Barn Dance!

by John Archambault and Bill Martin Jr.

Book Overview

In an old farmhouse, bathed in the light of the full moon, a young boy hears a voice calling to him. He sneaks out of the house and walks toward the barn, where he can hear the sweet sound of a country fiddler and the rhythmic thumping of dancing feet. But who could be having a barn dance in the middle of the night? Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault perfectly capture the bouncing cadence of a square dance caller, and Ted Rand's luminous paintings...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805000895
• ISBN13: 9780805000894
• Release Date: November 1986
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 10.0" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 3 to 5 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Kindergarten

Customer Reviews

As much fun to read aloud as it is to hear

Scarecrows aren't really scary unless you're a crow -- or a preschooler. My son was terrified of scarecrows until we found this book. Now, it's torn and tattered, and a favorite of both my boys and their older sister. It's the story of what goes on in the barn when (almost) everyone in the farmhouse is sleeping.All except the skinny kid with questions in his head, Much too full of wonderment to spend the night in bed, He was up about and list'nin'. . . . . .when the night owl said, Come a little closer. . . Come a little closer. . . Listen to the night. . . There's magic in the air. . . The skinny kid can hear the sound of fiddle strings, and he looks out his window to see the scarecrow leading all the animals into the barn for a hoe-down. Intrigued, the skinny kid sneaks into the barn and hides. Pretty soon, though, the scarecrow spots him and invites him to join in.Out came the skinny kid, a-tickin' an' a-tockin' An' a hummin' an' a-yeein' an' a rockin' an' a sockin'. An' he danced his little toe through a hole in his stockin'! By this point in the story, my kids are itchin' to get up and dance, too. But, as the night owl points out, the magic can only last so long. The skinny kid sneaks back into his bed in the farmhouse to watch the sunrise. It might have been a dream, except for that hole in his sock.In addition to the wonderful verse that sets toes a-tappin', my kids love the illustrations. My three-year-old always points out the skinny kid's progress as he sneaks out of the house, past the hound dog, into the barn, and back. All the kids giggle at the whirling pigs, who get so dizzy that they all fall down.

Barn Dance review

Brilliant illustrations. The writing takes you into the story, which is exciting & fun. Get it, you won't be dissapionted!

Barn Dance is a very fun book to read for kids of all ages.

My 7 year old daughter loves this book so much she wants me to purchase it. We originally got it frm the library, My 5 year old son loves to here my voice when the Crow says "Begin! Grab yourself a partner an jump right in"! This is a well writen book that I would highly recommend.

LET YOUR HAIR DOWN AND ENJOY THE HOE-DOWN!

I've come to realize that Ted Rand is an absolutely wonderful illustrator. Coupled with the most rhythmic and lyrical text you'll ever see, this book has become my son's new favorite. Pictures are full and colorful and the text brings out the ham in any reader-aloud. It's fun, fun, fun! Yee-Ha!!

A magical, moonlit, melodious dream of a book!

Barn Dance is a delightful book to read aloud. The rhythm of the words moves like the music at the Barn Dance itself. The illustrations are magical in the way they capture the feeling of being the only one awake on a moonlit evening. You can almost feel the breeze blowing through the curtains--the breeze that beckons a young boy to the merriment in the barn.