Old MacDonald Had an Apartment House

Old MacDonald Had an Apartment House follows the story of a landlord who discovers gardening and begins transforming his New York City apartment building into an urban farm. His initial small windowsill garden expands throughout the building as his passion for growing food takes over. The tenants react to their building's transformation as MacDonald converts more spaces into growing areas. The familiar "E-I-E-I-O" refrain from the classic children's song appears throughout the text in new urban farming contexts. This picture book presents themes of nature in the city, community dynamics, and finding unexpected ways to pursue one's interests. The story illustrates how one person's hobby can impact an entire community.

Readers remember this book fondly from their childhoods and often seek it out to share with their own kids. Many describe it as a fresh, urban twist on the classic farm song. What readers liked: - Ron Barrett's detailed illustrations that reward close examination - The clever integration of gardening into an apartment setting - The building superintendent's creative problem-solving - The message about bringing nature into urban spaces What readers disliked: - The dated 1970s aesthetic - Limited availability of the book, as it's out of print - High prices for used copies Ratings: Goodreads: 4.22/5 (230 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (31 ratings) Multiple reviewers mentioned reading this book repeatedly as children at their school or public library. One Amazon reviewer noted: "The illustrations are packed with tiny details that we discover on each reading." A Goodreads user called it "the perfect combination of silly and serious."

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown A boy transforms his gray city into a lush paradise by nurturing a patch of wildflowers growing between railway tracks.

City Green by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan A neighborhood transforms an empty lot into a community garden that brings people together.

The Gardener by Sarah Stewart A girl changes her uncle's bakery and the spirit of an entire city block by creating a rooftop garden during the Great Depression.

Window Box Garden by Andrew Larsen Two apartment-dwelling siblings create their first garden in a small window box, inspiring other residents to start growing plants.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner A child and grandmother plant an urban garden through the seasons while exploring the life that exists both above and below the soil.

🌱 The book was first published in 1969 and has delighted generations with its unique urban spin on the classic "Old MacDonald" nursery rhyme. 🏢 Author Judi Barrett is also famous for writing "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," which was later adapted into a successful animated film franchise. 🌿 The story promotes the concept of urban gardening, which was ahead of its time considering the recent surge in popularity of city farming and rooftop gardens. 🎨 The original illustrations were created by Ron Barrett, who collaborated with Judi Barrett on several other children's books, including "Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing." 🗽 The book's New York City setting reflects the author's own experiences living in an apartment building, bringing authenticity to this imaginative tale of turning urban spaces into gardens.