Growing Farm

Qui si narrano le vicissitudini di Ciuchinetto: un ciuchino dall'animo gentile, costretto a sopportare le vessazioni di un fattore cattivo. La contrapposizione tra la Bontà e la Cattiveria rappresenta la materia descrittiva entro cui si snoda il romanzo.

After her best friend, Annie, leaves for a fancy camp in New Hampshire, Ivy can’t imagine how she’s going to endure the long, hot Nevada summer with no one around but that pain-in-the-neck Billy Joe Butterworth next door and all those melancholy visitors to the Red Star Guest Ranch. Happily, an answer comes to Ivy in a flash of honey-colored topaz, and she cleverly hires herself out to take care of people’s farm animals or pets while they’re away. So begins a summer of discovery for tenderhearted but sensible Ivy....

Grandma Ginny and Timmy take a trip to visit the site of the family farm, where the old house and some rickety buildings still stand. Timmy had visited with Grandpa before and learned all about his tractor, but Grandma has her own stories to tell of planting the fields, harvesting the crops, and feeding the animals. Guided by Grandma’s farm diary and her fond memories, Timmy and Grandma tour the land and talk about what life was like back then.

Alex and Leah are a couple fresh out of college and both have an interest in having their own farm. They inherit land to get started but need to do a lot of work and ask for a little help from others to get their dream farm up and running.

Grampa Bender couldn’t run the Bed and Biscuit animal boardinghouse without the help of Ernest the mini-pig, Gabby the Vietnamese mynah bird, and his young cat, Milly. These three animals think of themselves as Grampa’s family, and they have always assumed he felt the same way.

The Bed and Biscuit animal boardinghouse has gone wild! Grampa Bender is temporarily caring for a wounded Canada goose, a cranky old muskrat, and two starving fox kits. Luckily Ernest, Grampa’s capable mini-pig, is there to encourage the other animals to be good hosts. But the visiting creatures are wild, not tame, and they all just want to go home! Despite the chaos, Ernest also takes on the training of Sir Walter the Scottie, the newest addition to Grampa’s blended animal family.

Otis the faithful farm tractor is frolicking in the meadow with his animal friends when an approaching tornado darkens the sky and threatens the farm. Rousing the animals for another game of follow-the-leader, Otis calmly guides them to the safety of a protected valley. But as the twister turns toward the barn, Otis hears the frantic bellowing of the bull, still locked in his pen.

Meet a sweet, curious little goat, who loves to sing and climb on everything. Some neighbors find her annoying, but nothing can keep her down—even when she gets stuck in a well and it looks like she’s doomed. When everyone has given up on her, the clever goat surprises them all by taking advantage of her precarious predicament to win the day!

Hen isn’t a little chick anymore. She’s spread her wings and can get a job done just the way she likes it. She can grow wheat herself, she can wheelbarrow it home by herself, and she can turn it into delicious bread—all by herself! No need to bother offering Hen a helping hand of any sort, thank you. She’s got it covered! But then comes Fox … and Fox loves to eat all kinds of tasty things. So when Pig, Horse, and Cow discover that Fox has paid Hen a visit, should they step in and offer assistance that Hen hasn’t asked for?

When Grampa's friend drops off his chicken, Malicia, at the Bed and Biscuit for a well-earned vacation, Ernest the mini-pig is determined to put aside his dislike for chickens and be a good host. But Malicia is no ordinary chicken: she’s magic! And she seems determined to use her magic to make the animals miserable. Together with Gabby the mynah bird, Milly the cat, and Sir Walter the Scottish terrier, Ernest must figure out a way to get Grampa to see how awful Malicia really is - before she does something truly terrible!

Ruby and Hewey is a heartwarming tale of friendship and acceptance. Hewey the sheep is new to Honeysuckle Animal Rescue Farm and is struggling to fit in. When Hewey's feeling down, an unlikely friend steps up to help him realize his potential. Honeysuckle Farm is full of fun animals and new friends. This the beginning of Ruby and Hewey's adventures together.

The story is about a young cow named Lauren who wants to be a jumping cow; her mom tells her that cows don't jump, but she is determined to be the first one. In the end, she flies, and her her mother flies with her, saying, "cows don't jump; they fly." This is is a story about determination and willingness to persevere, even if someone says it can't be done.

When a new chicken arrives at the farm, she quickly learns that compared to the others she is very plain. That is when the Wise Rooster teaches her that outside appearances are not always important. Sometimes being "just red" is the best compliment of all.

Saturday morning at the farm is a busy, noisy place! Once Robby the Rooster wakes up and loudly exclaims “Cock-A-Doodle-Doo,” Zach is up and ready to play. When Zach runs into the kitchen to eat breakfast, he decides he doesn’t have time for this important meal. So off Zach runs to see Horace the Horse. But Horace can’t play with Zach because he is busy eating his breakfast of hay. Find out what happens when Zach finds Clara the Cow and Cori the Chicken.

Ballet Cat and her cousin Goat are preparing a show for Grandma. Each is trying to outdo the other - Ballet Cat with an elaborate dance routine (of course) and Goat with his amazing (amazingly lame, that is) magic tricks. Neither act goes off quite as planned, but it doesn't matter...because Grandma falls asleep during the performance! Oh well. At least Ballet Cat and Goat learn how to cooperate. (But Ballet Cat cooperates better!)

Newborn lamb Finn, raised inside the farmhouse, isn't as big and strong as the other animals on the farm. He can't help but be frightened as he ventures outside and encounters unfamiliar sights, sounds, and creatures. With the help of Farmer John and his animal friends, Little Finn learns to be brave and mighty.

Cleophus the Clogging Cow is a delightful story about friendship, self-esteem, and goal setting. Through hard work and determination, Cleophus fulfills his dream of becoming a champion clogger with the help of his dear friend Claudia the Clogging Cowgirl. With Cleophus as an example, children learn how to respond to teasing by staying focused on their dreams.

In a story of perseverance and determination told with warmth and sparkling with humor, a short winter day finds Samuel and Papa walking a long road on Samuel's first trading trip. Meeting strangers, practicing good manners, and proud to be in Papa's company, Samuel watches and learns as Papa trades up from almost nothing to the milk cow Mama is yearning for. Simple text combines with vivid illustrations for a satisfying tale that will resonate with readers who enjoy an adventure with dad.

Amy suggests they take all of the good and shiny parts off Boris and put them on Hoss. They work all night, doing so. Hoss is ready for the parade. Boris sits in the barn and cries. He wishes he had worked as hard as Hoss. Everybody is excited to see Hoss pulling the apple cart in the parade.

Grandpa Joe takes his grandson Timmy back to the site of his family’s farm, where the old house and a ramshackle barn still stand. The visit stirs up memories for Grandpa Joe—in particular, the majesty of his own father's shiny red tractor, now rusting in the forgotten fields.