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From School Library Journal

September 20, 2024

PreS-Gr 3-In parallel plots, pen pals Efram and Emma share information about their two farms through the seasons, contrasting indoor and outdoor methods. The children share particulars about crop growth, light sources, watering methods, weed control, harvesting, and product distribution. Bright, warmly illustrated spreads and alternating pictures clearly convey the distinct differences between outdoor and indoor settings. Comparisons are especially strong when both children enjoy light: Emma is shown painting farm landscapes as the sun rises, and Efram soaks in the pink light of his indoor farm. In scenes of the farms in winter, Emma's realm is almost sleeping while Efram's indoor farm buzzes with activity and growth. Short, simple, rhyming sentences and diverse characters throughout make this perfect for early elementary students. Detailed back matter about changing farming methods along with additional sources and activities adds educational girth to this book; it's a wonderful resource for children interested in farming. VERDICT An excellent addition to libraries looking for books about farming and sustainable food systems.-Melisa Bailey

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Kirkus

Starred review from February 1, 2024
Two youngsters compare and contrast two very different farms. Efrem and Emma are pen pals, each writing about their family farm. Emma lives on a traditional, soil-based farm in the country, while Efrem's family has an aeroponic farm in the city. The book is organized by seasons, starting with spring. On Emma's farm, crops are just beginning to be planted, while bushy greens are already growing on Efrem's farm. "Outdoor farm, / tractors toil. / Indoor farm, / zero soil." A large, sprawling landscape is contrasted with an image of trays stacked up high. At first, the differences are more apparent, but on close inspection, it's clear that there are similarities, too. For instance, on both farms, light is necessary for crops to grow, but, as noted in the backmatter, indoor farms use LED lighting, often relying only on certain colors, such as red or blue ("Outdoor farm, / sunlight beams. / Indoor farm, / color streams"). Readers may suppose that the traditional farm is outdated, but new technology is included here, too, such as drones. Spare, bouncy rhymes pair with soft, rounded illustrations. The staccato rhythm limits explanations, but a full spread of detailed notes at the end describes why farms are changing and how each type works. Efrem is brown-skinned, while Emma presents Asian. A captivating glimpse into the shifting agricultural landscape. (activities, videos, selected sources, photos) (Informational picture book. 4-7)

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