A Farm of Her Own

My three year old loves this book--and so does my nine year old, who reads it to him. They both relate to the idea of encountering something new and coming to love it so much that, years later, you want to find it again. The beautiful, rich illustrations are a large part of the appeal of the book.

Natalie Kinsey-Warnock and Kathleen Kolb have captured the essence of Will and Ada Urie perfectly. They lived a very simple life, worked hard and enjoyed everything around them. This book tells their story in a poignant way without being too sugary sweet. It will appeal to all children, especially those lucky enough to live in Vermont. I was extremely lucky to have Will and Ada Urie for my grandparents and spent many wonderful days visiting "a farm of their own". I am also very excited that my daughter, Meredith Ada McKelvey, posed for the blonde girl in braids in the book.

I am very pleased to see memories of childhood in print and glorious color. I grew up near Will and Ada Urie, and often visited their farm. Kathleen Kolb did a magnificent job rendering both of them. As I read the pages I could smell the bread baking in the oven. Natalie's words brought me back to my own childhood on my parents farm. Every child can benefit knowing how hard these two people worked for what they believed in. Back when life seemed so simple, yet more rewarding.