Big Red Barn [Hardcover]

Margaret Wise Brown (Author), Felicia Bond (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

By the big red barn
In the great green field,
There was a pink pig
Who was learning to squeal.

There were horses and sheep and goats and geese -- and a jaunty old scarecrow leaning on his hoe. And they all lived together by the big red barn. In joyous and exuberant

Pictures, Felicia Bond lovingly evokes Margaret Wise Brown's simple, rhythmic text about the cycle of a day on a farm, where a family of animals peacefully plays and sleeps.

There were horses and sheep and goats and geese -- and a jaunty old scarecrow leaning on his hoe. And they all lived together by the big red barn. In joyous and exuberant pictures, Felicia Bond lovingly evokes Margarett Wise Brown's simple, rhythmic text about the cycle of a day on a farm, where a family of animals peacefully plays and sleeps.

"Brown's melodic text is beguiling, while its subject'the big red barn that houses a menagerie of animals and their offspring'will have instant appeal to young children. Bond's newly added drawings have a simplicity that suits the story [about the cycle of a day on a farm]. A welcome reprise." 'BL.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Few writers have been as attuned to the concerns and emotions of childhood as Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952). A graduate of Hollins College and the progressive Bank Street College of Education, she combined her literary aspirations with the study of child development. Her unique ability to see the world through a child's eyes is unequaled. Her many classic books continue to delight thousands of young listeners and readers year after year.

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Muy pocos escritores de literatura infantil han logrado captar las emociones e inquietudes de la niÑez como Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952). Sus numerosos y ya clÁsicos libros y grabaciones continÚan deleitando a lectores y oyentes de todas las edades.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; Revised edition (April 4, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060207485
• ISBN-13: 978-0060207489
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (102 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Where We Live > Farm Life
  • #42 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Farm Animals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice and Sweet and Sleepy, June 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Big Red Barn (Board book)

There must be 1,000 kiddie farm books lurking out there, and I bet most of them are bad. *Big Red Barn*, however, is neither "kiddie" nor bad. The book seems to speak to the child; the tone is quiet, and, for once, we get to see farm animals and the farm on a day and night when "the children are away." This is an animal's view of the big red barn and the meadow around it. A deserted child's toy bucket serves the mouse as a place to look around. The corn grows not for the farmer (unmentioned in the tale), but to protect the newborn field mice. The scarecrow is exceptionally cheerful. The animals and their offspring squeal and low and bray and play and eat in the meadow. When darkness come, they wend their way back to the barn and curl up cozily, as the bats, their time come round, fly out of the hayloft.

The book works soothing wonders in effacing the farmer and his children, and lets us see a world we normally only imagine. I wager many a parent has fallen alseep with a child while reading this charming book -- everything is so safe, and so calming, as the vibrant colors of the day illustrations give way to those of dusk and night.

Bedtime books don't get much better than this.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best!, October 30, 1999

By 

Jill (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Big Red Barn (Board book)

This was my son's favorite book at around age 2. We used it as a night-night book saying good night to all the animals before going to bed. I have a tape of him at age 2 "reading" the book all by himself! The rhythmn and rhyme are beautifully written making it fun for the reader and listener , as well.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful story for children and adults alike, March 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Big Red Barn (Board book)

This is one of Margaret Wise Browns best books, Children of any age will love it. The text flows beautifully without being too silly and the illustrations are great for children learning their animals. We've had this book since my son was ten months old and it is still one of his most favorite books, and even after reading this a million times it is still one of my most favorite childrens stories. How did I miss this one as a child?