Beautiful picture book and cute story of a family plotting a dream for a farmhouse. I liked that the steps to actually build the house were told. The pictures are dreamy and help tell the story so well. Bet this is gorgeous in print!!

Our Friendly Farmhouse is out now! Thank you Tommy Nelson and Netgalley for my e-arc.

I am thankful to still have a child young enough to enjoy picture books! The best way to read any picture book is aloud, to an appreciative audience. I read Our Friendly Farmhouse to my 5-year-old this morning, and she loved it, as did I.

Our Friendly Farmhouse is a beautiful book. The pictures are gorgeous, reminiscent of some of my favorite books from the 1970s and 80s. They are full-color, detailed paintings, showing each stage of the farmhouse. The family bought land at an auction, then prepared a site for a house, then started building it. All the way through, the family was involved—the narrator even got to help his father run the excavator! One picture shows the family scratching a Scripture reference into the wet concrete. My favorite pages, though, are at the very end of the book, where the author tells the story behind the story, and shares a few photographs of the process.
We read a digital copy of Our Friendly Farmhouse, but when I asked my little girl what she thought of it, she told me she wants a hard copy! It is such a beautiful book that it would be wonderful to have on our shelf.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

Our Friendly Farmhouse, written by Melissa Ferguson and illustrated by Gretchen Ellen Powers, is an absolutely gorgeous picture book which tells the story of how Melissa and her family purchased, built, and made home an empty plot of land. The sweet story is told from the perspective of a child and includes child-friendly words and pictures. The book concludes with a note from the author and pictures of Melissa and her family as they completed their project.

As a parent, I truly appreciate Our Friendly Farmhouse because it uses beautiful vocabulary and lyrical words to paint a mental picture of what is happening on the pages. Additionally, I like that this book takes the time to mention what the characters are feeling at various points in the story. I often discuss character’s feelings with my children as we are reading books and this made it so easy!

This book not only gets my endorsement, but my children’s as well as my children really enjoyed this book. Several of them even stopped to ask me to read it as I was sitting to review it. My son even mentioned that he liked how it felt like an old fashioned story in the vein of Little House on the Prairie.

I have watched Melissa share about this book for many months now and this is one of the few books that truly lived up to its hype! Our Friendly Farmhouse is a book you definitely want to pick up for your kids!

Our Friendly Farmhouse is Melissa Ferguson’s first children’s book but she is an accomplished rom-com writer. If you enjoy this book be sure to check out her wonderful rom-com titles. My personal favorite is Meet Me In the Margins but you cannot go wrong with any of her works!

Many thanks to Melissa Ferguson, Gretchen Ellen Powers, Tommy Nelson and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are offered freely and are entirely my own.

Written from the point of view of Melissa Ferguson’s son, this picture book tells the story of their family’s leap of faith in buying land in the country, building a house, and leaving their suburban life for something different.

The delightfully whimsical illustrations paired with Ferguson’s heartwarming prose give me a nostalgic feel. I’m reminded of Tasha Tudor’s classic children’s book, A Time To Keep. Honestly, I have no higher praise to give than that.

The letter from Melissa, which is also included as part of the audiobook, was both interesting, and reminds the reader that it’s not just for other people to make a leap of faith into a wonderful and sometimes scary opportunity.The end of the book includes pictures of the Ferguson family in a sweet scrapbook style.

The audiobook was so well done. Giordan Diaz was perfectly cast for this book with clarity of voice and perfect pacing making it an engaging book for children and adults alike to enjoy.

My son and I listened to Our Friendly Farmhouse during his bath time, and it sparked his interest in reading the picture book. It also led to a great discussion about why such a big change can be scary, yet also wonderful. A pdf is available for download with the audiobook which includes the book cover and the pages with the family photos.

A beautifully illustrated book about making dreams a reality as a family. This book is so wholesome, with watercolour throughout giving the whole story a homely feel. My children really enjoyed the story and felt quite inspired to live better. The gentleness and thought that clearly went into this book made me head over to the author’s instagram to see her family’s story!
I would recommend reading as a family as it was so uplifting and cosy.

Our Friendly Farmhouse is the story of one family’s adventure of building not only a farmhouse to call home but a “slow, sweet life” in the country.

From buying the land at auction to building the home to filling it with everyone and everything, including chicks, rabbits, kittens, and even a new baby sister—it was “a little bit scary…. A little big wild…. But a big bit fun!”

Soft illustrations with a vintage feel highlight this look at a life filled with imagination and love. Delightful beginning to end!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Tommy Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

From the busy city to the slower-paced country-type busyness, a family decides to move lock, stock and barrel. They build together and find sweet contentment.

I really like the story line and the accompanying illustrations which give this read an endearing down-home vibe. What's more it has been based on a true family's true experience, making it all the more authentic. Well done, Melissa Ferguson!

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

July 2025

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

This book was the definition of nostalgia in just a few pages. The writing was beautiful, as well as the design of the book pages(changes in font along with swirly soft illustrations). It's rare I find a book that brings me back to childhood so quickly and captures the feeling of being a child and wondering at life, but this one did, and so beautifully too. I loved that it was partially based on the author's own experiences. 5/5 stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publishing company for the ebook ARC.

Rating: 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars

-Positive Content -
▪ I loved this story of a traditional family in the country.
It had a homey, old-fashioned feel to the book with it's storytelling and realistic illustrations.
▪ The story also has a theme of family working together to achieve their dreams.

- Negative Content (minimal) -
▪One little girl's outfit was too short sitting down on a single page,
but besides that the rest of the book was absolutely wonderful.

