Maisy’s Tractor

Honestly, I picked this book because 

A) it was one of the cleanest board books i the board book bin 

and 

B) I liked the cutout shape.

Author/Illustrator: Lucy Cousins
Publisher: Candlewick (March, 2015)
Series: Go with Maisy
Prices: Board Book – $5.39 
Reading level: 0 to 8 years old
Interest level:  preschool and Lower grades
Physical Characteristics: 6.9 x 5.3 inches, 18 pages
ISBN: 0763673056
Genres: Board Book
Subjects:
Tractors, Mice, Maisy, Farm Life

Annotation: In this board book, shaped like a tractor, Maisy has a fun-filled day on the farm.

Summary:  While working on the Farm, Maisy the mouse rides on a tractor.  She plows fields, milks the cows, brings hay to the animals and herds the lambs.  When she gets back to the barn she realizes she has lost one, and must jump on her tractor and go find it.

Evaluation:
I have a bias against Maisy.  I don’t know why, but Maisy and Caillou both annoy the pants off of me.  So, needless to say, this is not my favorite board book series. I much prefer Richard Scarry’s books about cars and trucks than I do Lucy Cousins.  All that being said, her bold and simple color palette and simplicity of text and plot are very good for the earliest of reading experiences with a child.  There is room for imagination as you can explore the farm, and make animal sounds with your child.  All of the books in this series are shaped like the vehicles they represent, and that is a very fun touch.  Even if the child does not want to read the book, they can still play with it.

Similar Titles or Authors:
Maisy’s Plane
Maisy’s Fire Engine
Bulldozer’s Big Day by Candace Fleming

 

Websites:
http://www.maisyfun.com/forchildren/

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/249470/maisys-tractor-by-lucy-cousins/

http://www.walker.co.uk/contributors/Lucy-Cousins-1720.aspx

Professional Reviews:

Kirkus

YouthService Book Reviews

Notes:
There is a television series based upon the Maisy books.

All images © Lucy Cousins