Old MacDonald Had a Boat

Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald, who live on a farm, have many things on their farm. But this book doesn’t focus on the animals. Instead it focuses on tools and how they are used and the noises they make. Everyone knows the old song “Old MacDonald Has a Farm,” so very young readers will have fun trying to guess what is coming next. But they won’t have much luck with that because there is nothing in the book that is expected. Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald are busy with all kinds of tools, sawing and sanding, painting and hammering, until they finally have what they need to make their farm a happier place.

Steve Goetz has written a fresh and unexpected version of an old story-poem that all youngsters seem to know and like. Illustrator Eda Kaban has a great sense of fun and has populated the pages with laugh-out-loud silly characters — both animal and human. There are plenty of funny details to keep kids focused on the book. The only weakness with this is that the story never reaches the conclusion and final verses of the original and, consequently, feels unfinished.