Old MacDonald Had a Farm

January 1, 2014
The heavy-lidded cat with a cult following dons overalls for a trip to the farm. There is absolutely nothing out of the ordinary about the text in this outing, verses unfurling spread by spread, one per animal. This feline Old MacDonald has some equally heavy-lidded chickens, dogs, cows, pigs, horses, (Siamese) cats, goats, ducks, turkeys, roosters, donkeys, sheep, frogs and geese, as well as a turtle that's pictured in each scene. They all pretty much say the expected things, though preschoolers will be quick to call shenanigans when they hear that Pete-the-Cat MacDonald's goats say "baa-baa" while the sheep say "maa-maa." The "action," such as it is, plays out on static, green-grassed, blue-skied backgrounds in which the occasional tractor or barn trades places with a red pickup. Aside from Pete and his turtle, the animals included in the spreads vary, sometimes accumulating and sometimes not; children who like to find patterns will be frustrated here. But the book's biggest liability is its star's practically comatose affect. Jacket copy and the character's mythos tell readers that Pete's "groovy," but he just looks like he couldn't care less. As the lyrics of "Old MacDonald" beg to be sung aloud with brio, Pete's never-changing expression and the unwavering stolidity of the compositions make a hopeless mismatch. "Old MacDonald" for narcoleptics. (Picture book. 3-5)

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March 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-Pete the Cat is yet again inspiring sing-alongs, this time on Old MacDonald's farm. The book goes through the song with 17 different animals, each one keeping strictly to the familiar lyrics with no other textual additions. Each verse is accompanied by a spread illustration of that animal and Pete, either holding a guitar or driving a truck or tractor. The book has the repetition that readers have come to expect, but it is not original; it's simply an Old MacDonald picture book with illustrations featuring Pete the Cat. Those expecting the catchy original songs found in the first three "Pete the Cat" titles (HarperCollins) will be disappointed. However, for libraries that cannot keep enough Pete books on the shelves, this will do.-Emily E. Lazio, The Smithtown Special Library District, NY

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