The Farmyard Jamboree (with Singalong CD) M R MacDonald

Read alone ages:  4 - 8
Read together ages:  0 - 4

Book Description:

Quack, moo and neigh along with this riotous cumulative song from Chile, which features farm animals of all shapes and sizes. With a hen, a chick, a cat, a kitten, a cow, a calf, a horse, a colt and many more, this entertaining caper introduces children to animals and their babies, the sounds they make, colours, and the names of different relatives (eg: Auntie, Grandpa, Sister, Father), all while teaching them to count up to sixteen in multiples of two!  This lively book comes with a Singalong CD so children can join in the fun ...  "Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!"  Enjoy!  :-)

Reviews:

"Readers can't help but shout 'Cluck! Cluck! Cluck!' and 'Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!' along with the boy narrator ...   Inspired by a Chilean folktale, this invitingly illustrated volume boasts a parade of 16 animals as each adds another verse to the story, along with its sound.  Fatus' round shapes and Chilean-inspired clothing will keep kids happily flipping the pages." - Publisher's Weekly

"This is a wonderful tale with a fantastic song to go with it, inspired by a Chilean folk tale. A boy is given a hen, which then has a chick. Then a duck, followed by a duckling. Followed by cats, dogs and a whole menagerie of animals. It’s a lovely story and one that features two of the key things that my toddlers love: animals and counting. The illustrations are lovely – colourful and quirky. But it’s the singalong CD that really elevated this book in the opinion of my family. The song that goes with the story is a classic and is really easy to sing along with. Within one listen, we all had the tune in our heads, as it’s so catchy and fun.  I would really recommend this book and CD, particularly if your child likes animals and certainly if you like singing along with your children." - Tina Hene (from Families Online)

"I first saw this book in the local library, borrowed it and was so impressed with it that I immediately bought my own copy.  I have almost used it to death since at school. The children love the catchy folk tune and it has room for so many applications as it goes through family relationships as well as being an excellent counting book. The illustrations are top notch and the singing on the CD clear and easy to follow. As a bonus, a child could follow the story on the CD as a ding tone indicates when to turn the page. I have used it with special needs kids with great success and it would go down just as beautifully in a mainstream classroom. Highly recommended." - Mrs Esther J Smith (from Amazon)

"In this book, a boy dressed in a traditional Chilean costume is receiving different pets as gifts from his relatives (ie: grandfather, grandmother, mother, father, auntie, uncle, brother, sister, etc). As the book progresses, it talks about what the baby animal of each pet is called and it teaches about counting in twos from 1 to 16. The best part of the book is the way the little boy sings “Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay,…” and how it matches with the Chilean theme part of the book!

If you are a teacher looking for a counting book, an introduction to baby animals, colours, and/or Chilean tradition, this is a great book to use. Plus, the lively music and the sound of the guitar uplifts the mood of anybody who is reading and listening to the CD! Have fun reading The Farmyard Jamboree!" - Alpha  (Barefoot Book Reviews)

"I bought this book for my students who happen to have autism. They LOVE it and request it all the time. The first time I heard it I thought, "Oh no, this is boring," BUT it really speeds up and has a nice melody. You will find yourself singing this in your sleep. My 20 month old daughter loves it as well. I think any young child will enjoy the melody, the pictures and the rhythm of this story." - Dolce (from Amazon)