The Christmas We Moved to the Barn (Hardcover)

by Cooper Edens (Author), Alexandra Day (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3. An almost wordless fantasy about a young family consisting of a mom, her two daughters, and an assortment of animals who get evicted from their farmhouse on Christmas Eve. In a parallel to the original Christmas story and the small family that had nowhere to go, this odd group makes the best of a bad situation and takes up residence in an empty barn nearby. With good humor and determination, they march down the snowy path to the barn. The horses pull the grand piano (its flaming candelabra still lit) on skis, the dogs pull the bed (stuffed animals still arranged on it), and everyone gallops back for more. Everything goes: even the Santa and sleigh display from the yard, the decorated tree, and a toboggan carrying everything else, from the animals' food to the dryer (with the clothes still tumbling). And it's all moved in and set up, as the snow begins to fall, in plenty of time to celebrate the holiday. The beautiful oil paintings capture the cold, snow-swept, star-filled countryside as effectively as they portray the essence and personality of each character, human or animal. With Day's characteristic comic touches, realistic scenes are given a whimsical, at times almost absurd spin, and a jolly good time is had by all.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
An intriguing vignette preceding the title page displays Taffy MacDonald's much-forwarded letter from a realtor telling her that the house she rents has been sold and she must be out by December 24. This news, sent on November 12, arrives on Christmas Eve--a bad time to move, but Taffy is undaunted; the rest of the book requires no words for her two children and their dozen animals to know exactly what she has in mind (given the book's title, it's not that much of secret). To scenes of the family's exodus through the snow to an abandoned barn, Day brings the same warmth and humor as is found in the Carl books (Carl's Birthday, 1995, etc.). Taffy's unquenchable spirit and can-do attitude engage everyone as she leads the relocation parade, a mop-wielding drum majorette. Two horses pull the grand piano, skis beneath, candelabra atop; two dogs transport a sleigh-style bed; the pot-bellied stove slides behind one strong husky dog; the girls push and pull a couple of racks of clothes. This is no harsh treatment of homelessness; the whimsical touches include a crescent moon tugged along by two pigs, and a life-size lawn ornament of Santa and the reindeers scooting past, seeming to wave at readers. (Picture book. 3-7) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (September 19, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062051490
• ISBN-13: 978-0062051493
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,282,941 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A modern family's eviction on Christmas eve, November 7, 1999

By A Customer

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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful, magical book, January 17, 2000

By A Customer

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>

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Christmas we moved to the barn, December 21, 1999

By A Customer

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.