The Case of Old MacDonald and His Farm

PreS-Gr 3–In Teague’s humorous whodunit, the scene of the crime is Old MacDonald’s farm. Officer Busby is taking the mystery seriously, speaking the deadpan patter of old detective movies. “Was it the rabbit again? Little fellow in a blue coat?” Whoever it is has drawn faces on all the cabbages and mustaches on the cows, filled the duckpond with corn, ordered a pizza delivery for the goats, and made the chickens look foolish in funny hats. In these hijinks, Officer Busby recognizes the MO of Skunk and his gang (Armadillo, Porcupine, and Toad), who get all their ideas at the novelty shop. Worse than dangerous, they are silly—but why today? Turns out that it’s April 1. Adult readers may have fun with this book, but the story doesn’t sustain its punchiness, and the tongue-in-cheek humor may not land for literal-minded young readers. Teague’s signature illustration style fills the pages with barnyard critters, the befuddled farmer, and the diligent officer, all in a muted acrylic palette.