There are many great picture books on farms, so a storytime on farmers can help preschoolers understand where the food in the grocery store comes from. For a craft project, you can make paperbag puppets of some of the farm animals. Or, cut fruits and vegetables for print-making, dipping the item in paint and printing on paper. Apples and potatoes work especially well for this stamp project.
Brooks, Felicity. FRANK THE FARMER Find out what a farmer does in this quiet story.
Cordsen, Carol. MARKET DAY. The Benson family forgets to feed their cow as they rush to bring their apples to the farmers’ market.
Cronin, Doreen. CLICK, CLACK, MOO: COWS THAT TYPE. First in a series of hilarious stories about animals who negotiate with the farmer for better working conditions. If you have a younger toddler audience, try the counting book (Click, Clack, Splish, Splash) or one of the related board books.
Johnson, Paul Brett. FARMERS’ MARKET. Laura goes with her family to sell their goods at the farmers’ market, where she and friend Betsy look at all the stalls.
McClure, Nikki. TO MARKET, TO MARKET. A boy and his mom visit the farmers’ market and gather stories of how the food gets from farm to table. With dramatic cut-paper artwork.
Scott, Janine. Farmer Claude and Farmer Maude series: FUN IN THE SUN. RAIN ON THE ROOF. THE ROWDY ROOSTER. A husband and wife and their farm animals are annoyed at the rooster that wakes them at 5am, or try to find shelter from the leaky roof, in this comedic picture book series from Australia.
Various. THE ENORMOUS TURNIP. This classic folktale is perfect for audience participation – the children can act out the roles of the farmer, wife, cat, dog, etc. who all try to pull the giant turnip out of the ground.
Various. OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM. There are several versions of this song available in picture book format, including a Big Book, so get the audience to sing along to this classic.
Wellington, Monica. APPLE FARMER ANNIE. A realistic but simple look at a female farmer, and how she sells apples at the farmers’ market.
Wilson, Karma. THE COW LOVES COOKIES. With a repetitive rhyme that invites audience participation, we find out why the cow loves cookies.
Wilson, Karma. HOGWASH. A farmer cannot get his pigs to take their baths.
Penny Peck