All Kids LOVE Tractors! Check Out This New Book Series Featuring IH Tractors and Casey and Friends, and WIN! (review and giveaway)

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received these books, free of charge, from Octane Press, for review and giveaway, purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it



If there sis one thing Miss Grace LOVES,  it is tractors!

So when the opportunaity came to check out a new book series for kids that focuses on International Harvester tractors, she was beyond sold!

A year on the farm sample page



About the Series:

Follow Casey the farmer, Tillus the worm, Big Red the tractor, and a whole cast of cartoon equipment characters who teach important life lessons gleaned from the farm, like thinking ahead and working as a team. 



Each title is licensed by CASE IH and highlights a different aspect of farm equipment and technology with educational sidebars, picture glossaries and fun farming facts for added learning possibilities.


We were able to check out the first book in the series, A Year on the Farm, and Big Tractors:

A year on the farm cover

A Year on the Farm with Casey & Friends (released Jan. 2015) introduces children to the world of modern farming by teaching them about the different jobs a farmer does each season. Casey and her team show how tractors, combines and other equipment: plant and harvest crops, work in the farmyard, and care for animals. Learn how farming involves planning for the year, reacting to the weather, and working as a team.

Bog Tractors cover

Big Tractors with Casey & Friends (released Apr. 2015) shows how the biggest, most powerful tractors handle the demanding jobs of pulling and powering on the farm. Find out how Big Red and Sammy – the biggest tractors on the farm – use their powerful muscles to work in the field with the rest of the team. Learn about the science of farming and discover how advanced technology makes Big Red and Sammy special.


Review:

As you can see Miss Grace was GLUED to these books, from the minute she opened them! She has quite a few toy tractors (and even had a riding one), so she went and grabbed her tractors to compare them to the ones in the book. Then she became a fountain of information:


Big Tractors sample page

I had never been able to answer her question as to why there was a front hook on the front of her toy tractor. Reading the books, she discovered the reason and screamed in delight, NOW she knew what it for for and has to go experiment with her tractor. I had to laugh! These books are so much FUN! We both love how they combine real life pictures with the characters who tell the story of what the tractors all do and when, during a typical year on a farm (she loved finding out how the hay was baled).

If you have a child who loves tractors, or even just learning HOW they work, these are fun books for them The books are aimed at kids ages 4-8, but I can see 9 and 10 yr olds being entranced with all the info too! The books would be a fun summer reading source, as you could make science experiments from some of the info in the books, as well a field trip to a local farm to check out a real tractor, and learn about animals while there! The books will give  years of reading fun and we can't recommend them enough!


Series-
Other books in the series coming up later this year!:


Combines with Casey & Friends (releasing June 2015) explains the step-by-step processes used to harvest crops by the most complex machines on the farm. Follow Cody and Kellie—the combines of Happy Skies Farm—as they do the work of three machines: gathering, separating, and unloading grain and corn.


Planters & Cultivators with Casey & Friends (releasing Sept. 2015) features the specialized farm equipment used to cultivate, plant and spray crops. Learn how Tammi the Tiller, Evan the Early Riser Planter and Peter the Patriot Sprayer work together to make this year’s crop bigger than ever. Explore the science of soil and discover how Casey’s team keeps it healthy.


flashing Win



Giveaway:

One BTHM reader will win their own copy of Big Tractors with Casey & Friends  AND a CASE IH (that's International Harvester for you non-rural folks, LOL) toy tractor 

(CASE IH Magnum 370 CVT Tractor Toy isb uilt to 1:64 scale, with single front & rear duals, detailed interior, free rolling wheels, and is recommended for ages 3+)




About the Author/ Illustrator:

Holly Dufek has spent nearly 15 years writing and editing educational curriculum for publishers such as Holt McDougal, National Geographic Education and Riverside Publishing. Holly has worked to develop content to enrich the National Common Core Standards for elementary through high school classrooms. Born in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her bachelor s degree, double majoring in English and History. Her first classroom experience was substitute teaching while in graduate school at DePaul University for her Master s in Education. Holly did her practicum in U.S. History. Licensed to teach History and English through the 12th grade, Holly decided to turn her focus on curriculum development. A Year on the Farm is her first published children s book. Working with an amazing design team to bring agricultural education to life has been one of the most enriching experiences for her. Holly lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin with her husband, Matt, and their three children. 


Paul E. Nunn is a full-range artist and approved character artist for Disney, Lucas Arts ad Nick Jr. He started his own freelance company to focus on children s animation in 2000 and hasn t looked back. Born and raised in Kenosha, WI, and drawing since he could hold a pencil, Paul got his big break right out of high school. With knowledge on new animation software, he became a pixel retouch artist for a small animation studio. As the company grew and landed big jobs with Disney, Mattel and Leapfrog, Paul worked his way up to Animation Director. Leaving in 2000 to start his own freelance business allowed Paul to focus on children s animation. His projects include working with legacy characters from Disney s Cinderella, Winnie the Pooh and The Jungle Book, line drawing for LucasArt s Indiana Jones, Star Wars and Star Wars Angry Birds and illustrating a handful of titles for Nick Jr s hit show Bubble Guppies. Getting to wake up every day with the opportunity to bring popular characters to life and share them with his own children is Paul s biggest joy. He lives in Racine, Wisconsin with his wife, Amy, and their two children.

Comments

  1. This would be for my grandson who would love it. Thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would love to win this for my little nephew, Owen.
    twinkle at optonline dot net

    ReplyDelete
  3. this would be for my grandson

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love to win this for my two little boys. They love tractors! jj250@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think my son would enjoy this prize. Can't call him a fan yet though.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd be getting this for my sweet little brother and nephew, they both love tractors.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My grandson would love this! He is a little farmer at heart!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. This would be for my grandson! He is so into tractors right now!

    ReplyDelete
  9. So sorry, wrote the wrong name for GFC follower in widget. Please change to nicolesender.
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. It would be for my son. He loves tractors and all big construction vehicles!
    RAFFLECOPTER: JENNIFERANNE

    ReplyDelete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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