View source for The Scarecrow Who Didn't Scare by Neil Griffiths and Vicki Leigh

{{infobox2
|title=The Scarecrow Who Didn't Scare
|sort= Scarecrow Who Didn't Scare
|author=Neil Griffiths and Vicki Leigh
|reviewer=Ruth Ng
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=A nice look at the different seasons on the farm with a scarecrow who isn't very scary!
|rating=3.5
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|pages=24
|publisher=Red Robin Books
|date=September 2011
|isbn=978-1905434923
|website=http://www.cornertolearn.co.uk/neilgriffiths.html
|video=iPdMqaMaTJ0
|aznuk=1905434928
|aznus=1905434928
|cover=1905434928
}}

Farmer Wallace makes himself a scarecrow, but the crows and rabbits and mice take no notice of it, eating the seeds and shoots and ears of corn so that when the farmer comes to harvest his crops he finds nothing.  He throws his scarecrow into the hedge in a temper and there poor scarecrow lies... 

As the weather turns colder the little animals who caused him such trouble come to shelter with the scarecrow, hiding in his pockets and his straw to keep warm.  The farmer returns in the Spring and decides to give the scarecrow one last chance and puts him back in a newly planted field.  This time, the scarecrow's animal friends all leave the seeds and shoots alone, so when the farmer returns he finds a bumper crop, so poor scarecrow lives to see another year!

This is a simple, sweet story.  It's a lovely way to look at the different seasons with a child and discuss what's happening to plants at different times of the year.  The story is easy to follow and understand and has a gentle pace so works well as a calming book before bedtime.  The illustrations all have a very traditional, realistic feel to them, with a properly drawn person for Farmer Wallace, rather than a cartoon figure, and lifelike animals too.  I especially like the picture of the little mice in amongst the poppies and the ears of corn.

The book comes with a CD which has the author telling the story as well as a quiz which is useful to keep little ones quiet for a while and the author has a lovely, warm reading voice.  As a grown up the book didn't especially grab me, but my four year old enjoyed it and I think it would make a nice story to share with pre-schoolers who are interested in farms and animals.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

Further reading suggestion: For more fun on the farm try [[Ping Pong Pig by Caroline Jayne Church]] or [[Farmer Joe and the Music Show by Tony Mitton and Guy Parker-Rees]]. For another book with the story read by Neil Griffits have a look at [[Mrs Rainbow by Neil Griffiths|Mrs Rainbow]].

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[[Category:Neil Griffiths]]
[[Category:Vicki Leigh]]