Farmer John’s Tractor (Sally Sutton, Illus by Robyn Belton, Walker Books)

Farmer John’s tractor is kept safe and sound in the farm shed, never moving very much. But when the rain comes in the wintertime, one family finds itself bogged in the middle of the rising waters. Who will save the family from its predicament as the river gets higher, and the roads become wet and dangerous? Farmer John’s Tractor is a wonderful book that children will really engage with. Sally Sutton has written a story that is fitting for the times in which we live, and that may even bring up teaching opportunities around current events such as flooding, or simply life on a farm. The book has enough drama to keep children on the edge of their seats, and the story is told using delightful rhymes. The watercolour illustrations by Robyn Belton complement the story, with just the right amount of detail for children to explore on each page.

Rebecca Butterworth has awarded Farmer John’s Tractor four out of five stars. Rebecca is a former bookseller, freelance writer and reviewer living in Melbourne

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Category: Reviews