Customer Reviews

The Christmas We Moved to the Barn

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was really disappointed with this book. If you are a Carl fan, you will not like this book. The illustrations do not bring the family or their plight to life. Some of their belongings, i.e. a commercial popcorn machine, didn't quite fit in the scheme. It would make a nice Christmas gift book for a child. Perhaps the story would have been better suited to the late 1800's or early 1900's.

I don't have any children nor grandchildren in this age group. I have not read any of the "Carl" books for which Alexandra Day is evidently noted. I saw the cover drawing with a goat toting a Christmas tree & was intrigued. Looking through the book brought smiles & a desire to own this book. At home I found the pictures drew me back again & again. The wild collection of possessions & the large number of pets made me feel right at home. I enjoyed this book so much I went back to get more copies for friends but the book store was sold out. Thus, here I am at amazon.com finding the book I was seeking all over the state. As you can tell, this book is one of my favorites & if I were still a preschool teacher my students would be enjoying it right along with me. <g>

Delightful tale of twelve animals and three humans moving house on Christmas Eve. A warm-hearted fantasy world where all the animals do their share. It gives a hopeful message that even in hard circumstances, working together to a good plan the family can survive. The enchanting pictures remind me of The Tompten and other Scandinavian picture books. The magic things (such as Pinnochio) move with the creatures as well as the practical (the dryer!) A real Christmas classic, about hope and sharing, reminding us that the first Christmas was spent in the barn.

I love this book and think the whimsy and charm help mitigate what would otherwise be a story that's way too sad for its intended audience. The images of the animals all participating in the family's life - from dining at the table to helping move the furniture and possessions are adorable. The family's fascinating possessions make for lots of discussion opportunities. Who wouldn't want to have a big yellow moon and a movie popcorn popper? Thank heavens for internet used book purchasing because this title has been out of print for a long time. You can still get a copy of it if your library doesn't have one.

This almost-wordless book tells the story of Taffy McDonald, who shares her home (literally) with two daughters, three dogs, two goats, two miniature pigs, a cockatiel, a parrot, a donkey, a pony, and a large calico cat. Thanks to a delayed letter, they learn that they have to vacate their house in rural Washington State on Christmas Eve. Undaunted, they set out to shift their goods and chattels to an unused barn. Everybody helps, even the pigs and the birds, as furniture skids along the snowy road on skis, sleds, and a toboggan--a grand piano, a potbellied stove, crates of books, rolling racks of clothes, Christmas decorations, and a generator to provide electricity in their new quarters. As the snow begins to fall more thickly, the last trip is made with the fully decorated Christmas tree, and before the evening is through they're settled in, feasting on pancakes and enjoying togetherness. The slight improbability of the animals doing their part will just suit young kids, who can well believe that loyal pets might pitch in as shown, and the watercolors are charming.

A mother opens an eviction notice on the first page and she delivers the only spoken words in the book, "Oh, no! How can we possibly move out today - it's Christmas Eve!" On the next page, she gathers her children around the table and says, "You musn't worry about this. I've got a plan, and I know we can do it."

There's not another word in the rest of the book.

This story of homelessness is handled much more gently than it occurs in reality and requires the reader to fill in many blanks. Children will have questions. And yet there's no denying the oil painting illustrations evoke Christmas, family and the power of love.

I was drawn to this book because, through my bedtime story sessions, I'm introducing the spirit of Christmas to my two sons, ages 6 and 4. I'm teaching them to be thankful for their blessings and to look for opportunities to help the less fortunate.

While I like this book's spirit, I prefer Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo, the Newbery Medal-winning author of The Tale Of Despereaux.