City Farm, from Reycraft Books, Tells the Story of a Woman’s Devotion to Her Unique Urban Farm Home
The picture book shows how an environment and a community can change over time even as some things remain the same.
NEW ROCHELLE, NY, Sep. 10, 2025— Leading children’s trade publisher Reycraft Books is pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of City Farm, written and illustrated by Julie Koon with a release date of November 4, 2025. The fictional picture book introduces young readers to Willadeene, a girl who lives on an isolated farm, loves her home, and embraces the hard work she must do every day to keep her vegetable crops growing strong. As the years go by, Willadeene resists the changes that happen around her, including the construction of a city and a growing population. Ultimately she may find that change is both inevitable and unstoppable—but also that good things can come from it.
Several times throughout the book, Willadeene is approached by a man who wants to buy her farm, as he has purchased the land that surrounds it. Willadeene rejects each offer, even though the man offers her more money each time and ultimately resorts to bribery, threats, and lies. As a city is built around her, with shops, offices, houses, and roads, Willadeene keeps farming on her patch of land, despite the changes and the influx of people, while the growing community of city dwellers like having a farm in their midst. As she grows old and unable to farm anymore, Willadeene is faced with another opportunity to sell her home and land. Will she accept it this time?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR and ILLUSTRATOR :
Julie Koon is a children's book author and illustrator who loves making sweet and silly books for kids. As a preschool teacher and former school counselor, Julie brings playfulness and heartfelt warmth to each page. She loves drawing expressive characters and relatable moments. Julie lives in Massachusetts with her husband and three kids. When she's not working on her next big idea, she can be found exploring the city and playing board games with her family.
“While a work of fiction, City Farm was inspired by a true story, Koon explained. “I read a news article about a farmer who refused to sell his land to a real estate developer,” she said. “Apartments were built all around, with the farm land right in the center. I thought to myself, ‘I would love to live in an apartment like that!’ I imagined a beautiful relationship between the farmer and the apartment dwellers with fresh vegetables, community, and the beauty of the farm right outside their door. I knew there was potential for a story there.”
Koon added that she feels the book will be relevant to readers because of the connections between farmers and communities that are so vital to our cities. “The 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health found that nearly half of all children don’t eat a daily vegetable,” she said. “Many cities in our country have areas that are considered food deserts, with lack of access to fresh foods. In my opinion, city farms are the dream! I am so thankful for all the real-life city farmers bringing fresh food to the people.”
With City Farm soon to hit bookshelves, Koon said she hopes it will ultimately inspire kids to find out where their food is grown, get out and explore the farms and gardens in their communities, and try as many fresh vegetables and fruits as possible. She also expressed her hope that the book’s main protagonist will serve as a role model. “My hope is that readers will be inspired to stand strong and be true to themselves and their dreams, just like Willadeene—and that they will be inspired to get to know their neighbors and communities and see how they can support each other and make our communities stronger. We are better together!”
ABOUT REYCRAFT BOOKS: partners with award-winning and up-and-coming authors and illustrators, primarily from underrepresented communities, to provide high-quality books that delight, inform, and honor the voice and vision of all children. Founded in 2019, the imprint publishes authentic stories—engaging picture books, transitional chapter books, middle grade books, graphic novels, and more—that build knowledge, perspective, and connection, meeting the diverse needs of children, families, and educators.