I bought this book before my daughter was born, because it was such a cute, classic book for children. But, I've upgraded the review score from 3 stars to 5. I'm leaving the text of my old review, so parents of younger toddlers can read it and see how my daughter's reaction to this book have changed, and can read my suggestions for farm books she did love when a bit younger. My daughter was a big reader even by 7 months, so this book took her quite a while to warm up to, but it is a hit now with her, and with her parents. She loves seeing how the animals 'go sleepy sleep' at night. She's now 22 months, and still loves it, and it makes a great going to bed book. However, by 18 months, this was one of her favorites, and kept her very engaged. I wrote the below review when my daughter was 14 months old. None of those qualities are lost in this edition of Margaret Wise Brown's classic. Her pictures brim with personality, color and humor. I just know that my toddler likes it.įelicia Bond is very well-known for her illustrations in the 'If You Give.' series, and rightfully so. It could be the lullaby effect of the book. It could be the animal noises interspersed in the story. That's why an adult at a child's bedtime would like. And, also like Goodnight Moon, as the book winds down, the phrases become shorter until they just disappear and the story is over. Its phrases end with a gentle rhyme, not forced-feeling rhyming couplets.

It is about impossible to not lull your voice when reading it.

Why?īig Red Barn, like Goodnight Moon, reads like a lullaby. I vaguely remembered that she had no children and died young - I was right: she never married, had no children and died of a post-surgery blood clot in 1952 at the age of 42. Before I wrote this review, I had to do a little research on the author. Another book has migrated downstairs for my review.

Big red barn by margaret wise brown