Combines

From The Critics

Another from the Farm Machines at Work series, the photographs and simple text of this book highlight the job of a combine. Readers will find out how the combine harvests wheat. One section gives kids a peek at the cab, another page numbers and names the outside parts, and yet another section features a glossary. This book would be interesting to both farm children as well as city dwellers. Photos of fields of wheat contrasted with the blue sky are spectacular. Part of the "Farm Machines At Work" series. 2000, Child's World, $14.95. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: L. Mathison SOURCE: Parent Council Volume 8

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-These titles leave a great deal to be desired. All follow the same format of large, color photos and a few sentences per page or spread. The texts are so simplified that there is no real content. The few glossary terms seem arbitrarily chosen and are listed with atrocious phonetic pronunciations. Many words that need to be defined are not. Also, one must question why the labeled photograph of each machine comes at the end of the book. The entire contents of Plows is based on the use of a very specialized variety. The more commonly used mold board plow is not even shown. Sharp-eyed viewers will also realize that the photo depicting the interior of the tractor cab, which is supposed to be pulling the plow, actually has a tandem disk in the background. These titles lack thorough research and careful editing.-Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.