Farms and agrarian life are fascinating subjects for children. I’ve created this list of children’s books related to these themes to help you find a wide variety of books to use in your home. This list includes both picture books and non-fiction books. I included topics such as animals, crops, machines, family life, the old ways, and more. I’ve organized the books in alphabetical order by title.
Most of the books are in print and available for purchase on Amazon so I have linked to them there. You might need to look for some at your library or a used books website. As always, it is important that you review each book to determine if it meets the needs and values of your individual family. The inclusion of a title here does not indicate an endorsement of all of the content or the author. I hope you enjoy many books from this list with your children!
Farm Printables
Before we get to the books, I wanted to share a couple of things with you. If you are studying farms and agrarian life, I have a few printable products that would make great companions to your study.
Farm Fun Fact Cards
This set of Farm Fun Fact Cards includes so many fascinating facts about farm life including facts about crops, farmers, and more. There are many ways to use these cards which I list in the product description. Just click on the link above or the product cover to see more.
Farm Fun Facts Copywork
Related to the fun fact cards is this set of print and cursive copywork. It includes three different versions to meet the needs of your individual learners.
And now on to the books!
Children’s Books About Farms & Agrarian Life
Numbers
- 1 is One by Tasha Tudor
A Books
- ABC Book of Early Americana by Eric Sloane
- America at Work: Farming – Ann Love
- The American Family Farm by Joan Anderson
- Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet by Betsy Bowen
- Appalachian ABCs by Francie Hall
- Around the Year by Tasha Tudor
B Books
- Barn Dance by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault
- Becky’s Christmas by Tasha Tudor
- The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco
- The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward
- Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
C Books
- Charlie Needs a Cloak by Tomie dePaola
- Chicks & Chickens by Gail Gibbons
- Christmas in the Country by Cynthia Rylant and Dianne Goode
- The Cow Who Fell in the Canal by Phyllis Krasilovsky
D Books
- Down, Down the Mountain by Ellis Credle
E Books
- An Edible Alphabet by Bonnie Christensen
F Books
- Family Farm by Thomas Locker
- A Family for Old Mill Farm by Shutta Crum
- Farm Alphabet Book by Jane Miller
- The Farm Book by E. Boyd Smith
- Farm Machines (World of Farming) by Nancy Dickmann
- A Farmer’s Alphabet by Mary Azarian
- Farming by Gail Gibbons
- Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Big Red Hen by Maj Lindman
- Food and Farming Then and Now (From Olden Days to Modern Ways in Your Community) by Bobbie Kalman
- From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
- The Fruits We Eat by Gail Gibbons
G Books
- Gathering: A Northwoods Counting Book by Betsy Bowen
H Books
- Haystack by Bonnie and Arthur Geisert
- Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush by Iza Trapani
- Homeplace by Anne Shelby
- Homespun Sarah by Verla Kay
- Horses! by Gail Gibbons
I Books
- Island Boy by Barbara Cooney
J Books
- Just Plain Fancy by Patricia Polacco
L Books
- Leah’s Pony by Elizabeth Friedrich
- The Little Farm by Lois Lenski
- The Log Cabin Quilt by Ellen Howard
M Books
- The Midnight Farm by Reeve Lindbergh
- Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
- Mountain Town by Bonnie and Arthur Geisert
- Mountain Wedding by Faye Gibbons
N Books
- Nothing Here But Trees by Jean Van Leeuwen
O Books
- The Old Woman Who Loved to Read by John Winch
- Once Upon a Farm by Marie Bradby, illus. by Ted Rand
- Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen
- Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
P Books
- Portrait of a Farm Family by Raymond Bial
- A Prairie Boy’s Summer by William Kurelek
- A Prairie Boy’s Winter by William Kurelek
R Books
- The Raft by Jim LaMarche
- Raising Yoder’s Barn by Jane Yolen
- The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant
- Reuben and the Fire by Merle Good
- Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran
- Rusty, Trusty Tractor by Joy Cowley
S Books
- Sleep Tight Farm: A Farm Prepares for Winter by Eugenie Doyle
- Small Pig by Arnold Lobel
- Sugaring Time by Kathryn Lasky
T Books
- This is the Farmer by Nancy Tafuri
- Thundercake by Patricia Polacco
- Town & Country by Alice and Martin Provensen
- Town Mouse, Country Mouse by Jan Brett
- Two Little Gardeners by Margaret Wise Brown
U Books
- Up North at the Cabin by Marsha Wilson Chall
V Books
- The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons
W Books
- When I Was Little by Marcia Williams
- When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant
Y Books
- The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen
- A Year on the Farm by Christina Mia Gardeski
- Yonder by Tony Johnston, illus. by Lloyd Bloom
- Yonie Wondernose by Marguerite de Angeli
More Themes For You
If you enjoy learning with themes with your children, here are a few closely related themes to explore on my site:
I also have a Learning With Themes Activity Pack that can be used with a wide variety of unit studies and themes which I explain in How to Easily Create a Themed Unit Study.
Children also see the farm in each month and season with the unique aspects of each time period highlighted. Because the farm is in New York, there are four distinct seasons in the book.
