Written by Jill Esbaum, Illustrated by Melissa Crowton
Neal Porter Books
Corn-picking time is a favorite season on author Jill Esbaum’s family farm, and the joy is sure to be shared by young lovers of tractors, trucks, and all manner of machines. Rhyming text pairs with Melissa Crowton’s colorful illustrations for a high-energy read kids will ask for again and again. Check out the copious information found at the end of the book to discover more about life on a farm.
-Featured resource, August 2025, National Ag in the Classroom
-National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix
“The tightness of Esbaum’s onomatopoetic rhyme makes potentially unfamiliar terminology accessible, while Crowton’s lovely and detailed illustrative art invites immersion—her grounded palette and innovative use of perspective and shadow permeate the story, evoking autumn’s crisp temperatures and wood-smoky smells.” -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Crisp, textural images by Crowton (In Our Garden) bring a hand-painted, toylike feel to scenes that steadily depict hard work. There’s something here for every reader: savory language in smartly scanning rhymes, detailed scenes of farm life, and a step-by-step tribute to the machines and processes that make the harvest possible.” -Publishers Weekly
“Readers interested in farm life will be especially intrigued, of course, but the lyrical text makes this an inviting and enlightening read-aloud even for those who have not yet given much thought to where corn comes from.” -Booklist
“Esbaum’s well-crafted rhyme carries the corn from field to bin with every accompanying sight, sound, and smell. Crowton’s warm, inviting illustrations in an autumnal palette help both to convey the information and to humanize the work…. An informative and playful ode to agriculture.” -The Horn Book