Phyllis Alsdurf

As winter arrives and Christmas draws near, a young farm girl is told by her parents that this year they intend to have a simple holiday, with homemade presents and decorations, and more emphasis on giving than on receiving. At first the girl isn't sure how she feels about this, but as she begins to share her homemade cookies—with residents of the nearby senior living center, with the vet who cares for the farm animals—the girl begins to see that a simple Christmas on the farm isn't so show more bad, especially when she can invite so many people to Christmas dinner in the barn...

Having enjoyed author Phyllis Alsdurf's Thanksgiving in the Woods, the first of what has now become the Countryside Holidays series, I have been meaning to pick up subsequent titles, and this season I finally tracked down the second installment, A Simple Christmas on the Farm. This one has a different illustrator than the first—English artist Lisa Hunt, instead of Norwegian illustrator Jenny Løvlie—and while the visuals here are still quite cute, somehow I felt they didn't quite fit the theme of the story. I really appreciated the idea of a less commercial, less gift-driven Christmas to be found in Alsdurf's narrative. I still recall with fondness the childhood Christmas in which my family exchanged letters instead of presents, a decision driven by financial necessity, but resulting in something lovely. So it is that I was prepared to wholeheartedly embrace this story, both for philosophical and religious reasons—no, Christmas is not about presents—and for personal ones. But somehow the visuals here, while depicting the actual events described in the text, made me think that this wasn't so much a real farming family, having a truly simple Christmas, but a more affluent "lifestyle" farming family, capable of putting on a holiday with all the trimmings, even if done in a "rustic" style.

Despite this criticism, I did still enjoy the book, appreciating the overall theme, and the depiction of a happy biracial family in the artwork. I also liked the inclusion of some religious observances in the story, as the family goes to church service as part of their holiday celebrations. This was handled in a low-key, matter-of-fact way, and reflects the experiences of millions of American children, so I was somewhat appalled (although not especially surprised) to read an online review which criticized this aspect of the book as "non-inclusive." Apparently Christians celebrating the reason the holiday of Christmas exists at all is exclusionary. Leaving that bit of baffling delusion aside, even with the foregoing critique of the artwork, I would still recommend this one to those seeking Christmas picture books which emphasize the non-commercial aspects of the holiday. show less

"Every morning, every night, it's milking time." So begins the poetic narrative of this lovely picture book about life on a dairy farm, and the daily routine of milking that a young girl and her father share. As the girl calls the cows from the fields, the father prepares the milking barn, where they get their food and give milk in exchange. The milk is gathered, strained and stored, to be taken the next morning, and used in dairy products of all kinds. The girl and her parents, in the show more meantime, enjoy some of the milk themselves, and their quiet dinner and evening together...

I discovered author Phyllis Alsdurf through her series of Countryside Holidays picture books, beginning with Thanksgiving in the Woods, and having enjoyed those, decided to track down her debut in the form. Given the author biography on the rear dust-jacket flap, which mentions Alsdurf growing up on a Minnesota dairy-farm, it's clear that It's Milking Time has some personal significance for her. There is a wealth of understated love in her tale, both between daughter and father, and between girl and cows. The accompanying artwork from illustrators Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher has a soft glow to it, and captures that sense of peaceful contentment, in both the hard work and the family time afterward. Recommended to anyone looking for stories about dairy farms, and where milk comes from. show less

With autumn in full swing, the young boy-narrator of this engaging seasonal picture book describes how he and his parents prepare for the Halloween celebration at their local orchard. Dressing up in their costumes, having pumpkin pizza for dinner, and then grabbing their treat bag (in the case of the boy), they head to the orchard for an evening of fun. Walking through the orchard to find all the scarecrows—each of which has goodies to dispense, petting the animals in the petting zoo, and show more then exploring the corn maze, a good time is had by all. The night finished off with a hayride, and then the walk home...

Halloween in the Orchard is the third book I have read in author Phyllis Alsdurf's Countryside Holidays series, following upon Thanksgiving in the Woods and A Simple Christmas on the Farm. Like the latter, it was illustrated by British artist Lisa Hunt—the first book was illustrated by Norwegian artist Jenny Løvlie—and is lots of fun. An engaging story of a rural community's Halloween celebration is paired with cute artwork, resulting in a holiday book that is a pleasure to read. A search-and-find element, involving all of the scarecrows depicted in the illustrations, adds another element of fun. I have happy memories of my own Halloween celebrations as a girl, but they mostly revolved around trick-or-treating. I don't think I ever attended an event quite like this, although I did once go to a local historical museum's Halloween night celebration. In any case, this is one I would recommend to picture book artists looking for Halloween stories featuring family and fun, but few scares. show less

Easter traditions, old and new, sprinkle between budding Spring and more than a few joyful scenes.

A girl on a farm is excited to see the first signs of Spring. Preparing the garden, watching the birth of lambs, and much more make each day an exciting experience. Plus, there are the preparations for the upcoming Easter celebration until the day arrives.

This is told in first person and jumps from one moment to the next. The text is slightly heavier, but thanks to the changing scenes and the show more holiday echoes, even the younger end of the age group should enjoy it. Only reluctant readers might take glances here and there. But the goodness doesn't end with the story.

Spring vibes and Easter atmosphere radiate from every page with fitting illustrations done in bright pastels. Each page reflects the activities and cheerful experiences. There are inviting moments from farm life as well as wholesome relationships between family and friends. The girl bounces from one situation to the next, embracing everything with a positive attitude. So much so that it will have listeners wishing they could partake in some of the fun. And they can. In the tale, several craft projects are introduced, which are fitting for the age group. These are visited again at the end of the book with instructions on how to make each Easter surprise.

There is a slight religious direction, which fits very well to the theme and slides right in with the usual Easter celebration. The entire read uplifts and inspires listeners to begin Easter preparations of their own. I received a DRC through Edelweiss and am now heading to start my own preparations for Spring and Easter. show less