Review by Booklist Review
Once there was a man who loved his tidy home, but he did not like animals at all. When a cat moved in with him, the man ordered it to leave, but the cat stayed, and the man discovered that they both enjoyed naps and dinnertime. He still didn't like cats, but he liked this cat (and its friends, who joined them). When a dog moved in (soon followed by its canine friends), the man readjusted again. The ducks arrived next, followed by chickens, goats, pigs, and cows. The man's neighbors became cranky. Too softhearted to evict the animals, old Mr. MacDonald (for, of course, that was his name) moved with them to his new farm, where they were wildly, loudly happy, singing, "Ee I Ee I O!" Underwood offers a quietly beguiling tale of a grumpy old fellow who finds happiness where he least expects it. The understated, heartening narrative leaves room for the illustrations to work their magic, amusing kids with large absurdities and small details. Great fun for sharing at story time.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this Old MacDonald origin story from Underwood (Walter Had a Best Friend) and Pham (Bear Came Along), the opening sequence shows a middle-aged man, portrayed with brown skin, happily dusting his apartment: "There was once a man who loved his tidy home and who didn't like animals." Naturally, a sleek cat appears on his doorstep. In digital artwork with a deliciously retro feel, vignettes show him holding his hands over his head to scare it off. But the cat refuses to leave, and the two find much in common: "The man liked to eat dinner at precisely 6 p.m. So did the cat." Willing to make an exception for a single kitty, he muses "Maybe THIS cat isn't so bad." But when additional felines, a dog or two, and a wealth of farm animals arrive, and determine to stay, the neighbors start to complain. The solution leads to a familiar tune about a man whose new residence houses many animals (their names, illustrations hint, begin with E, I, and O). It's a light tale that garners plenty of smiles, as well as an amiable look at one individual's learning to let go of preconceptions. Ages 4--8. Author's agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Sept.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Did Old MacDonald always have a farm? This inventive prequel depicts a man living in town who "loved his tidy home and who didn't like animals." The illustrations bring readers cinematically down from a bird's-eye view of a busy neighborhood replete with pets and other animals into the interior of the man's home. A copy of The Jungle rests on a table. Scrabble words in play on another table include quietly, island, and alone. Then a cat shows up at the door with a "meow," and it turns out they have a lot in common. Soon another cat appears. A giant dog arrives next, followed by ducks, chickens, pigs, and more. A cacophony of animal sounds erupts in speech balloons from the art. The creatures slowly win the man over. His house looks less tidy but also cozier and much fuller. When the neighbors complain about the noise, the man sends the animals away. The warmth drains out of the illustrations and the colors fade to grays during this exodus, but the menagerie has barely made it across the street before the man sets off after them, leading to a hearty singalong happening on Old MacDonald's Farm: "Ee i Ee i O!" The art and text of this skillfully designed picture book work fluidly together to bring genuine heart and humor to the creative and rewarding backstory of a preschool musical favorite. Julie RoachNovember/December 2024 p.77 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Is it possible that once, Old MacDonald didn't actually live on a farm--or that he didn't even like animals? Underwood takes her signature flair for fairy-tale reinvention--on full display in retellings such asInterstellar Cinderella (2015), illustrated by Meg Hunt--and brings it to the world of nursery rhymes. "Old MacDonald" may not have much drama or conflict, so Underwood has smartly imagined a prequel in which a tidy man who dislikes animals reluctantly takes in the creatures that show up one by one on his doorstep. The man's stance gradually changes; "I don't like cats" evolves into "Maybe THIS cat isn't so bad" as he discovers how much more rewarding life is when shared with his new companions. Pham's busy, animated illustrations convey the main character's trajectory; the opening endpapers show the man turning his nose up at every pet he encounters as he walks through town, but as he adopts more and more animals, his home becomes brighter and filled with life and sound. When the neighbors complain, he sends the animals away, only to discover the heartbreak of returning to life as it was before. Neither the farm nor the name "Old MacDonald" is revealed until the last spread--a delayed punchline that's sure to delight. Old MacDonald presents Black; his neighbors are racially diverse. Perfect for animal lovers and preschoolers with nursery rhymes still fresh on their minds.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
