Farmer Bill

Elizabeth Levin is a professor of psychology at Laurentian University.

Farmer Bill is a warm, sentimental story that reminds one that the grass
is not always greener on the other side. Not that Farmer Bill was
envious. In fact, he enjoyed life on his farm with his wife and all
their animals, feeding the chickens, milking the cows, and shearing the
sheep.

One day, Farmer Bill’s son, Little Bill, comes from the big city for
a visit. He decides to make his parents’ lives easier by giving them
gifts. First he gives them a clock radio to replace the rooster who
wakes them up at dawn. Then he gives them an electric egg-making
machine. Before long, all the animals have left the farm to go swimming
and skiing or to play golf. But even though Farmer Bill now has more
time than he needs to paint and relax, he isn’t happy. So his wife
decides to write to all the animals to ask them to come home. They do
and everyone is happy again.

The moral of the story is that technology can’t buy happiness. The
well-written text is complemented by vibrant illustrations, in which you
can just feel the sheep giggling at being sheared and the sadness of the
rooster as he leaves the farm, no longer wanted. Best of all, you can
feel the joy in the chickens when they are told they are missed and are
asked to come home. Highly recommended.