Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Farmer takes own journey in surprising end to fun series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE FARMER AND THE CIRCUS begins with the little boy clown from Book 1 refusing to wear the red long johns his mama clown offers him, instead digging into his costume trunk to find black overalls to go with the black farmer's hat he got from his host when they exchanged hats as he departed the farm in Book 1. He then proceeds to recount to the monkey from Book 2 all the things the farmer showed him how to do -- move hay with a pitchfok, milk a cow (he demonstates on the circus elephant), play music. After the clowns erect their big tent for the show, guess who comes walking up -- the farmer, wearing the boy clown's red hat. The boy introduces the farmer to his mom (who's in full clown makeup), and they all -- including the monkey -- have fun together. The farmer and the mom clown even dance together under the stars. The farmer returns on other visits, bringing flowers and a pie, and they all enjoy an evening picnic under the stars, with the farrmer playing his banjo and everyone singing along. In the end, we find out just how close they've gotten.
Is It Any Good?
This charming finale wraps up the series and pivots from a freindship tale into a love story. It's a sweet, unexpected development that's as easy to go along with as a farmer getting out of his comfort zone to befriend a lost little boy clown and later his rambunctious monkey. Kids will have fun narrating the story themsleves as they follow each development in the relationships through pictures alone.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the relationships in The Farmer and the Circus. Who does the monkey like to play with? Who does the little boy want to dress up like? How does the farmer feel about the mom clown?
Did you read the first two books in the series? If so, are you happy about how the story ends in the third one?
What's it like to read a story with no words? Is it easy to follow the story just through the pictures? What's it like to tell the story out loud yourself as you turn the pages? Try telling a story through pictures for someone else to read.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Marla Frazee
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Beach Lane
- Publication date : April 6, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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