Reading out loud to young children is one of the most enjoyable experiences parents can encounter. While it may not seem to be so important to adults, this type of reading creates a positive mindset in children. Reading is fun and oral reading shows children how much their elders love and cherish them. Most successful early readers have had books read to them from an early age, so the value of this activity cannot be overstated. In the 1950’s, a very successful series of books were published by Random House Press in New York. They are known as the Golden Book Series and were extremely popular during that and later decades. Fortunately they are being republished today, and can be purchased at grocery stores, bookstores and on the internet. "Baby Farm Animals" is from this series and is a delightful tale for young children.
In the farmyard, all the animals begin to stir. First, a baby lamb begins walking in the meadow. Second, baby cats start playing and tussling with each other. Then more baby animals are introduced into this delightful setting. Soon rabbits and guinea pigs are rolling in the pasture and playing with each other. Someone tries to trick Baby Donkey with carrots hanging from a tree limb. They are trying to make him stand up on his hind legs to grasp the dangling treasure, but he is too clever to fall for that old trick. More and more animals come into the story. Ducklings can be seen swimming in the pond and inviting the baby chickens to go swimming. But the chicks have little interest in the water. However, the swans and geese cannot get enough of the lake and can be seen diving under the water and dipping under the water looking for something good to eat. A section of the barnyard next to the lake has fresh, clean straw. Here the piglets roll, play and dig into the earth with their strong snouts. Soon, readers see puppies chasing each other and chewing up old shoes. All the animals are having the time of their lives and all are playfully encountering the other animals. Outside the barn, two young goats or kids, line up across from each other and ram each other in the head. The kids do not seem to mind the collision and are ready to do it again. A beautiful young colt looks on at all this play and begins running gracefully across the pasture. The book finally closes with several other delightful scenes from the baby animals.
This book is not difficult to explain or interpret. All the baby animals are presented in a charming manner. Young children will love to hear these stories read to them. Garth Williams is the famous illustrator of the children’s classic, "Charlotte’s Web," and the animals bear a strong resemblance to the characters in that story. A sense of calm and peace prevails throughout this wonderfully illustrated title. Adults reading the story will enjoy the book as much as the children hearing it. There are any number of Little Golden Classic books in reprint. Be somewhat careful with the Disney reprints of the many fairy tales in the series as Disney mutes the moral purpose of the fairy tales by making them "politically correct." Since fairy tales originated to teach children right and wrong, these sanitized versions can blunt the basic purpose of the stories. But "Baby Farm Animals" will fill your heart with pleasure. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
