So glad I ordered this book! 👨🏻🌾🐄🐴🐖🐓
February 6, 2021
We all loved the twist ending—Bear—E-I-E-I-Uh-Oh! Our baby’s best word is “Uh-oh”. And he’s trying to say “Moo” for the cow, although it just sounds like “ooo”. Anyway, it was a hit. The illustration style doesn’t appeal to me, personally, but baby didn’t mind. He recognized the cow and the bear...
August 5, 2017
Playful illustrations and a fun twist at the end.
From advanced reader copy.
From advanced reader copy.
October 17, 2017
great surprise ending
October 19, 2017
A super cute book that follows the traditional song until the end. Loved it! Would be great for a storytime book.
October 23, 2017
A *mostly* traditional rendition of the classic.
October 28, 2017
I feel this story has been done better by different authors and artists. But I did like the surprise ending.
November 14, 2017
A lot of fun. I enjoyed the narrative told through the pictures.
November 15, 2017
A rather interesting take on this old song. McDonald leads his animals on a parade around the farm until they encounter a surprise animal in the barn. Darker style illustrations and storyline.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews