School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4-- The ecological progression of a farm left abandoned for 50 years is artfully described in this compelling picture book that combines spare, lovely prose with excellent illustrations. First came the flowers, then vegetation, trees, and a variety of wildlife that changed as the environment gradually transformed. Poetically ending the story is farmer Joe McCrephy, who, returning to his farm as an old man, sees a forest where corn once grew. ``You and I have gone through some changes. . .'' he observes before lying down ``. . .in the shade of a big red oak for a short summer nap.'' Chartier's fine watercolors offer a visual perspective that reinforces the meaning and the mood of the text. Each double-page spread is a delight, making it possible for even young children to grasp the concepts of environmental change and relationships with pleasure. A book that will serve a broad range of readers and purposes. --Lee Bock, Brown County Public Libraries, Green Bay, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Poetic prose describes the evolution of a Midwest farm and the aging of its owner over a half century. The text is extended by watercolors displaying varying levels of detail. An idyllic story of nature at work. From HORN BOOK 1991, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
After 24-year-old Joe McCrephy leaves his Ohio cornfield to go to Wyoming, nature takes over: weeds and field flowers replace the corn, attracting birds; then young trees begin to grow, providing cover for a different range of wildflowers and creatures. In time, a full-grown forest shelters deer and other woodland creatures for Joe to wonder at when he finally returns as an old man. The simple text, admirably species-specific, is much extended in Chartier's lovely watercolors, where landscapes and most flora are rendered impressionistically but the animals are carefully observed and precisely delineated. An unusually appealing look at change; try pairing it with the reverse approach, like Burton's The Little House (1942) or Baker's Window (p. 315). (Picture book. 4-10)
Booklist Review
Gr. 1-3. Joe McCrephy grew corn on his Ohio farm until he packed up and moved to Wyoming to help his brother raise goats. He left behind an empty cornfield, a piece of land that readers will see gradually transformed as nature takes its inevitable course. The earth of Joe's bare cornfield is gradually covered with grass and flowers, which give way to small trees and bushes, and, ultimately, to woods. This lesson in natural succession unfolds easily through a personable narrative and skillful watercolors that reflect a keen sense of the land. The changing vistas draw attention not only to the evolving greenery, but also to the animal population that grows with the favorable environment. A lovely presentation that will fit perfectly into environmental science units. ~--Denise Wilms
