For a book about a child recklessly cloning a bunch of farm animals into crazy hybrids, this book is very lighthearted and fun. Probably good for storytime, though some parents may complain it has a less than reverent attitude towards nature and science. ( )

Interesting take on "Old MacDonald" when a young scientist starts merging farm animals and animal sounds to the familiar tune. The illustrations are a bit busy and a lot of animals are introduced, so it is not ideal for a storytime book but children familiar with animal sounds and who they belong to might find it funny as a one-on-one readaloud. ( )

Perfect for preschool storytimes - the kids will be old enough to get the joke of the combined animals and will love participating in making the hybrid noises. The illustrations add lots of amusing details such as the polo/cricket game that the group embarks on. Trying to spot all the different hybrids on each page is an extra bit of fun as well. ( )

We all know about Old MacDonald who had a farm, but what about his son, young MacDonald? Young MacDonald isn't content to live with regular farm animals, so he builds a machine in the barn that combines animals. Using the rhyme scheme of the original Old MacDonald song, Young MacDonald creates animals like the Hig (a horse crossed with a pig), the Shicken (a sheep crossed with a chicken), and finally the Bog (a boy crossed with a dog)! Luckily, this young scientist is able to un-mix all the animals just in time for dinner.

When read aloud, the text is a test of your diction and enunciation skills (Can you say "Deese" 5 times fast?), but kids will love the silliness of the idea. The illustrations are cartoon-like with exaggerated bodies and heads and stick thin limbs. Milgrim mixes one dimensional elements with sunlight and shadows, to create a a sense of depth. There's a lighthearted feeling of fun and playfulness as the animals enthusiastically join in the experimenting with the machine.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-230-young-macdonald-by-david.ht...

Reviewed by Me for Kids @ TeensReadToo.com

My kids loved this book! Sung along to the music from "Old MacDonald," this is a great bedtime story.

Young MacDonald has been busy making robotic animals--animals that are combinations from some of the old favorites!

He's made a hig (horse and pig) and some deese (donkey and geese), and singing the chorus to the song with these unusual sounds is a real treat.

Definitely a fun, imaginative book with great full-color illustrations. ( )