Old MacDonald Had a Baby

by Emily Snape, K-Fai Steele (Illustrator)

Overview

A non-traditional family stars in Old MacDonald Had a Baby, a contemporary picture book from Emily Snape and K-Fai Steele.

New babies are challenging! Old MacDonald, a young father, has his hands full. From feeding to diapering to bathing his baby, he soon realizes he needs LOTS of help from his animal friends, including a sheep, a cow, a chicken, a goat, and a dog. A two-dad family and a humorous cast of animals star in this contemporary fun and warm take on the familiar rhyme.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250302816
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	11/19/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,121,555
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	NP (what's this?)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Emily Snape is the author of the Motor Mix series of novelty books published by Chronicle. She lives in Bloomsbury, London, United Kingdom.

K-Fai Steele is an exciting new illustrator whose debut picture book is A Normal Pig. She lives in San Francisco, California.

Editorial Reviews

★ 08/19/2019

Early parenthood builds into a barnyard menagerie in this variation on “Old MacDonald.” One father, brown skinned and bespectacled, heads out for the day; his lighter-skinned, plaid-clad partner waves from the door of their farmhouse residence, babe in arm. As the day unfolds, the latter cares for their infant with the help of a growing retinue of animal friends, among them a dog, a cow, and a chicken who totes a rainbow-ribboned tambourine. Together, the growing group helps with ablutions, feedings (“with a spoonful here,/ and a handful there,” Snape writes), and entertainments, even breaking for a tractor-adjacent diaper change (“E-I-E-I-O”). As the day ramps up, then winds down, a loving community emerges from Steele’s emotive ink and watercolor art (a cow offers milk, a horse distracts using a frog puppet). Though the meter sometimes feels clunky, the long days ring true, and the vision of an inclusive, affectionate caretaking village shines. Ages 2–5. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"Early parenthood builds into a barnyard menagerie in this variation on “Old MacDonald.” One father, brown skinned and bespectacled, heads out for the day; his lighter-skinned, plaid-clad partner waves from the door of their farmhouse residence, babe in arm... the long days ring true, and the vision of an inclusive, affectionate caretaking village shines."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"With a twist on the traditional Old MacDonald rhyme, Snape tells what life is like with a new baby, incorporating the same singsong E-I-E-I-O refrain. ...Children will be delighted and amused at many of the images depicting the mayhem that infants inevitably can create and parents will be impressed with the animals’ patience with the baby’s antics. A great addition to any library especially with its depiction of a modern, two-dad family."–-School Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher

★ 11/01/2019

PreS-Gr 1—With a twist on the traditional Old MacDonald rhyme, Snape tells what life is like with a new baby, incorporating the same singsong E-I-E-I-O refrain. Steele's colorful illustrations turn the tables on the role of the farmer and the animals as, one by one, the farm animals enter the story to lend a helping hand to a new dad. Snape uses bold print to emphasize all of the sounds, parental tasks, and needs of a baby that are sure to tire Old MacDonald out. Children will be delighted and amused at many of the images depicting the mayhem that infants inevitably can create and parents will be impressed with the animals' patience with the baby's antics. VERDICT A great addition to any library especially with its depiction of a modern, two-dad family.—Katie Callahan, Montgomery County Public Schools, MD

School Library Journal

2019-08-26
Snape and Steele give readers a modern twist.

Old MacDonald is a going-gray-around-the-temples beige-skinned man with a black husband and a beige-skinned baby. When his husband drives off in the morning, MacDonald is left in charge of the child with help from his pets—and eventually the entire barnyard, as with each stanza a new animal joins the action. Steele's bright, cartoon-style illustrations sell the zaniness of a new dad's day. They elevate the story as bipedal animals assist the harried dad with the increasing chaos, but they can't save it. Snape's word choice often fights the tempo of the song, and the few moments of alliteration may create tongue-twisters during read-alouds: "And for that baby he sang a song, / E-I-E-I-O. / With a boom-boom here, / And a crash-bang there, // Here's a clap, there's a whack, / Everywhere's a raucous ruckus!" The constantly changing language—so different from the song's patterning—makes it impossible for a child or a group of children to sing along. The joy of "Old MacDonald" is the call-and-response opportunity offered with each additional animal. What does a goat say again? In this version, adults may chuckle at the memory of the frantic early years, but children will feel frustrated that they have limited moments to join in the fun. It sinks some really good illustrations.

This Old MacDonald's not much fun. E-I-E-I-O. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews