When School Bells Call (Farm Life Series)

Readers ages seven to eleven will be drawn to this charming story that happened during a time not so long ago. Take a peek at life in a large, loving Mennonite family where everyone works together, faith is practiced daily, and fun happens often.

When the harvest starts in Lancaster County, it signals time for school to begin. Children help gather the fruits and vegetables from the gardens and prepare the one-room schoolhouse for the first day of school, and Elva loves it all!

One day Elva and her classmates plan a secret "food roll" to bless Teacher. They try their best to hide their giggles but erupt with laughter as Teacher shows her surprise. Then when her fifth-grade arithmetic lessons get Elva down, her brother suggests the perfect way to forget about her troubles—for a while anyway. And when the beautiful harvest moon is at its fullest, Elva steps quietly through the rustling corn fields to listen for...for what? What is it that makes Elva love autumn so much?

Self-taught artist and gifted author Elva Hurst draws inspiration from her warm memories of growing up in a large conservative Mennonite family on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania. Now with a husband, four children, and a small farm of her own, she carves time out of her busy day to follow her passion for the arts and writing—all from her kitchen table.