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Parents' Guide to

Punk Farm

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

"Old MacDonald" gets a silly punk-rock makeover.

Punk Farm Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

age 16+

A modern classic

The book definitely has many fine qualities: poetic language, great music, interfering immortals, strong and caring friendships, and exciting battle scenes. Punk Farm is not studied by middle or high school students as commonly as George Orwell's, Animal Farm perhaps because the concerts portrayed in Punk Farm includes so many individual songs and characters that its 40-plus pages become a lot to digest.The book also weaves in and out of the "present" of the book, as character often reflect on past events; Punk Farm is somewhat more linear, and the narrative is easier for students to follow. However, several of the intertwining plots in Punk Farm are essential to read and understand for any student of the classics.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The illustrations are cleverly painted to express each changing mood, from the normal, peaceful daytime farm to the nighttime world of the Punk Farm Band. The language is lively and cool, and the handwritten lettering, white against bright backgrounds, changes size with the volume of the performance. The story is light and silly, but fun.

The punk band performance centers around a mediocre yet original and playful takeoff on the "Old MacDonald" song. For an encore, readers can download this "barn-burning hit song" as well as other tunes from the Punk Farm repertoire at www.punkfarm.com.

Book Details

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