Description: One hundred years ago, many hands raised a red-cedar barn. Now the barn stands tall, smelling of freshly cut hay and dusty horses. As the animals wake and wander through its weathered doors, the barn watches the day unfold. Chickens peck, cows shoo flies with swishing tails, swallows fly in and out, and a cat crouches in the grass to hunt for dinner. When peepers start their evening song and the animals settle in their bedding again--the horses in their stalls, the cows in their pen, the swallows in their nests--the barn settles, too, until morning, when it gets to live the day all over again.
Review Quotes: Though not written in verse, the narrative is gently poetic; the simple, straightforward prose brims with pleasant consonants and assonants, and, indeed, the rolling, rhythmic text appeals to all the senses. Slower-paced read-alouds will not only reward listeners, but also allow kids to savor the delightful, muted painted images of greenery, farmland, and the barn's residents. . . Sweet, reassuring, comforting.
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
--Publishers Weekly (starred review) Descriptive and refreshing language enhances young readers' vocabulary, especially when absorbed alongside the illustrations. . . . Soft lines and careful lighting give the illustrations a sense of calm while guiding readers through a typical summer day.
--School Library Journal With rhythmic prose, The Barn conveys the passing of time and introduces young readers to the valuable idea of rootedness.
--WORLD Magazine