Michael Martchenko

Fred, a computer operator leaves his job in the city to work on a farm in the country. Realizing farming is hard manual labor, he invents gadgets to hook up to his computer with the help of his neighbor and son. These gadgets cause a blackout in the community and outrage of the townspeople.

A funny story about an adult moving and changing careers. It has animal themes being set on a farm and child empowerment when the boy next door helps the new farmer with his chores and his inventions.

A very funny story. A girl invents a really amazing delicious bird seed mixture, and the birds like it so much they all grow too big and fat to fly! Great pictures by Martchenko, who is well known as illustrator for many stories by Robert Munsch. Suitable for preschool to grade 2 or 3. The text is somewhat longer than Robert Munsch's stories, meant to be read aloud.

I love this book! The illustrations are incredible! It is a unique story and with the drawings it is so much more.

Jenny designs a bird feeder in her backyard that attracts a lot of birds that get fatter and bigger because they love her concoction of bird feed. This alarms the townspeople and the mayor asked Jenny to do something about it. She tried music, exercise tapes, and mirrors to slim the birds down and hoped they go away but they were too big and heavy to fly. When the seasons changed and they couldn’t fly, an airplane arrived to take them away.