Raising Yoder's Barn [Paperback]

Jane Yolen (Author), Bernie Fuchs (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

After the barn and windmill burn on an Amish family's farm, Samuel Stulzfoot is summoned with plans for a new barn, and a strong community allegiance is shown in how quickly the neighbors respond in the aftermath of the destruction. Full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Work of the hands, faith and community spirit are constants that eight-year-old Matthew has always known growing up on a Pennsylvania Amish farm. These things make all the difference when lightning burns his family's barn to the ground. When a barn-raising is organized, he despairs of being thought too young to help despite his father's praise for his work skills; eventually, the organizer, Samuel Stulzfoot, gives Matthew a special and important task. Yolen (The Girl in the Golden Bower) uses atmospheric metaphors?blisters are compared to "the barley in Mama's soup" and the barn grows "like a giant flower in the field." Her vision of the Amish seems rose-colored?not even the fire disturbs the underlying calm?but both the fire and the one-day barn-raising carry palpable excitement. In Fuchs's (Ragtime Tumpie) similarly idealized oil paintings, the Amish characters, clad in their traditional garb, move against radiant, broadly brushed pastoral settings. The new barn glows golden in the light of the new moon; the jars of preserves on the kitchen counter gleam as the sun pours in. The mood, never broken, is the real star of the book. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Time-honored traditions of interdependence and cooperation are celebrated in a heartwarming story of an Amish barn raising. Matthew Yoder relates the events of his eighth summer when a fire consumes his family's barn. Four days later, neighbors rally to have a "frolic" and build a new one; however, the boy is concerned there will not be a task for him to perform. When expert builder Samuel Stultzfoot tells the child he's needed to relay instructions to the men, he is honored to be assigned such an important role. At the end of the day, the family gives thanks for their good neighbors and the barn. Matthew's "Amen" is a mere whisper but his satisfaction in a job well done speaks volumes. Luminous, impressionistic-style oil paintings reveal images of Amish life: the horse-drawn buggies, the unadorned clothing, the camaraderie and industriousness of the people. Direct and reflected light warm the full-page illustrations with gold, copper, and brown hues. Poetic language and stunning artwork pay tribute to a close-knit lifestyle and a commitment to family and community.
Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316075930
• ISBN-13: 978-0316075930
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,630,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born and raised in New York City, Jane Yolen now lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts. She attended Smith College and received her master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. The distinguished author of more than 170 books, Jane Yolen is a person of many talents. When she is not writing, Yolen composes songs, is a professional storyteller on the stage, and is the busy wife of a university professor, the mother of three grown children, and a grandmother. Active in several organizations, Yolen has been on the Board of Directors of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, was president of the Science Fiction Writers of America from 1986 to 1988, is on the editorial board of several magazines, and was a founding member of the Western New England Storytellers Guild, the Western Massachusetts Illustrators Guild, and the Bay State Writers Guild. For twenty years, she ran a monthly writer's workshop for new children's book authors. In 1980, when Yolen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts, the citation recognized that "throughout her writing career she has remained true to her primary source of inspiration--folk culture." Folklore is the "perfect second skin," writes Yolen. "From under its hide, we can see all the shimmering, shadowy uncertainties of the world." Folklore, she believes, is the universal human language, a language that children instinctively feel in their hearts. All of Yolen's stories and poems are somehow rooted in her sense of family and self. The Emperor and the Kite, which was a Caldecott Honor Book in 1983 for its intricate papercut illustrations by Ed Young, was based on Yolen's relationship with her late father, who was an international kite-flying champion. Owl Moon, winner of the 1988 Caldecott Medal for John Schoenherr's exquisite watercolors, was inspired by her husband's interest in birding. Yolen's graceful rhythms and outrageous rhymes have been gathered in numerous collections. She has earned many awards over the years: the Regina Medal, the Kerlan Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Society of Children's Book Writers Award, the Mythopoetic Society's Aslan Award, the Christopher Medal, the Boy's Club Jr. Book Award, the Garden State Children's Book Award, the Daedalus Award, a number of Parents' Choice Magazine Awards, and many more. Her books and stories have been translated into Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Afrikaans, !Xhosa, Portuguese, and Braille. With a versatility that has led her to be called "America's Hans Christian Andersen," Yolen, the child of two writers, is a gifted and natural storyteller. Perhaps the best explanation for her outstanding accomplishments comes from Jane Yolen herself: "I don't care whether the story is real or fantastical. I tell the story that needs to be told."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Amish Community in Raising Yoder's Barn, May 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Raising Yoder's Barn (Hardcover)

Jane Yolen has written a substantial number of picturebooks. She touches fantasy, the ghoulish, the comic, and also thecultural in her many titles. Some of her titles have struck me as too dark or gory for young children, and some have struck me as a little too political, but most of her work I have found quite enjoyable. Of all her books that I have read, however, Raising Yoder's Barn is the best.

It is an exploration of the Amish community way of life. The story is told from the point of view of a young boy, Yoder's son. He tells of a lightning strike that burns his family's barn to the ground, and the resulting "barn raising" that their Amish community holds to help the family recover from the loss. The text is beautiful, almost poetic, and Bernie Fuchs's paintings offer an emotional enhancement to the story. He uses slight blurring and an emphasis on light to make emotional statements with each one. It's lovely.

The story nicely conveys the religious faith of the Amish, with Yoder encouraging his family at the end of the barn raising to give thanks to God for His wonderful provision.

A poignant way to introduce children to the Amish lifestyle.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get it for Bernie Fuchs' Illustrations, September 9, 2010

By 

avid reader "Alice" (Charlottesville, VA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Raising Yoder's Barn (Hardcover)

I bought this book purely for the illustrations by master illustrator, Bernie Fuchs. Bernie Fuchs was an illustrator from the "old school" of Illustration; creating masterful commercial illustrations long before the advent of Photoshop, et. al. If you are an art student, or simply an art lover, do get this book, and sample his luscious, yet subdued palette; his dramatic compositions; and his use of "pure" light against darkened backgrounds. The story is secondary to the artwork. How I wish I could have owned a "Fuchs" original!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Raising Yoders Barn, April 6, 2007

By 

William R. Brownridge (calgary ab, canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Raising Yoder's Barn (Paperback)

I am a proffessional illustrator and Bernie Fuchs is one of the very best.
Colourful, evocative,full of nuance and delightful accents.The story is
historically interesting and depicts the humanism of people working together.