Parents' Guide to

Tuttle's Red Barn

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Family farm story will cultivate love of history.

Tuttle's Red Barn Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Young readers will be drawn in by the simple, straightforward, informative prose, especially since it's told from the viewpoint of each of the 12 boys that grew up to take over the farm. Together with colorful and unique woodcut prints whose style changes with each new era, that voice brings to life important events that shaped our country's history. And the experiences of each generation provide a perfect jumping-off spot for further study about early settlers, the American Revolution, Underground Railroad, the Industrial Revolution, and so on.

Today, the red barn on Tuttle's farm is a thriving roadside market with an adjacent nursery that is a favorite stopping off point for customers seeking fresh fruits and vegetables. But it started out as a wild stretch of land that John Tuttle cleared and plowed shortly after having been stranded along the east coast in the 1600s. From very humble beginnings, the farm, and those that tended it, grew and changed as one generation after another worked to make it successful. Amazingly, the farm stayed in the Tuttle family and now has the distinction of being "the oldest continuing family farm in America."

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate