Ernest's Special Christmas

Written by: Laura T. Barnes

Illustrated by: Carol A. Camburn

Ernest the miniature donkey loves Christmas, and he and the barnyard animals were so excited Christmas was just around the corner. Soon, small snowflakes began to fall, and it was turning into a beautiful Christmas Eve. As the snow started to get heavier, Ernest headed to the barn for shelter. After a little while of eating some hay and being joined by friends, Ernest realized his friend Chester, the draft horse, was not in the barn with everyone else. He asked all of the animals in the barn if they had seen Chester, but none of them had. So, Ernest being the good friend he is, goes out into the snowy Christmas Eve day to look for his friend because he thinks all of them should be together for Christmas. After searching and searching, Ernest finally finds Chester lying on the ground covered in snow. Unfortunately, Chester had fallen and he was not able to muster up the strength to get up. Ernest tried his hardest to help Chester up, but he could not hardly budge him. Ernest went back to the barn to get the rest of the barnyard animals to come to help, and they were finally able to help Chester stand. With a little love, determination, and selflessness, Ernest and the rest of the barnyard animals were able to save a good friend and spend a very special Christmas together.

This week, I was hoping to feature a wonderful Christmas book, so that is exactly what I did. I found Ernest's Special Christmas while shopping over the Thanksgiving break in a little store called Home On The Range in Elk City, OK. After reading just a few pages in the store, I knew this was the book I wanted to share and had to buy it. I think the story has such a sweet message, and the illustrations truly capture the feelings the animals have towards one another. Some agriculture related questions to ask the students include: What is a draft horse? Why would you have a horse pull a plow? Do farmers still use horses to pull a plow? Ask these questions then explain and discuss the answers with the students. Also, share with the students about the underlying meanings of this story such as about helping friends, putting others before yourself, Christmas is a time for giving, and the power of love and determination. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have, and remember Christmas truly is the season for giving. Have a very Merry Christmas! 

To check out other Ernest books as well as the author click here.

Horse In The Pigpen

Written by: Linda Williams

Illustrated by: Megan Lloyd

On one very strange day, the farmer's daughter notices none of the animals are where they belong! It all begins with the horse rolling around in the mud like a pig in the pigpen. The little girl runs to tell her ma and to get help, but Ma is too busy to help fix the chaos that is happening on the farm. So, Ma tells her daughter to go tell the pigs, but when she does, what does she find? The pigs are in the chicken coop pecking at grain! How is she going to fix this messy situation without her ma's help? Towards the end of the day, the little girl goes into her room and right there in her bed is the cow. Can this day get anymore unorganized? Finally, once everyone seems to be in order, the farmer's daughter climbs into bed only to find one more out of place surprise!

While looking through the library the other day, I came across this book and began just by flipping through the pages. I absolutley loved the illustrations by Megan Lloyd. So, I decided I had to write about this book even though it is on the younger side. The author Linda Williams wrote this book in a very rhythmical and repetitive pattern, which makes the words flow naturally off of the tounge. This book is so much fun to read aloud, and it allows the opportunity for participation from the students. Horse in the Pigpen has many agriculture points that can be brought up. First of all would be the different farm animals in the book. Have the children explain where they think the animals should belong on a farm, such as the horse should belong in the stables and so on and so forth. Another point could be to talk about a farm such as what is on a farm, what do people do on a farm, and see if the children have ever visited a farm. If possible, a field trip to a local farm could be planned. This book is a lot of fun. So, have fun with it and remember to try and find a way to make a connection with the book to real life, to the students, or even to yourself.

Working Cotton

Written by: Sherley Anne Williams
Illustrated by: Carole Byard

Some may say their typical day is boring, some may say their's is busy or some may even say their typical day is exciting. This story is about a little girl and her typical day. Shelan's day starts out extremely early. She and her family get on busses in the early morning and are taken to the cotton fields even before the sun has risen. They all gather the best they can around the small, smokey fire to try and catch a bit of warmth before they start their long day. Shelan's dad, mother, brothers, and sisters all pick beautiful, fluffy, white cotton and stuff as much as they can in their long bags. Shelan is too young to have her own bag, but she helps her mamma by picking cotton and gathering it in a pile. Shelan also helps by watching her baby sister, Leanne. The cotton rows are so long, and Shelan is amazed how fast her daddy picks the cotton. She never knows if he even ever puts the cotton into his bag because that is how smooth he is at picking it. Throughout the long, long day, Shelan imagines how much cotton she would be able to pick if she were older. The bus never comes until it's almost dark outside, and tired Shelan's day is finally over.

As I have said in some of my earlier posts, my dad is a farmer and the majority of the fields he plants are filled with cotton. I have always be told about the days farmers would have field workers come in to pick the cotton, but I personally I have never seen people pick cotton by hand as their job, especially in today's time. While reading this book, I could only think about how fortunate my family is to have the machines to help us harvest cotton. When I was younger my dad would take me out to our cotton fields to teach me about the ways people use to harvest cotton, which was by hand just like this book describes. I can only imagine harvesting an entire field like that. I think this book will allow students to understand how much hard work people from our past had to do. There are also agricultural teaching concepts in this book as well such as the development of cotton, the harvesting process, and the machines used to harvest cotton in the present and in the past. Also, teach children that many different things are made from cotton. For example, money, clothing, and some stuffed animals. One other thought i have is to ask students what their typical day looks like and if they like their everyday lifestyle. After they have had a chance to share remind them of Shelan's typical day and ask them if they would like to have a day like hers or would they would just rather keep their own. I hope children will be able to take away an understanding of how much hard work was and still is put into agriculture to produce things that make our life so much more comforting.

