The Easter Bunny will soon be visiting boys and girls coast-to-coast with goodies, games and more.
What better way to celebrate spring than a book filled with farm animals, tractors and springtime wonders? Let your little ones peek into the world of agriculture this spring with one (or two) of these engaging, educational books.
Here are our picks for the 10 best ag-themed books for your Easter basket:
1. “Little Blue Truck’s Springtime” by Alice Schertle (author) and Jill McElmurry (illustrator). “Beep! Beep!” Little Blue Truck is out for a ride with his good friend Toad. The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming — it’s a beautiful spring day. Who will they see along the way? Open the flaps to meet all of the sweet baby animals just born on the farm. “Peep! Peep!”
2. “Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type” by Doreen Cronin (author) and Betsy Lewin (illustrator). Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears, “Click, clack, moo. Click, clack, moo. Click, clack, moo.” But Farmer Brown’s problems get bigger when his cows start leaving him notes. Listen in on the fun as a bunch of literate cows turn Farmer Brown’s farm upside down.
3. “I Love Strawberries” by Shannon Anderson (author), Emma D. Dryden (editor) and Jaclyn Sinquett (illustrator). Jolie loves strawberries — and she’s on an unstoppable (and hilarious) mission to grow her own food from seedling to table in this colorful introduction to the joy of growing the popular perennial. “I Love Strawberries” is published by Feeding Minds Press, a project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, whose mission is to build awareness and understanding of agriculture through education.
4. “Driving My Tractor” by Jan Dobbins (author), David Sim (illustrator), and SteveSongs (performer). Chug along with a farmer and his tractor on this multi-season animal adventure. A busy farmer picks up 15 animals along his route, but when his trailer hits a stone, chaos ensues. This colorful book combines simple counting instruction with humor, repetition and rhythm to encourage learning fun. The book with CD edition includes song sung by acclaimed children’s performer SteveSongs.
5. “Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish” by Viola Butler (author), Emma D. Dryden (editor) and Ward Jenkins (illustrator). What happens when you wish for all the ice cream you can eat? The Dairy Godmother appears to make your dairy dreams come true and to highlight dairy farming and the hard work it takes to make the popular treat. “Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish” is published by Feeding Minds Press.
6. “Brock the Rooster — Big John’s Barnyard Talent Show” by Adam Brockway (author) and Amy Eckler (illustrator). It’s finally fall on Big John’s farm, and that can only mean one thing. It’s time for Big John’s Barnyard Talent Show. Join Brock the Rooster as he sets off on an optimistic endeavor in hopes to discover a talent of his own.
7. “The Barnyard Dance” by Sandra Boynton. Everybody sing along — because it’s time to do-si-do in the barnyard with a high-spirited animal crew. From Boynton on Board, the bestselling series of board books, here is “Barnyard Dance,” with Boynton’s twirling pigs, fiddle-playing cows and other unforgettable animals.
8. “Tractor Mac Worth the Wait” by Billy Steers (author). The pigs, Pete and Paul, are eager to help Farmer Bill grow the best and biggest watermelons so he’ll win at the annual Fruit and Vegetable Show, but their overzealous efforts to help the melons grow faster end up destroying the entire melon patch. Tractor Mac and friends teach Pete and Paul that with patience and care, they too can grow a prize melon.
9. “Farm Boots” by Lisl H. Detlefsen (author), Renee Kurilla (illustrator). Grab your boots; it’s time to explore life on a farm. In joyful verse, follow a diverse cast of families as they work together to care for crops and animals on their farms through spring, summer, fall and winter. Farm Boots is published by Feeding Minds Press.
10. “Springtime Babies” (Little Golden Book) by Danna Smith (author) and Takako Fisher (Illustrator). It’s springtime on the farm — and that means adorable piglets, lambs and ducklings are waiting to be discovered. This is the perfect Easter or baby shower gift, and fun to read all year long.
This article was originally published on March 27, 2023, in the Morning Ag Clips, https://www.morningagclips.com/10-ag-themed-books-for-your-easter-basket/.
Landowner Stewardship Series
Save the dates for Tuesday evenings in April at 6 p.m. for the Landowner Stewardship Series.
Do you own property in Archuleta County? Would you like to know more about your land and its resources?
The CSU Extension office and the San Juan Conservation District are hosting an in-depth Landowner Stewardship Series on best practices on your land:
• April 2: weeds.
• April 9: water.
• April 16: wildlife.
• April 23: fire mitigation and evacuation.
• April 30: range and soil health.
Go to the Extension Facebook page for information and registration. This is a free event, but registration is strongly suggested.
Lifelong Learning Lecture Series
On April 18 from 6 to 7:15 p.m., the Ruby Sisson Library’s Lifelong Learning Lecture Series will present “Water, our Most Precious Resource.”
What can we do as individuals and a community to preserve what we have?
CPR and first aid classes
CPR and first aid certification classes are offered every other month at the CSU Extension office, generally on the second Monday and Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. The cost for the classes is $80 for combined CPR/first aid and $55 for CPR, first aid or recertification. Call the Extension office at (970) 246-5931 to register.
Check out the online option on our website, https://archuleta.extension.colostate.edu/.
