Its a fun book for kids around 2nd or 3rd grade! Its imaginative and thoughtful. The illustrations are great too! ( )

Narrated by a young African-American girl living in the rural American South, this original tall tale relates the story of Harvey Potter, an unassuming farmer who raises crop after crop of brightly-colored balloons. The girl befriends Harvey, who is the kind of man who lets "a person be," and the two enjoy calm afternoons on his porch. Curious about his unusual crop, which an ornery neighbor had reported to the government once, the girl spies on Harvey late one night, and discovers his method for raising balloons. Eventually, aided by this unusual friend and his balloons, the girl sets off into the world, becoming a balloon farmer herself...

I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I picked up Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm. I hadn't read anything by author Jerdine Nolen before, although illustrator Mark Buehner was known to me for the Snowmen at Night picture-books that he created with his wife. How happy I am that I gave it a chance! The story is told with a slight Southern dialect that feels authentic - Nolen grew up in Mississippi - and is immensely appealing. I enjoyed the matter-of-factly magical goings on, which reminded me a bit of the work of Chris Van Allsburg, and appreciated the fact that the friendship between the girl and Harvey crosses racial lines, but that this is never commented upon. It feels natural, just like everything else in the story. The artwork was colorful and expressive, capturing the sense of magic and fun in the tale. The nighttime scenes were particularly well done, playing with light in wonderful ways. All in all, a lovely book, one I would recommend to anyone looking for entertaining works of picture-book fantasy, or children's stories set in the South. ( )

Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm is a tall tale written in the first person perspective of a young African American girl from the rural South. As she gets to know Harvey Potter, she relishes in the fact that he "just let a person be" which appears to be a common thread in this tale. The conflict in the story arises when a fellow local farmer calls the government on Harvey Potter in order to shut him down. Apparently, he is the only person in the story who doesn't 'let a person be' because the town is overjoyed when the government approves of Mr. Potters farm. The book is beautifully illustrated and will hold a child's attention easily. In the end, she has been endowed with the power to grow her own balloon farm and the magic of the land continues. The story magnifies the need to accept others even if they seem strange or different than you because you never know when or from where something wonderful will come. ( )

In this book, Harvey Potter grows balloons in his field. A young girl in the town begins to spend time with him and one days sees how he makes these balloons grow. He does a dance around the field with a glowing stick. At the end, we find out that the girl grows up to become a balloon farmer too.
This book is a good example of fantasy because the events are unrealistic. In this book, the Harvey Potter grows balloons, and balloons are not something you can grow.
Age Appropriateness: Primary
Media: acrylic paint

Summary: This book is about a man named Harvey Potter who had a farm that grew many different colors of balloons. They came in all different shapes and sizes. Harvey was a very plain man, but what he did wasn't plain at all. The government came to investigate and everyone hoped they would get to keep the balloon farm. After the government decided that the balloons were normal, they gave him the right to grow the balloons. The narrator tried to find out why and how he grew balloons but he never let her know.At night he did his fielding and as the little girl was spying, she saw Harvey dance with his stick and magic was happening. The stick he carried with him was magical. In the end, this little girl learned how to harvest her own balloons.

Personal: This book is a good way gateway to imagination. It is truly magical and a cute book. The illustrations are vibrant and filled with all the different balloons that Harvey grew.

Classroom Extension:
1. The teacher could have students blow up balloons and decorate them and incorporate with a lesson.