Barn Dance!

by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault, Ted Rand (Illustrator)

Overview

In an old farmhouse, bathed in the light of a full moon, a young boy creeps to his bedroom window and looks outside. Was that a voice he just heard, or the hooting of an owl? There it is again:

Come a little closer...

Come a little closer...

Listen to the night...

There's music in the air...

Beckoned by the voice, the boy sneaks downstairs, out the door, and walks toward the barn. As he gets closer he hears the sweet sound of a country fiddler and the rhythmic thumping of dancing feet. But who could possibly be having a barn dance in the middle of the night?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780805007992
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	09/15/1988
Series:	Reading Rainbow Books
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	117,755
Product dimensions:	9.58(w) x 7.83(h) x 0.17(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

BILL MARTIN JR (1916-2004) was an elementary-school principal, teacher, writer and poet, with doctorate in early childhood education. In addition to the beloved Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Martin's books include Listen to the Rain and Knots on a Counting Rope.

John Archambault is a poet, journalist, and storyteller who collaborated with Bill Martin Jr. and Ted Rand on several books, including The Ghost-Eye Tree and Here Are My Hands.

Ted Rand (1915-2005) was a prolific artist whose illustrations appeared in magazines, newspapers, and children’s books. In addition to his work with Martin and Archambault, Rand illustrated My Buddy and Salty Dog.

Editorial Reviews

With a rhythmic cadence Martin and Archambault build their story from a quiet moonlit night when 'there's magic in the air' to a very special, foot stompin' party....An engaging blend of words and pictures to set both the mind and eye dancing.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Sheer magic! A fun-filled romp, ideal for reading aloud.” —Childhood Education

“A rousing, rowdy tale pulsing with the rhythm of country music....Rand's raucous...watercolor spreads are as spirited as the story poem.” —Booklist

From the Publisher

An ordinary evening becomes a festival of foot-stompin' good fun when neighbors gather at a barn dance. A Reading Rainbow selection. Ages 5-8. (March)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

K-Gr 3 With a rhythmic cadence Martin and Archambault build their story from a quiet moonlit night when ``there's magic in the air'' to a very special foot stompin' party and back again. On this eerie night everyone is asleep except for the ``skinny kid with questions in his head.'' With him readers sneak out to the barn and hide just in time to see all the farm animals kick up their heels to the scarecrow's fiddle music. While the words are a delight to hear (albeit it's a bit hard to get the tongue around on some lines), Rand's pictures make the story come alive. The two-page spreads range from the barn standing ghost-like in the full moonlight to the colorful interior of the barn, where the figures seem to be in perpetual motion. An engaging blend of words and pictures to set both the mind and eye dancing. Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public Library

School Library Journal

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