These are a few pictures from my dad's cotton fields last year at harvest.

Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County

Written by: Janice N. Harrington
Illustrated by: Shelley Jackson

Janice Harrington tells a wonderful story from her past about life on the farm in Alabama. There was nothing she loved to do more than to chase chickens on her grandmother's farm. Despite being told to leave them alone by her grandmother, she just couldn't help herself. She would run outside everyday to chase those chickens and she would spend all day out there until she caught as many as she could. Those chickens just weren't fast enough to out run her except for one: Miss Hen. The girl just wasn't going to be satisfied until she caught Miss Hen, but Miss Hen was smarter than all of the other chickens the girl noticed. One day, she went outside and there Miss Hen was sitting in the tall grass very still. When the girl sneakily crept over to where Miss Hen was sitting she saw why Miss Hen wasn't scurrying away from her. Miss Hen had beautiful baby chicks. The girl tells Miss Hen that she is going to teach those babies to be the fastest chickens in the coop so they can't ever be caught by even the fastest chicken chaser in the county.

I was having a little trouble on deciding which book to share this week, then I remembered about this wonderfully vibrant book that my teacher had read to my class a few weeks ago. I have only been around chickens a couple of times, and I must admit they're not my favorite animals to be around, but I do love this story. This is a great book to get students involved in. While you read, you can have them join in on the SQUACKKKKKKKing of the chickens as they are being chased in the story. Discuss with students why a person might have chickens on their farm. Example question: Have you ever been around chickens? What do you like to chase? Do you eat anything that would come from a chicken? Also, I just absolutely love how the illustrator created the pictures by using collage. I think a fun reading craft would be to have the children write and illustrate they're own mini book by using collage. So, you would need to have different materials such as colored paper, magazines, glue and scissors. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have, and just have fun with this one.

To learn more about the author click here.

The Silent Witness: A True Story of the Civil War

By: Robin Friedman

Illustrated by: Claire A. Nivola

Lula McLean and her family lived in Manassas, Virginia in the beautiful countryside on a plantation, which overlooked Bull Run Creek. On their plantation they grew wheat, corn, and oats. Lula loved learning her lessons in the peach orchard, making candy from sorghum molasses, and playing with her rag doll. Her mother had made Lula's rag doll from course unbleached cotton, printed cotton fabric, and ink for the eyes, mouth, and nose. Lula and her family saw the Civil War unfold right in front of their eyes. The war began on the McLean's front lawn in Manassas, Virginia just before the Battle of Bull Run Creek. The soldiers took over the country side, where Lula loved to spend time playing with her rag doll, to set up trenches, tents, cannons, and the barn was turned into a hospital. The McLean's moved 143 miles south to Appomattox Court House. On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered to General Grant in the parlor of the McLean's home. Lula left her doll on the sofa while the meeting between the Union and Confederacy was happening, and the soldiers called Lula's Doll "the silent witness." A Union soldier took Lula's doll as a souvenir, and Lula never saw her doll again.

This week, I chose to feature a book that does not seem to be very agriculture related. However, while reading this book, I noticed some interesting agriculture facts that occurred during the Civil War and I thought they would be fun to highlight for students. This book, of course, would be an excellent book to use for a History lesson, as well. In the beginning of The Silent Witness, a new vocabulary word can be introduced to students: plantation. A teacher can discuss with his/her students about a plantation, and he/she can show pictures of plantations from the Civil War. The McLean's grew on their plantation wheat, corn, and oats. Discuss what the farmers from the South grew during the Civil War era, also bring in some wheat, oats, and an ear of corn so the students will be able to see and touch in person. Example question: "Do farmers still grow those kinds of crops today?" Another agriculture fact in the book is, Lula and her family used raspberry leaves to make tea and burnt corn to make coffee. They had to resort to these resources because the Union blockaded the South's ports to prevent goods from being sent to the South. The last highlight is to discuss with the students what Lula's doll was made out of, and then have the students make their own rag doll using only the materials Lula's mother used to make the doll. Don't forget to remind the students that agriculture was important back then, is still important today, and will always be very important to our world. 

Click here to find more information about the McLean's home and Lula's rag doll.

Oh Say Can You Seed

By: Bonnie Worth
Illustrated by: Aristides Ruiz

Ever wonder where your clothes or food comes from? In the book Oh Say Can You Seed, the Cat in the Hat teaches about seeds and how they develop. There are many different things in the world that comes from plants. Just to name a few clothes, food, medicine, the air we breath, and many other things. The Cat in the Hat discusses the different stages of development a seed goes through from seed all the way to a flowering plant.

