BBR-Little Star…Raising Our First Calf

I have a new series of books to share with you by twins Rhanna and Sheridan.  The twins live on a Hereford ranch in Maryland.   Little Star…Raising Our First Calf is the first in a series of books that follows Star and the girls as they grow up together.

When they are 3 years old, they go to check the newborn calves with dad and find a set of twins just like them.  The cow wouldn’t take care of one of the calves (which is often the case see the Tale of 2 Twins) and said they could take care it. 

They named her Little Star.  The book shows the girls mixing the milk and talks about what is in the milk replacer and how big the bottle is that they use.

It is funny when the family decides they should teach Star to lead by halter, so they can take her to the fair.  They even let their city friends help them and they all find out is not as easy as they think it will be.

When Star gets older, she gets grain and hay to eat, just like the older calves.

The pictures in this book are absolutely stunning and truly catch the work and fun that farm kids enjoy.  I love that there is a glossary of farm terms in the back of the book.  There are even a few ag facts about the different breeds of cattle and the ownership of U.S. farms.

Be sure to follow along as there are more books from the twins or you can order the books here.

-A Kansas Farm Mom

BBR-Growing Up Strong

The fifth book in the Kansas Farm Bureau Series in Growing Up Strong.

We have already looked at:

Milk Comes From A Cow

The Soil Neighborhood

Farmers and Ranchers Care about Their Animals

Celebrate Wheat

Kailey’s mom is a pediatrician and is a guest speaker at her school. She talked about the food the kids eat.  When Kailey gets home, she calls Grandma to tell her all about the presentation.

Kailey’s mom was sure to talk about how farmers and rancher care for their animals and land to produce safe, nutritious food for all of us.  She talked about the variety of foods we should all eat and making smart decisions.

She also emphasized the importance of exercise in addition to healthy eating.

Grandma concludes that if Kailey’s mom keeps it up they might be able to make her an honorary farmer just like Kailey.

The kids like how this book is more of a conversation with Grandma than a lecture about good nutrition.

-A Kansas Farm Mom

BBR-The Soil Neighborhood

The Soil Neighborhood

by Dan Yunk and Steve Swaffer

Second in the series of Kansas Farm Bureau books is The Soil Neighborhood by Dan Yunk and my friend Steve Swaffer.  Learning about dirt soil isn't that much fun for most kids, so when a book tells the story of underground to kids in a fun way I tend to like it.  

Once again Kailey is visiting Grandma and Grandpa.  Kailey wishes dirt didn't exist, so she wouldn't have to take baths.

Grandma explains there is a whole neighborhood under a wheat field who work together to make soil a good place for plants to grow.  

Rocky, Clay and Sandy work with earthworms and bacteria to make the soil a place that plants like for their roots to grow.

Soil is important for lots of things we use everyday especially food like I mentioned in the Soil-It's What's For Supper lesson.  

Other books in the Farm Bureau Series include:

• Milk Comes From a Cow?
•  Farmers and Ranchers Care about their Animals
• Celebrate Wheat!
• Growing Up Strong

These books can be ordered on the KFB website.  The staff at Kansas Farm Bureau has worked hard to have great resources to go along with the books.  There are free lesson plans for teachers and parents as well as videos and fact sheets on the above web page.

What is your favorite kids book about farming?  Is it on my Book Barn List of ag books?

-A Kansas Farm Mom

BBR- Buzz-Buzz, Busy Bees

A fun larger board book for parents to read to their little ones or for beginning readers is Buzz-Buzz Busy Bees by Dawn Bentley and illustrated by Heather Cahoon.

All over the farm animals are asking the bees to come play with them.  One by one the bees leave the pages saying they have work to do.  My kids always liked the bright illustrations and repetitive natures.

On the last page is a light sensor and when you open the page you hear the bees buzzing.  The kids finally learn what the bees were busy doing...making honey for the farmer.

We loved this simple, colorful book when both of the boys were younger. 


Looking for more about Honey and Bees?  Check out these resources online:

The Honey Files: A Bee's Life (Grades 4-6)
Bees are Amazing
Here's the Buzz about Honey Bees (Missouri Farm Bureau)

What are some of your favorite books about how food is made?  Feel free to add any other honey bee educational material links in the comments.

-A Kansas Farm Mom

Check out the rest of my 30 days of Farm Mom Tips and the other farm bloggers joining me.

Farm Boy Gift Suggestions

Buying gifts for farm kids really isn’t that different from shopping for their city cousins.  They do have a few specialized items on their lists, but they still like the typical boy gifts like Legos, Erector Sets and Estes Rockets.

Here are some of the favorite things my kids and I have found this past year.  

The Junior Animal Science Club

This was recommended last year by my friend Janeal who writes Mom at the meat Counter.  The kids get a monthly email, quarterly newsletter, back pack and water bottle.  Janeal says her Pre-K age daughter loved it last year.  I signed my boys up this year and in the first newsletter they have learned about exotic animals, marine animals, and sheep.  It even has an experiment for them to perform with their heart rate.  I highly recommend the Junior Animal Scientist.

Ag Books

 I love to give books as gifts.  Our city cousins really seem to enjoy getting them to learn more about

where their food comes from and my boys love reading about something they already know a little about.  My absolute favorite book we received as a gift has been Cowboy Small, but maybe that’s because our last name is Small.  My oldest loved the book Levi’s Lost Calf and has said it is the best book he had read (up to that point in his life).  I have enjoyed giving the city cousins the Kaylee books from Kansas Farm Bureau.  They are great for families and as a classroom gift.

It’s A Farm Thing

My farm boys are proud to live on a farm.  They like to wear clothes that show they are farm kids and livestock showing kids.  It’s A Farm Thing has a full line of clothes that help us show that pride for reasonable prices and high quality shirts. 

 

 

 

Ag Camp Registrations

I love this post by Robin about ag camps.  She talked about Lamb Camp and many other camps that are available for kids interested in agriculture and giving the registration as a gift.  My favorite camp growing up was McPeak’s Be A Champ Cattle Camp while my kids are a little on the young side for a camp like this, I may just put camp registration under the tree for the oldest.   I loved going to livestock judging camps as a kid at Oklahoma State and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.  

Farm Toys

My kids have an obsession with all things farm in their toy collections.  I have been amazed at the detail that some people go into to produce realistic farm toys.  My oldest was so excited when he found BigCountry Farm Toys at WalMart with prices that are amazingly reasonable.  They have a full line of toys including panels, bale feeders, windmills, squeeze chute, truck and trailer.  He loves the squeeze chute that he could afford with his own money.  

I always struggle with stocking stuffers, though.  What are your favorite stocking stuffer ideas?  My kids would love to open their stockings and find something other than batteries and underwear.

Gift Ideas from a Farm Mom
Farm and Ranch Wife Gift Guide

-       A Kansas Farm Mom

Check out the rest of my 30 days of Farm Mom Tips and the other farm bloggers joining me. 

BBR-Pancakes, Pancakes!

Remember, in the Spring I started this "series" call the Book Barn Review and I did one little post and never followed up.  Well, I am going to attempt to revive the "series." 

This week’s BBR- Book Barn Review is one of my favorite books by Eric Carle also the author of the super popular kid’s book the Hungry Hungry Caterpillar.  Pancakes, Pancakes!  is a great book to share with kids who are struggling with where their food really comes from.  I believe all kids should know where their food begins.

Jack wakes up in the morning and informs his mother he wants a big pancake for breakfast.  His mother is already busy with her day’s work and says he must help her.  She asks him to cut the wheat and take it to the mill to be made into flour.

He must collect an egg and milk the cow and then churn the butter. 

There is even a recipe to help the kids make their own pancakes.

This is a great book to use in the classroom.  The Farmer and I love to show kids how to take a head of wheat in our hand to separate the seeds from the chaff.  The kids are always amazed when we show them the seeds.

My Flat Aggie Post from Heim Dairy is a great way for kids to see dairy cows on a real dairy.  

Churning butter can be done easily even in a preschool class.  Here is the lesson from Oklahoma Ag In theClassroom. 

Do you have a favorite farm, ranch or where food comes from book that you would like to share?

-A Kansas Farm Mom

Book Barn Review Index

I am always on the lookout for books with an Ag Theme that are mostly accurate.  My boys and I have quite a collection.  Here are some of our favorites.  Did we miss any?  Let me know.  If you would like to write a quick review of one (or more) of your favorite kids ag book, message me and I will let you know what I need. If you just want to give me a book to 2 to check out at the library that is great, too!  (The ones in blue I have written reviews that you can click on to read.)

Barntastic Board Books

Cowboy Small by Lois Lenske
Mrs. Wishy Washy by Joy Cowley
Buzz Buzz Busy Bees by Dawn Bentley
John Deere Farm ABC
Moo, Baa, LA LA LA! by Sandra Boynton

Farm Friendly First Readers and Cool Classroom Reading

Pancakes! Pancakes! by Eric Carle
Levi's Lost Calf by Amanda Radke
Where's My Cowboy Hat by Katy Williams
Barn Cat in the Christmas Tree by Katy Williams
Corey Combine and the Great Big Mess by Elana Roth
Be a Friend to Trees by Patricia Lauber
 The Little Farm by Lois Lenske
More Farmyard Tales by Heather Amery & Stephen Cartwright
The Grumpy Goat by Heather Amery & Stephen Cartwright
Growing Farm, School and Me! by 6th grade students in Reading Pennsylvania
Milk Comes from a Cow? by Dan Yunk
Celebrate Wheat by Dan Yunk
Growing Up Strong by Dan Yunk
The Soil Neighborhood by Dan Yunk & Steve Swaffer

Moooving Up the Reading Ladder

Days on the Farm by Kim Lewis
Little Star....Raising Our First Calf by Rhanna and Sheridan
Johnny Appleseed by Jodie Shepherd
Hank the Cow Dog Series

Growing A Crop of High End Readers

Lamb in the Laundry by Ben M. Baglio
Animal Ark Series
Pet Finder Club Series
Misty of Chincoteague Series
The Horse Diaries Series
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock Recommended by a Facebook Follower
Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen. (Very funny book. Has mature language. Recommended for middle school readers.) Recommended by a Facebook Follower