Module 2: The Big Red Barn

Summary: The simple story of a day in the life of the animals on a farm is told through basic rhyme and endearing illustrations. The book covers from dawn until the "moon sails high/in the deep night sky."


Brown, M. W., & Bond, F. (1992). Big red barn. New York, NY: HarperFestival.

My Impression: The sleepy language of this book makes it good bedtime reading. The pace and the rhythm slow down as the day progresses. Perhaps too simple for young school children, this book works well with toddlers, who are learning the names and sounds of the various animals found on a farm. This is a book I've read many times to my own children, and the text almost invites you to read the last couple of pages in a hushed voice. There is something comforting about the simplicity of Brown's text, and Bond's pictures are sweet and realistic, without being too complicated.

Reviews:

"Brown's simple story comes to life with Bond's new illustrations. Originally published in 1956, this is the story of a wide variety of animals who live in the big red barn. The rhymed text tells of the animals from sunrise to dark. The large illustrations are somewhat stylized, but still have a strong sense of detail and reality. The bright colors will attract young readers. The short text on each page is superimposed on the picture, but always in a way that is easy to read. children will enjoy studying each of the pages as the day progresses from early morning to night. Some readers will discover that there is a butterfly on almost every page. Even if the original edition is available, this one is having. -- School Library Journal

 Younce, E.(1989). Big Red Barn (Book). School Library Journal, 35(10), 84.


"A very peaceful ending makes this an informational book suitable for bedtime reading." -- The Reading Teacher

DeGroff, L. (1990). Informational books: Topics and structures. Reading Teacher, 43(7), 496-501.



Uses in the Library:

This is a great book for story time with toddlers. They love to hear the different sounds the animals make, and the text is short and simple enough to keep their attention.

Another use might be to use during Western Day festivities in the spring. In my district, we hold a Western Day during the opening of the Rodeo season. Students are encouraged to dress as cowboys and cowgirls. In this largely suburban community, few realize what life on a farm is really like.