At Home on the Farm product reviews

I've seen many of Ned Barraud's books before, I've always enjoyed the realistic and rustic style of drawing they bring to their books. Whilst farms and farming isn't something that I am particularly bothered with, a picture book is always a quick and easy read, so I have no issues with giving one a quick look through.

This picture book focuses on a farm, which is currently drier than it would like to be, due to a lack of rain. When I first looked at the cover, I did assume it would be a generic here's what's what on the farm, but it gives that whilst also giving the affect a lack of rain can have on some of the aspects of farming. This book also focuses on the animals. I always like it when a New Zealand written book actually has New Zealand plant life and wildlife within its pages, so this got a thumbs up from me in that regards. The illustrations were lovely, I particularly love the final page spread of the Kahu and the incoming rain, really lovely and one I would be happy to have on my wall because it ignites memories for me of similar situations, watching the rain appear on the horizon and then move towards you.

The text itself was good, there were a few times I got myself caught up on the rhyming motion and had to repeat myself once or twice. The story works well, gives a little view of various animals on the farm, even the rat ready to steal nice, fresh eggs. In the end, this was a good book, the story flowed pretty well but it was the illustrations that really sell the book, in my opinion. This would be a great book for any lad or lass who likes the farm or farm animals.