> Skip to content
  • Published: 15 August 2014
  • ISBN: 9781580895729
  • Imprint: Charlesbridge Children
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $32.99

Old Manhattan Has Some Farms




This clever new spin on "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" introduces young children to the joys of urban farming.

A clever new spin on "Old MacDonald," this fun book explores the popular trend of urban farming. From rooftop farms and gardens on Manhattan high rises to neighborhood gardens in empty lots in Atlanta to hydroponic gardens in Seattle, growing food locally has become an important part of city-dwelling life.

Set to the tune of the popular children's song, this bouncy rhyming text will get everyone reading (or singing) out loud. If you're not comfortable singing aloud, download the free recording of the song created by popular children's performer Caspar Babypants (aka Chris Ballew, lead singer and songwriter for the band The Presidents of the United States of America). Six North American cities are highlighted, but included in the back matter are tips and tricks on how to alter the text so you can sing about your own hometown gardens.

Back matter also includes more information about the different types of gardens introduced, additional resources, and the sheet music for the song.

  • Published: 15 August 2014
  • ISBN: 9781580895729
  • Imprint: Charlesbridge Children
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $32.99

About the author

Susan Lendroth

SUSAN LENDROTH has had a lifelong fascination with history. The seaside setting of OCEAN WIDE, OCEAN DEEP, which follows her first picturebook, WHY EXPLORE?, also pays homage to her love of the ocean. When she's not working on picturebooks, Susan writes essays and freelance travel articles for a variety of magazines and newspapers. She lives in Southern California with her daughter.

Also by Susan Lendroth

See all

Praise for Old Manhattan Has Some Farms

Praise for Calico Dorsey (Lendroth)

  • "Readers should enjoy--and be enlightened by--this delightful sidebar to California history."--Kirkus Reviews

  • Praise for Ocean Wide, Ocean Deep (Lendroth)
  • "Children will connect with the . . . evocative, yesteryear setting."--Booklist

  • Praise for Trout Are Made of Trees (Endle)
  • Bank Street College of Education's Best Children's Books of the Year
  • A Junior Library Guild Selection
  • "The illustrations, done in mixed-media collage, are a testament to the fact that wondrous things can be created out of the pieces of other things."--Kirkus Reviews
  • "Endle's collages are exceptional."--Booklist

  • Praise for Where's the Party? (Endle)
  • "An irresistible invitation."--Kirkus Reviews