A farmer loses his farm and raises his sons in poverty, while trimming a hedge into topiary. Eventually his sons grow up, find fulfilling careers, and help him out. Between this book and Grandpa Green, I'm wondering if Bagram Ibatoulline is known as the go-to person for books about topiary! ( )

A story of a man who dearly loves his sons and his animals. Then he fell in tough times and was forced to sell his animals to feed his kids, who later grow up and left looking for a profession. Later in the story the three sons come back to visit their elderly lonely father and surprised him with a magnificent gift. This is a great book for a social study class to teach students how to appreciate their parents and everything they do for them. ( )

When a father is forced to sell his beloved farm animals, he turns his hedges into the animals he lost. He does this so he can show his son how much he loved the animals, but he had to do what he needed to provide for them. It is a great inspirational book that teaches kids to follow their hearts and do as they love no matter who says otherwise. ( )

The Animal Hedge is about a farmer and his three sons who live on a farm with many animals. The farmer took good care of his animals, but suddenly there was no rain to help his seeds grow. Eventually the farmer sold all of his animals, and his farm. The farmer moved to a cottage house, and began to trim the hedge. In the hedge the farmer saw the parts of animals, and he trimmed around the shape of the animals. Eventually his three sons need to find a profession, so the father trims the hedge down. Each son watches the hedge grow, and trims it according to their dream. Eventually the sons leave and begin their new profession. After a long time the sons go back to their father, and they ask him how the hedge knew their profession. The father told them that it was not the hedge, and the sons realized that it was what was on their minds that made them trim the hedge in certain shape. The sons decide to cut the hedge and bring real animals to their father. I enjoyed the book a lot because the connection between the farmer and his sons is amazing. The book could help children understand the importance of kindness and the importance of following dreams. I would ask students to draw a hedge with the shape of their desired career or dream, and I would tell them to write why it was chosen. ( )

Most impressed with the artistry of Bagram Ibatoulline, I've recently read many books with his lush illustrations. He is one of my favorite artists.

In this book, his illustrated are inspired by American Folk Art. The tale is one wherein a farmer loves his animals. He is happy farming his land and tending his goats, chickens, pigs and other creatures. When a severe lack of rain occurs, he looses his farm. He and his three sons find a small plot of land, but there is not money to buy animals nor is there land to toil.

There is a hedge surrounding their small property, and the farmer trims the hedge in the shape of animals. As it becomes necessary for his sons to leave their home and seek their own professions, the farmer tells them to look to the hedge for the shape provided which will direct them toward their future.

One by one they find their vocation. Upon returning, they learn that the shapes were those in their heart. They provide a farm and animals for their father who lives his life in supreme happiness. ( )