Fun on the Farm

PreS-K—While the animal mascots—Doodle Rooster, Bell Cow, and Harvey Horse—are rather lackluster and animated with very basic, limited movements, the film makes up for that shortcoming with a variety of games and footage of all kinds of working tractors, farms, farm animals, and children doing chores and having fun. This is accompanied by some children's favorite songs that have been adapted by popular singer/songwriter James Coffey: "Old MacDonald" has many kinds of tractors on his farm, and "The Wheels on the Bus" become "The Wheels on the Tractor." Children will enjoy singing and counting animals along with "One Little, Two Little, Three in the Barnyard." The songs are interspersed with light, educational segments. Viewers learn where food comes from during visits to farms and grocers. They also become familiar with the work tractors do, and visit the John Deere factory to see how combines are made. Letter awareness is taught through the simple words that are printed onscreen and by playing "The Letter Game," in which they are asked to identify the first letter of farm-related words. In another game, the mascots find animal shapes in cloud formations. The film also features John Deere vehicles of all sizes and shapes, from antique three-wheelers and steam tractors to 12-wheel powerhouses. This entertaining and educational offering will appeal to preschoolers.—Constance Dickerson, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, OH