Hey, Hey, Hay!

By Christy Mihaly, Joe Cepeda (Illustrator)

Discover the journey of haymaking through a mother-daughter's summer adventure.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 138 ratings

32 pages· 221 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

On a wintry day, a girl reflects on the summer's labor that created the hay she feeds her horses. Join her and her mother as they cut, spread, and bale hay under the sun. This rhythmic tale celebrates the warmth of family and the art of farming, offering a glimpse into the seasonal cycle of haymaking. With vivid illustrations and a touch of tradition, this story invites you to explore the fields and savor the essence of summer. Includes a glossary and a refreshing switchel recipe to enjoy.

"Listen, and I'll tell the tale of storing summer in a bale."

— from the book

From the publisher

Every bale of hay has a little bit of summer sun stored in the heart of it— learn from a mother-daughter team how hay is made!

Feeding her horses one cold and wintry day, a girl thinks about all the hard work that went into the fresh-smelling bales she’s using. The rhyming text and brilliant full-page paintings follow the girl and her mother through the summer as they cut, spread, dry and bale in the fields.

Mower blades slice through the grass./A new row falls with every pass./Next we spread the grass to dry./The tedder makes those grasses fly!

This celebration of summer, farming, and family, illustrated by Pura Belpré honor artist Joe Cepeda, includes a glossary of haymaking words, and a recipe for making your own switchel— a traditional farm drink, to cool you down in the summer heat.

A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Words: 221
Reading age: 4–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: 520L

Themes & topics

Books about mother-daughter relationships Books about rural living Books about farms Books about how things work and are made Books about technology

Good to know

Stories behind the story

Where did the idea for this book come from?

The inspiration for this book showed up right under my nose. I was working on a couple of other books, when my family moved to a new home surrounded by hayfields and I saw the haymaking process for the first time. I found the idea, and the process, of turning grass into hay for the winter both beautiful and fascinating. The scent of new-mown grass filled the air and the rhythm of the machines (mower, tedder, baler, hay!) got into my head. Then these lines started running around in my mind: “Listen and I’ll tell the tale of storing summer in a bale.” And that turned into a poem, and then that turned into a picture book!

For readers who can't stop at one