'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Thursday 28 February 2013

Review: The Windy Farm

Which would you prefer to own, if you had the choice? An oil well in the valley, or a windy farm on a hilltop?

Uncle Jeff has an oil well in his back yard, right next to the clothes line. Mum and Dad and Grandpa are happy living with their family on their farm on Windy Hill, even though it is so windy that sometimes the pigs nearly blow away! When a big electricity bill comes in and Uncle Jeff won't help out, Mum the Inventor needs to come up with a way for the farm on Windy Hill to earn some money.


This entertaining and humorous picture book introduces the idea of sustainable energy to young children in a very fun way when Mum discovers that having a farm on a windy hill can be a very good thing, especially when you can turn it into a wind farm.

The illustrations and story work together wonderfully to create a very enjoyable story about the enterprising family living on Windy Hill.  I love Grandpa’s easygoing attitude and the way greedy Uncle Jeff is repaid for his lack of support when the Windy Hill family was in need.

There are teachers’ notes available for The Windy Farm on the Working Title Press website, making it ideal as a classroom resource for infants grades discussing energy and the environment.

Title:  The Windy Farm
Author: Doug MacLeod
Illustrator: Craig Smith
Publisher: Working Title Press, $24.95 RRP
Publication Date: February 2013
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781921504419
For ages: 4 - 8 years
Type: Picture book