This is the fourth book in the popular Latsch Valley Farm series that has so far spanned 100 years and four generations of a Polish-American extended family in rural Wisconsin. The story is based on the lively experiences of Betsy Korb, 7th daughter in a family of 10 children and niece of author Anne Pellowski. Along with Linda, Kathy, Danny, Carol, Mona, Dorothy, Julie, Sara and Kristine, Betsy enjoys the fun—and disasters—that occur at “medium-sized” Willow Wind Farm, with its cows, cattle, pigs, chickens, cats and dogs. She partakes in all the pleasures of a large family as well as learning to cooperate with the necessary chores: preparing meals, washing-up and being an alert member of a busy, working farm. Set in the year 1967, the book describes a close and flourishing community still connected to its European and Catholic roots. Wisconsin, 1960's RL4.2 Of read-aloud interest ages 5-up Anne Pellowski (1933- ) was born in Pine Creek, Wisconsin. She is a graduate of the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minnesota, and Columbia University, and has traveled widely throughout the world. A renowned storyteller and recognized authority on international literature as well as non-print media for children, Ms. Pellowski created and was for many years the Director of the Information Center for Children's Cultures of the United States Committee for UNICEF in New York City. She has spent time preparing for and carrying out workshops in developing countries, on creating books in the local languages of those countries.  This work has been done as a volunteer with the organization International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).  Ms. Pellowski was a nominee for the prestigious 2010 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.             Based on the childhood experiences of Ms. Pellowski's great-aunt, First Farm in the Valley: Anna’s Story is one of a quartet of books tracing four generations of a Polish-American family. Winding Valley Farm: Annie’s Story recounts some of the experiences of Ms. Pellowski’s mother; Stairstep Farm: Anna Rose’s Story is based on the author’s own childhood and takes place in the 1930s, a time in which strong family ties and traditions are thriving in the context of an established American identity; and Willow Wind Farm: Betsy’s Story is based on that of her sister Angie’s daughter. In addition, a fifth book, Betsy’s Up-and-Down Year relates further important discoveries in Betsy’s life. There are more than 800 descendants of Frank Pellowski alive today. Not too long ago, on a farm on the ridge of a hill, lived a big family. There were ten children. Betsy was not the oldest and she was not the youngest and she wasn’t even the one in the middle. She was the seventh daughter and she was seven years old. There were nine girls in the family, and only one boy, Danny. He was sixteen years old and almost grown up. Whenever people would visit the family, someone would usually ask him: “How does it feel to be the only boy in such a crowd of girls?” Danny would just smile and not say anything. He kept his thoughts to himself. Two sisters were older than Danny—Linda and Kathy. They were both blond, but Linda wore her curly hair short, while Kathy’s wavy hair was long. They studied a lot because they wanted to go to college. After Danny came Carol. She had even blonder hair. It was almost white and it curled softly around her face with its large, round blue eyes. Carol always looked calm and easygoing. She was going to be a nurse some day. Then came Mona, who had dark red hair, almost brown. Mona loved to do math in school. She had helped Betsy a lot in first grade, with her arithmetic problems. Dorothy was a year younger than Mona. She had hair that was between blond and brown. It made little ringlets around her neck and forehead. Her skin was always brown, even in winter. “She’s my little Indian daughter,” Mom would say fondly. Dorothy liked poetry and reading. Two years after Dorothy came Julie. She was the only one in the family with long, straight hair. It was a nice, shiny brown. And then came Betsy, with her crinkly brown curls.   After Betsy were Sara and Kristine. They were both born on the same day, only one year apart. Sara was tall and thin for her five and a half years, and at four and a half, Kristine was short and chubby. Sometimes, when the floor got all messy again just after she had swept it carefully, Betsy would think to herself: “I wish there weren’t so many people around here.” But most of the time she was glad she had her mother and father, her sisters and brother. It was nice to live in their big old house, where her daddy had been born. Her daddy’s grandfather had bought that farm, right after he came over from Germany, a long time ago. Some of Dad’s brothers lived on farms near by. They had big families, too. The mailman did not always know to which Korb farm he should take the mail, especially when it was addressed to one of the children. One time, Kathy got an invitat