Welcome to Silver Street Farm (Silver Street Farm #1)

by Nicola Davies (Author) Katharine McEwen (Illustrator)

Welcome to Silver Street Farm (Silver Street Farm #1)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Some animal farms are up in the hills, or down winding lanes. But Silver Street Farm is different -- it's in the middle of a city, and it's run by kids!

Even though Meera, Gemma, and Karl live in the city, they've always wanted a farm of their own. And it looks as though their dream may happen sooner than they imagined when Meera discovers an abandoned railway station with grounds for grazing. Next, some eggs they thought were foul hatch into ducklings, and a couple of "poodles" bought off the Internet turn out to be lambs. There's just one problem: how can the kids -- and the community -- persuade the city council not to turn the old site into a parking garage? The first in a series of fun-filled stories about Silver Street Farm, here is a tale with natural appeal for kids who love animals, aim to be green, and enjoy a do-it-yourself spirit of adventure.
Select format:
Paperback
$6.99

Find books about:

More books in the series - See All

Kirkus Reviews

Three kids, many years of planning and an audacious go at public activism add up to one community farm.

Though Gemma, Meera and Karl can’t quite remember when their dream of having a farm of their own began, it seems to have started in kindergarten. When Mrs. Monty led them to the toy corner, they instantly built a farm, complete with plastic cows, chickens and a headless sheep. Playing farm helped build their friendship, kick-started by these city kids’ love of animals and fueled by books about farming and farm life. When Meera’s Auntie Priya hears about an old, unused railroad station with outbuildings and land, they decide it’s perfect for an urban farm. Moving forward at the speed of elementary students with an obsession, these future farmers visit the space, arrange television interviews and bring local adults on board, all the while facing down the property owner, who plans to raze the railroad station to put up a parking lot. Funny situations, especially Karl’s aunt’s online purchase of twin poodles that turn out to be sheep, and such details as various animal footprints racing across the bottom of most pages keep this good-hearted tale moving forward. A tidy ending ensures the farm’s success.

Young activists will be inspired and entertained by these three animal-loving friends and their supportive community. (Chapter book. 6-9)

Booklist

Gemma, Meera, and Karl have been friends since kindergarten, when their dream of having a farm in the city was first born amidst Legos and wooden blocks. Now in fifth grade, Karl is secretly thrilled when his Russian aunt is tricked into buying two lambs disguised as poodles, but keeping lambs who defy housebreaking in an apartment is not an option. Gemma’s volunteer hours at the vet’s office get her five duck eggs that hatch in her bedroom. Meera comes up with a solution to the animal situation and the start of their dream: the abandoned train station is overgrown and has everything they need for a farm in the city, if only the city council won’t level it to make room for a parking garage. With kids actively seeking to better their city as a focal point, Davies has begun an amusing romp of a series. Clever children and supportive adults come together in this clever chapter book that will spark the imaginations of the target audience.
— Melissa Moore

School Library Journal

Gr 2-3--As preschoolers, three children decided that they wanted to have a farm in the middle of their city. They get to make that dream a reality on their last day of elementary school. By chance, they end up with sheep and ducks of their very own with no place to keep them--except for an abandoned lot. Now if only they can convince city officials to let them have the lot for their farm instead of building another parking garage, everything should work out fine. Animal lovers will enjoy the sections that involve the sheep and ducks, but the story line in this early chapter book is completely far-fetched, the animals don't have a strong enough presence, and the characters are not well developed. When the bad guy is defeated, it comes about in an anticlimactic way, making the ending feel rushed. The occasional black-and-white drawings are amusing.--Elizabeth Swistock, Orange County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

With kids actively seeking to better their city as a focal point, Davies has begun an amusing romp of a series. Clever children and supportive adults come together in this clever chapter book that will spark the imaginations of the target audience.
—Booklist

Young activists will be inspired and entertained by these three animal-loving friends and their supportive community.
—Kirkus Reviews

This first entry in a series is going to please a lot of animal-loving primary-schoolers.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Nicola Davies
Nicola Davies has loved sea turtles ever since she first saw one in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Nicola Davies is also the author of BIG BLUE WHALE, BAT LOVES THE NIGHT, and WILD ABOUT DOLPHINS.

Jane Chapman also loves sea turtles and has wanted to paint them for ages. Her other books for children include ONE DUCK STUCK by Phyllis Root and THE EMPEROR'S EGG by Martin Jenkins, a National Science Teachers Association - Children's Book Council Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780763664435
Lexile Measure
890
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
April 20, 2013
Series
Silver Street Farm
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV002090 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Farm Animals
JUV023000 - Juvenile Fiction | Lifestyles | City & Town Life
Library of Congress categories
-

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!