Scarecrows

Benito’s Sopaipillas/ Las Sopaipillas de Benito
by Ana Baca and illustrations by Anthony Accardo

A grandmother tells her granddaughter that she is going to show her how to make sopaipillas and that it will rain. Then she tells her a story about her great-grandfather, Benito. Benito’s family was in trouble, because there had been no rain and the crops were dying. Benito had taken water when it was not his turn to have water. As punishment, he had to plow up his neighbors’ fields. It was when he was plowing that he passed out, and when he woke up a scarecrow asked for his help in saving the crops. The scarecrow tells him how he can help make it rain. Will Benito be able to make it rain? Does it rain when the girl and her grandmother make sopaipillas? The book is written in both English and Spanish, and there is a recipe for sopaopillas in the back of the book in both English and Spanish.

Scarecrow!
by Valerie Littlewood

This nonfiction book goes over the purpose and the history of the scarecrow, which has been used since the time of ancient Egypt. It discusses the different types of birds that feed on the crops, the different scarecrows that farmers create, stories about scarecrows, and instructions on how to make your own scarecrow.

Farmer Ham
by Alec Sillifant and illustrated by Mike Spoor

The crows on Farmer Ham’s farm sit all day and eat his corn and are very happy. Farmer Ham tries to get rid of them, but they just come back again and call him “Silly Old Farmer Ham.” But was he really? One day Farmer Ham starts fishing some boots, a hat, a scarf, and a jacket and trousers out of the pond. The crows just laugh at him and call him “Silly Old Farmer Ham!” Then he takes these things with him into his barn. What do you think he is making? Do you think it could be used to scare the crows away?

Scarecrow
by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Lauren Stringer

Did you ever consider what a scarecrow’s “life” is really like, as he stands out there on his post in the field? Do you know what the birds think about him? Do you think he knows what is going on around him? Do you think he likes staying up on the pole and watching everything? This book has some insight into what a scarecrows life is like and what he might be thinking.