Customer Reviews

Raising Yoder's Barn

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4 star:		(2)
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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.

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!

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.

This is a interesting picture book that teaches children about Amish life. On one Amish farm, a stroke of lightning hits the barn, and it burns to the ground. The next day, the whole Amish community gets together to raise (build) a new barn. The are so orderly and prepared that it makes on wonder, how often does a barn burn down? It is an educational book for kids that shows a community coming together to help each other.

I got this book from the library because of the beautiful illustrations but had no idea that the story would be as charming as the pictures. It is the sweet story of a community who rebuilds the Yoder's barn after it is burned in a storm. Told by a little boy in the Yoder family who is coming to the age of working with his father, the story has an innocent, simple quality. I highly recommend this book! A must for any good children's library!!!!

This book is a touching story about an Amish community which pulls together to help each other when a family is in need. It is a wonderful book to help teach children the meaning of community and our role in that community.