Little Homesteader

June 1, 2022
An illustrated activity and recipe book with options for all skill levels. A table of contents and welcome message offer up the scope of summer activities held within. The word homestead is never defined, but it is implied that it is a state of mind inclusive of the reader. Efforts are made to render the recipe or activity instructions simple, but some spreads are visually busy with headings, graph-paper backgrounds, and numbered steps that do not always flow left to right. Two unnamed children, one with dark skin, the other with light skin, appear in most activity instructions, demonstrating the topic in action, such as playing with a homemade bubble wand. Both have rosy cheeks, contributing to the vintage paper doll illustration style. A range of projects--from planting a "three sisters" garden to mixing up homemade shampoo--ensures many interest levels are met, including those of children who may not be outdoorsy. Recipes as simple as a raw melon pizza are complemented by the challenge of baking a summer solstice cake. The solstice cake seems a bit out of season, as few may want to fire up an oven in June. However, the earnestness with which both information and ideas are presented outshines the blemishes overall. Almost all the activities require adult supervision, developed motor skills, and multiple items, some of which may need to be purchased. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Accessible, sincere, screen-free fun. (Informational picture book. 6-11)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 13, 2021
Rosy-cheeked children of varying skin tones walk readers through cold-weather activities in this cozy amalgam aimed at readers in northern climes. After an introductory spread, subsequent pages offer straightforward recipes for hot cocoa, bread, and candied orange slices (reminders to ask for adult help are manifold), while crafts include a pinecone bird feeder, evergreen paintbrushes, and winter solstice lanterns. Ferraro-Fanning also details winter crops such as tree sap and citrus fruits, and nature-focused activities invite readers to tap trees and spot winter wildlife. Soft colored pencil illustrations by AnneliesDraws clearly attend the range of information presented. Though instructions aren’t always fully fleshed, and the book elides any mention of homesteading’s complicated history, the wealth of simple activities will please. Ages 5–8.