This week I chose a book that has a concept about agriculture I believe to be very important. My dad is a cotton farmer in the panhandle of Texas, so I am very passionate about wanting people to know and understand just how important agriculture really is. This book discusses about seeds, their development, and what is produced from the plant of the seed. As I said earlier, my dad is a farmer, so growing up I had the opportunity to see a seed being planted and a few months later the plant being harvested. For example, cotton has many different products made from it such as money, clothes, stuffed animals, jeans, towels, and blankets. Also, let's not forget to remind the students that some of the food we eat comes from plants, as well. This book can also be used for a science lesson.

Activity to go along with this book:

Materials

• lima beans
• Ziploc bags
• paper towels
• marker
• tape
• water

Each student will receive a Ziploc bag, a moist paper towel, and two lima beans.

Place the seeds in the moist paper towel, then put the paper towel that is wrapped around the beans into the Ziploc.

With a marker, have the students write their name on the outside of the bag. 

Tape the bag to the window. 

Over the next few days, chart the growth of the seeds to see how much they grow.

This is a video about the products that come from cotton:

Charlie the Ranch Dog

By: Ree Drummond
Illustrated by: Diane deGrout

Being a ranch dog is hard work, at least this is what Charlie the Basset Hound thinks in the book Charlie the Ranch Dog. Charlie is a ranch dog who has droopy eyes, floppy skin, long dangly ears, and loves bacon. He works hard all the time on the ranch by fixing fence, chasing the cows out of the yard, gardening with his mama, rounding up cattle, and anything else his family needs help with. However, Charlie does love his meals and his naps; everybody has to eat and sleep, right? Charlie just doesn't know what his family would do with out him.

This book is a book I have been very excited to write about. The author of this book Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman, is a well-known blogger. I enjoy reading her blog because I seem to always step away from the computer with new insights and ideas. The author, however, is not the only reason as to why I have been excited to write about Charlie the Ranch Dog. My other reason is I have a Basset Hound named Sadie whom I love very much. Even though this book is towards the younger side, there are still teaching points that can be shared with students such as the importance of a ranch dog, ranch life, and the hard work that goes into running and living on a ranch. Some example questions include: Has anyone ever visited a ranch? What kind of animals would a ranch have? What are some jobs a person might have if they lived on a ranch? Help the students understand the teaching concept by making a connection with the book to life, to the students, or even to yourself.

Want to meet Charlie? Listen to the author Ree Drummond talk about her lovable ranch dog Charlie:

If you are interested in checking out The Pioneer Woman's blog, here is the link: http://thepioneerwoman.com/

When Cows Come Home for Christmas

By: Dori Chaconas
Illustrated by: Lynne Chapman

It's the most wonderful time of year! Christmas that is, when the cows come home once again to join in fellowship of friends and family and celebrate Christmas together. The cows have a favorite corner that they put the Christmas tree up every year. Before putting up the tree, the cows dance a Cowpoke Polka. But while dancing, Moosha's two hooves crash right through the floor directly where the tree is suppose to stand. The cows try and try to get Moosha unstuck but nothing is working. Everyone is sad that there will be no tree. Does this mean no Christmas? The cows are inspired by a baby calf on how to save Christmas, and they just might start a new tradition, as well.

This week, I chose a very different agriculture themed book. I thought this was a cute and fun book to relate agriculture to. Ideally, this book should be read to students around Christmas time. Even though it is not realistic, a teacher would still be able to talk to his/her students about cows. For example, Ask where do cows live?, Has anyone ever seen or been around a cow? Other discussions can occur as well such as, ask students how they would have attempted to fix the situation, do they have any Christmas traditions, or how would they decorate a Christmas tree. And remember to try and find a way to make a connection with the book to real life, to the students, or even to yourself.

All the Places to Love

By: Patricia Maclachlan
Illustrated by: Mike Wimmer

Everyone has a favorite place they like to spend time. When Eli was born, his grandmother held him up to the window so the first thing he could see was all the places to love. He loved the valley, the river, the hilltop where blueberries grow, and other places around the farm. Everyone in Eli's family has a favorite place they like to be just like Eli. No matter where he may live, all the places to love are there where he was born.

After reading this story with your students, share all the places you love and why you love spending time there. Then once you have shared, have the students tell there favorite places and why. You will be making a connection with the students and Eli, who's favorite place was the farm, from the story. Remind the students no matter where they may live, they will always have all of their places they love to look back on.

Heat Wave

By: Helen Ketteman
Illustrations by: Scott Goto

Is it true that only boys can be farmers? In the book Heat Wave, one little girl from Kansas is confident that she has what it takes to be a farmer. When a huge heat wave hits the Kansas farmland, the young girl gets her chance to prove to her brother that she too can be a farmer. If it wasn't for the determined, quick-thinking farm girl, the livestock and crops would not have made it through the heat wave.

This book helps teachers teach their students that it is not all fun and games on a farm. Even though what happens to the animals and crops in this book is a little extreme, teachers can teach children about droughts and how they effect farms just like the little girl's farm in Kansas was effected by the heat wave. This book also lets us celebrate the farmers and ranchers who work so hard to keep up the our wonderful land.