We Love the Dirt (Hello Reader!, Level 1)

An early reader storybook is set on a small farm and explores how the farmer, the pig, the frog, the cricket, the earthworm, the tree, the flower, and the scarecrow each involve themselves with the dirt in a special way. Original.

PreSchool-Grade 1. A farm family, their animals, and other elements of rural life (a worm, a field) all state their relationship to the earth in simple repetitive quatrains. "I am the farmer./I wear a red shirt./I am the farmer./I plow the dirt." Each speaker appreciates dirt in some way: sister makes dessert (mud pies), the pig wears it, and the scarecrow guards it. The lone exception is the cat, fussily cleaning its fur coat. The folksy, circular tale gently reminds readers of the interdependence of all living things. Unfortunately, Brandenberg's primitive folk-art illustrations are clumsy and unappealing, and fail to bring the tale to life. The large typeface is helpful for beginning readers, but the text is often set against dark, cluttered pages. Though this slight story is appealing, the poorly executed art and book design limit its appeal.?Marilyn Taniguchi, Santa Monica Public Library, CA
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