The farmer is a gentle, hardworking man who loves his animals and tends his fields with strong, caring hands. When a series of disasters destroys his crops, he is forced to sell some of his cherished animals to survive until the next planting. He passionately hopes he will be able to buy back his four-legged friends after the next harvest. The illustrations are richly detailed and filled with life and emotion. Children will delight in discovering the tiny details hidden in the illustrations and finding Squeakers the Mouse in each one. This is a story of hardship and loss, but it highlights growth, joy, friendship, and forgiveness.