The scarecrow longs to befriend all the animals who live in his field, but his appearance is too scary for the animals to dare to come near him. As the wheat in the field grows, it prevents him from seeing the animals frolic and play; it even drowns out their cheerful sounds. He feels lonelier than ever.
He is even more lonely after the combine machine harvests the wheat because all the animals of the field hide from it. As winter then sets in, he knows he will still be all alone.
An evening snowstorm covers the scarecrow one night, and in the morning the animals of the field mistake him for a jolly snowman. They play happily all around the scarecrow, even perching on his arms and climbing on his coat.
Of course, the scarecrow fears what will happen when the sun begins to melt his charming exterior. As the snow drips away, the animals wonder, “Could the friendly snowman be the same scary creature they had feared for so long?” As the animals remain with their newfound friend, the scarecrow knows that his days of feeling lonely are over.
The wonderful illustrations are by Maggie Kneen. The beautiful embossing on each page truly brings the story to life, from the changing of the seasons to the texture of the field and countryside. You won’t be able to keep your hands off these pages (oh, and neither will your children 
).
This is such a timeless story that teaches acceptance of others regardless of their appearance. It’s so easy to judge someone by the way they look, and often we are pleasantly surprised when we allow ourselves the opportunity to get to know them.
Welcome fall with The Lonely Scarecrow!
