If I was still doing preschool / family story times, this reworked version of Old MacDonald Had a Farm would definitely be added to my picture book rotation. Instead of farm animals, Old MacDonald and his power tool-toting lady have a farm filled with heavy duty machinery. That’s right, we’ve got bulldozers and steamrollers, front loaders and dump trucks, and much, much more. Turns out the MacDonalds are building a brand new monster truck rally track on their property, and all the farm animals are getting in on the fun.
As a children’s librarian I like to think I know a thing or two about children’s literature, but I am no snob, and I’ll happily embrace just about anything that helps support literacy development and gets kids excited about reading. A lot of kids are going to go out of their minds with excitement when they see this picture book, and that is recommendation enough for me.
Eda Kaban’s adorable illustrations absolutely seal the deal – each spread is a riot of colour and detail, with a delightful array of sweet farm animals participating in the building project (wearing appropriate safety equipment of course – safety first, kids).
I really appreciate that Mrs. MacDonald takes a strong role in the illustrations, getting directly involved in a number of traditionally male activities like fixing an engine and detailing a car’s exterior. You go, girl!
Is Old MacDonald Had a Truck silly? Absolutely. But it’s also a lot of fun, and will likely delight young readers. Highly recommended.