Synopses & Reviews
Old MacDonald had a farm, but what did that oink-oink pig and honk-honk goose really do? They had all sorts of escapades, as readers will discover in this collection of silly, rhyming poems about farm life. Charley Hoce taps his twenty-two years as a classroom teacher to write verse that is perfectly pitched to young children's (sometimes corny) sense of humor. And he's deliberately woven in language skills that young children need to practice. "Children love puns, homophones, idioms, and anything that turns convention upside down," says Charley. So a sheep goes on the lam, a cow wears a dress that makes her calves look small, a bull literally teeters in a china shop. Old MacDonald's farm has never been so much fun!
Review
"The humor is age appropriate and poems about 'ants in my plants' and a hoarse horse will appeal to children who are beginning to enjoy playing with language. . . . This book is fun, but it's also excellentfor classroom use; a 'Wordplay Guide' that indicates language skills, such as identifying homophones, personification, and idioms, is appended." --School Library Journal
About the Author
Background: Charley teaches elementary school at National Trail Local School in New Paris, Ohio. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from Ohio University and a reading endorsement from the University of Dayton. Charley has had poetry accepted for publication in Fun for Kids and Front Porch and won a first place award for his fiction in 1999 from Northern Ohio SCBWI. Who am I? "I have been an elementary teacher for the past 21 years. As part of my career, I've enjoyed working with children, coaching, and sharing my professional knowledge with my colleagues. I do author visits to schools in my region and enjoy sharing my passion for writing with students. My wife Joanele and I will celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary this year; our only son C.J. will be 16 in November. As a family we enjoy spending time together reading, laughing, relaxing, fishing, and traveling." My favorite character from children's literature is: "Maniac Magee. I like the fact that he's part legend, part myth, and all heart." Eugenie has illustrated more than one hundred books for children, including The Mouse Was Out at Recess. She lives in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.