The Matzo Ball Boy
The Moon Might Be Milk
Over in the Meadow at the Big Ballet
Buy this book at Amazon Books or Powell's Books or your local bookseller.
Old MacDonald is building a surprise for the young animals on the farm. With a zztt zztt here, and a tap tap there, the other animals join Old MacDonald in using the many tools in her woodshop. At the end, they surprise the little ones with a miniature toy farm—just like the one where they live!
The story behind the story
The idea for this story came after seeing the wonderful toys that my stepdad Alan made for my daughters in his woodshop. Trains, cars, doll houses, play stoves…you name it, Alan made it! I thought it would be fun to write a book where Old MacDonald builds a toy farm in her woodshop, with her tools making the sound effects.
A lot of people like the fact that Old MacDonald is female. When I began working on the book, I suddenly asked myself why we always assume that Old MacDonald has to be a man. I think it’s important for children to have books showing female characters using tools and building things, so I made Old MacDonald a she instead of a he.
Reviews
From School Library Journal:
“This delightful twist on the classic song (with loads of fun sound effects) is a must for do-it-yourself children…Children will love this book’s perky prose and pleasing pictures.” (starred review)
From Publishers Weekly:
“Preschoolers will want to join in the bouncy cadences and alliterative sounds of Shulman’s version of the cumulative rhyme.”
From Kirkus Reviews:
“A terrific idea measured and mitered to a tee, building a perfectly crafted book, one that will make a fun gift.”
From The Horn Book Magazine:
“…inspiring a cacophonic chorus from young listeners that will surely emphasize the loud in read-aloud and the pleasures of reading with children rather than to them.”
From Booklist:
“This clever takeoff will have kids chanting along with the same fervor they have for the original, only this time the sounds will be those of tools at work.”
Awards and Honors
• IRA Notable Book, 2003
• Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award, 2003
• New Hampshire Ladybug Picture Book Award Nominee, 2003
• North Carolina Children’s Book Award Nominee, 2003-2004
• Volunteer State Book Award Nominee, 2004-2005
Home | Meet Lisa | Books | Author Visits | Parents & Teachers | For Kids
Copyright 2007 Lisa Shulman. All rights reserved.