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The Windy Farm
Why would anyone want to live on a farm where the winds are so fierce that even the pigs are blown away?
Fortunately, Mum is a clever inventor and can think of one very good reason.
A hilarious picture book with a very pertinent message about wind power and environmental sustainability, by one of Australia's favourite picture book teams.
Short-listed 2014 CBCA Awards: Picture Book category
Fortunately, Mum is a clever inventor and can think of one very good reason.
A hilarious picture book with a very pertinent message about wind power and environmental sustainability, by one of Australia's favourite picture book teams.
Short-listed 2014 CBCA Awards: Picture Book category
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Doug MacLeod
39 books21 followersDoug MacLeod is a Melbourne-based writer and TV producer who has worked on many of Australia's most popular comedy shows, including The Comedy Company, Fast Forward, Big Girls' Blouse, The Micallef Program and SeaChange. He was also the script editor on Kath and Kim.
While he enjoys the TV work, he prefers writing books for young people. After leaving his full-time job in TV, Doug wrote the teenage novel Tumble Turn, which was published by Penguin in 2003, and is on the syllabus at Deakin University.
On The Cards is a book of ridiculous greeting card rhymes with an introduction by Ben Elton that Doug wrote for the international charity Comic Relief in 2002. A second book of creepy rhymes, Spiky, Spunky, My Pet Monkey, was released in 2004. Both books are illustrated by Craig Smith and published by Penguin. Craig and Doug again collaborated on Leon Stumble’s Book of Stupid Fairytales, published by Working Title in 2005.
Doug’s second young adult novel for Penguin, I’m Being Stalked by a Moonshadow (2006), was shortlisted for the New South Wales Premier’s Awards, and published in America by Front Street Press.
Two fantasy novels, Kevin the Troll (2007) and The Clockwork Forest (2008), came next and were also published by Penguin. The Clockwork Forest was presented as a play at The Sydney Theatre Company in 2008.
Doug’s third young adult novel, Siggy and Amber, was released by Penguin in 2009.
But he’s probably best known for a book called Sister Madge’s Book of Nuns, which was published in 1986. He's less well known for The Life of a Teenage Body-snatcher, which was published by Penguin in 2010 and is a much better book, especially if you like your comedy a little black.
Recent non-book-related activities include co-devising the animated TV series, Dogstar, for which he has won two Australian Writers’ Guild Awards and the inaugural John Hinde Award for Science Fiction. There are 52 episodes. Doug wrote half of them. Philip Dalkin wrote the other half. The show plays all over the world and premiered on the BBC.
With satirist John Clarke and composer Alan John he wrote a play based on May Gibbs’ famous children’s book, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. It was directed by Neil Armfield and premiered at The Sydney Festival in 2007.
With comedian Tracy Harvey he co-wrote the musical Call Girl in 2009, which had two Melbourne seasons.
In 2008 Doug received the Fred Parsons Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Australian Comedy at the Australian Writers’ Guild Awards.
While he enjoys the TV work, he prefers writing books for young people. After leaving his full-time job in TV, Doug wrote the teenage novel Tumble Turn, which was published by Penguin in 2003, and is on the syllabus at Deakin University.
On The Cards is a book of ridiculous greeting card rhymes with an introduction by Ben Elton that Doug wrote for the international charity Comic Relief in 2002. A second book of creepy rhymes, Spiky, Spunky, My Pet Monkey, was released in 2004. Both books are illustrated by Craig Smith and published by Penguin. Craig and Doug again collaborated on Leon Stumble’s Book of Stupid Fairytales, published by Working Title in 2005.
Doug’s second young adult novel for Penguin, I’m Being Stalked by a Moonshadow (2006), was shortlisted for the New South Wales Premier’s Awards, and published in America by Front Street Press.
Two fantasy novels, Kevin the Troll (2007) and The Clockwork Forest (2008), came next and were also published by Penguin. The Clockwork Forest was presented as a play at The Sydney Theatre Company in 2008.
Doug’s third young adult novel, Siggy and Amber, was released by Penguin in 2009.
But he’s probably best known for a book called Sister Madge’s Book of Nuns, which was published in 1986. He's less well known for The Life of a Teenage Body-snatcher, which was published by Penguin in 2010 and is a much better book, especially if you like your comedy a little black.
Recent non-book-related activities include co-devising the animated TV series, Dogstar, for which he has won two Australian Writers’ Guild Awards and the inaugural John Hinde Award for Science Fiction. There are 52 episodes. Doug wrote half of them. Philip Dalkin wrote the other half. The show plays all over the world and premiered on the BBC.
With satirist John Clarke and composer Alan John he wrote a play based on May Gibbs’ famous children’s book, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. It was directed by Neil Armfield and premiered at The Sydney Festival in 2007.
With comedian Tracy Harvey he co-wrote the musical Call Girl in 2009, which had two Melbourne seasons.
In 2008 Doug received the Fred Parsons Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Australian Comedy at the Australian Writers’ Guild Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 13, 2018
Renewable energy defeats old style fossil fuels is a somewhat admirable story idea, it is a bit sad though when there is an undercurrent of vengeance and a nasty sense of retribution rather than the opportunity for change and growth.
May 1, 2014
Has a obvious theme of renewal energy vs fossil fuels but I particularly like the theme of dealing with adversity with a cheerful, "Nevermind". Even when things look grim and they have to sell Grandpa's favourite pig, the family still pulls together to make the farm a success. Looking forward to sharing this one.
December 17, 2014
Clever idea about a poor family who live on a windy hill and their rich uncle who has an oil well in his back yard. Things change when the family build a wind mill farm and become rich, and the uncle's oil runs out and he becomes poor. I just don't like how though they let the greedy uncle come to stay with them, they make him sleep with the pigs, and he eventually blows away on the windy hill.
December 30, 2015
This is a book the grown ups think is quite nice and the 4-6 year olds think is SO HILARIOUS!! It's great fun to read to a group of kids, and especially good for those little ones who love to act out the book as you go.
Recommended: for when everyone needs a good laugh, and perhaps some running around the room being blown away by a big wind.
Recommended: for when everyone needs a good laugh, and perhaps some running around the room being blown away by a big wind.
August 26, 2024
An excellent book on a number of levels. Interesting, fun story, a green theme, humor, great characters...
I thoroughly enjoyed this windy book.
Reread today and this book is still a big winner. So funny!
I thoroughly enjoyed this windy book.
Reread today and this book is still a big winner. So funny!
September 30, 2013
The Windy Farm by Doug MacLeod and Craig Smith – another wonderful eco-focus about a family who moved to a home they could afford but unfortunately they had one issue, the property was so windy they actually could be blown away… love the way they solve their problems. – Australian publisher.
April 1, 2016
I think this is a great little book. The pictures are lovely and really funny for younger readers. I like the theme of renewable energy and can see it being used as a topic starter in the classroom very well.
November 12, 2014
A quirky and fun story with a strong environmental message.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews