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 bring the nighttime countryside to life in this enchanting book that begs to be read aloud.
A young boy is beckoned by sounds in the middle of the night and finds a very magical barn dance in progress. With their marvelous ear for dialect, Bill Martin and John Archambault perfectly capture the bouncing cadence of a square dance caller. Ted Rand's luminous paintings are filled with a special warmth and telling details that reveal his love of country life.Bill Martin, Jr. is the author of many classic books for children, including the perennial favorite Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? In addition to writing, he has spent a great deal of time teaching teachers and working with children.
John Archambault is a poet, journalist, and storyteller who has collaborated with Bill Martin Jr. and Ted Rand on several books, including The Ghost-Eye Tree and Knots on a Counting Rope.
Ted Rand's illustrations have appeared in several magazines and newspapers, as well as in numerous books for children. He has collaborated with both Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault on many books, including Here Are My Hands.
Visit Bill Martin Jr his web site: www.billmartinjr.com
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 Copyright 1987 Cahners Business Information.
