As cities send houses, stores, and factories out into areas that used to be farmland, it becomes harder to remember the country as it once was. And for children born into suburbia, there are no memories to lose. Grandpa’s Tractor tells the story of a small boy who travels the twisted subdivision streets with his grandpa to find the remains of the family farm. A boarded-up farmhouse and a barn with the roof fallen in remain. But the biggest reminder of the past for Grandpa is the rusted hulk of the red tractor.
The boy listens to his grandfather’s memories of work and fun centered on the busy red tractor. He begins to see the tractor as it was and not as it is. Old man and young boy share a common bond to the history of the land and the family.
I remember my Grandpa’s tractor and the small farm that he worked after he finished his other job. This book would be an excellent discussion starter for late elementary classes on how communities change over time. The rich illustrations of Grandpa’s memories will also be enjoyed by younger children. I would recommend this book for small groups who will be close enough to enjoy the detail in the pictures.
Check the WRL catalog for Grandpa’s Tractor.