Many thanks to Tommy Nelson Publishing for the complimentary e-book copy I received to review through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and the thoughts above are my own.

Our Friendly Farmhouse by @ourfriendlyfarmhouse
•••
Thank you @netgalley & @tommynelsonbooks for the eARC!
•••
This raised garden bed with thriving zinnias is the closest I get to a farmhouse…but this book is all about how one family turned that dream into reality! With lovely illustrations this book tells the real story of @ourfriendlyfarmhouse buying, building, and living out the farmhouse dreams! Such a cute book to talk about the steps you take in making a dream happen and it has great vocabulary for gardening + farm living for those kiddos of ours that love that kind of thing. I’ve been a fan of Melissa’s adult romcoms and this kids book just adds to her repertoire! 🏡🪏🐇🚜🌾
•••

I love reading Melissa Ferguson's books and was so excited to hear that her dream of writing a children's book about her family's home had come true. This book is beautiful -- the words, the illustrations, the real life story and pictures at the end, and just all of it. Thank you, Melissa, for sharing your family's story with all of us. I smiled while reading the entire thing and know children all over will as well. Here's to a little bit more wonder in all of our lives! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

A bright, hope-filled journey of one family’s move from the suburbs to the country. This true story of building something from practically nothing will allure both children and adults alike, inspiring generations young and old with fresh dreams to get outside their comfort zones, get barefoot, and embrace the freedom of being outside and working one’s own land. The story of the real-life Fergusons is proof that such a journey not only fulfills the American Dream but also God’s beautiful plan He had in mind for each of His children—a Promised Land.

Book Review: Our Friendly Farmhouse by Melissa Ferguson

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing Our Friendly Farmhouse by Melissa Ferguson, and it’s a charming little story that really captures the magic of country living through the eyes of a child. The book invites readers to imagine a simpler, slower life as a family decides to leave the hustle and bustle behind and build their dream farmhouse nestled between strawberry fields and the Appalachian Mountains.

The story follows a young boy and his family as they create their homestead from scratch — from digging the foundation and raising the walls to planting gardens and welcoming new animal friends like chicks and kittens. It’s a gentle, poetic journey that celebrates nature, family togetherness, and the joy of creating a home with heart.

One thing that really stood out to me was how the book manages to inspire a sense of adventure and intentional living without feeling preachy. Instead, it feels like an invitation to dream big and appreciate the simple pleasures: swinging under sunsets, chasing rainbows, sharing tea parties, and making memories with loved ones. It’s easy to see why this would make such a lovely gift for families dreaming of rural life or wanting to bring a bit of that rewilded childhood spirit into their homes.

Also, I have to mention the cover — it’s absolutely delightful and sets the tone perfectly before you even open the book. Inside, the illustrations are beautifully done, adding warmth and charm that complement the story wonderfully.

Overall, Our Friendly Farmhouse is a sweet and inviting picture book that I’d recommend for kids and anyone who appreciates the idea of slowing down and savoring life’s simple moments. It’s a heartwarming read that left me smiling.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This book was absolutely adorable! I loved the illustrations so much; they were incredibly eye-catching! The story was very sweet and fun to read. I think this will definitely be a story that children will enjoy, especially while looking at the beautiful pictures!
.
.
.
I received a complimentary arc copy from NetGalley and Tommy Nelson. All opinions listed are purely my own.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Contemporary
Audience: Young children
Format: Picture book

I had to read this because I've enjoyed Ferguson's romances, and I was curious to see what she would put in a picture book.

The illustrations are incredibly charming! I loved all of them.

This story is taken from the author's life and their move to the country. It's a quiet book. A slow-paced story about change and enjoying things in a country life. I did not feel like it has a strong plot with a climax and resolution. It's more of a vibes book: the vibe is wandering and enjoying a farm life in the country. It touches on the theme of daring to live your dream like this family has done.

I hope you enjoy the book.

This is a quaint and picturesque story with charming, vintage-style illustrations that beautifully capture the feeling of preparing for a big family move.

While the narrative itself is gently paced and lacks a strong plot, the book's true value lies in its specific purpose. It serves as a sweet and reassuring guide for young children facing the transition from city to country living.

It's a visually lovely book that functions more as a gentle primer for a specific life event than as a captivating story on its own.

This is a charming picture book that tells the story of Melissa Ferguson and her family as they buy a farmhouse at auction and move to the quietness of the countryside and start renovating the home.

It is a simple retelling of their journey with lyrical prose that captures the attention of children. The illustrations are delightful and stunning that give plenty to talk about and spark the imagination of children. It is a book that is wholesome and family friendly that you could confidently read with your children without anything unsuitable for them.

The publisher recommends age 4-8 but I read it with my 3 year old and she enjoyed it a lot!

I'm glad I read this book and would heartedly recommend it to others.

What a precious book! Melissa Ferguson has invited readers right into the process of how they came to live on their farm. The illustrations are real yet whimsical. The story is so sweet and encourages readers to make those wonderful, delightful, and a little bit scary decisions. Also, readers can see the process of how a house would be built. It embraces the unknowns and the excitement of a new adventure so well, and children can see that new things can be fun and full of joy and blessings. I highly recommend this book to anyone needing a beautiful picture book.

This book has some very pretty pictures. I really enjoyed the illustrations. They are the best part of the book, but it's a pretty good story as well.

This is a beautiful and sweet book about a family doing scary things: moving into the country in their own farmhouse, where they have to build up everything! It's a lot of work but the story is written with so much love and care, that this family's experience is just perfect. The illustrations are so cute and the pictures at the end made me feel a little more of the peace and joy this book reflects.

Thanks to netgalley for this copy for review.