Big Red Barn

I first bought this book for my older daughter when she was about 2. She's now 5 and I have another 2-year-old daughter, and both girls love to have me read this book to them. Yes, it's simple, but the simple text gives ample "discussion" time, especially for little ones who want to point out animal names and sounds, and ask questions. We have the board book, which is worn out (literally) and with another baby on the way I'm buying a new version.

I love Margaret Wise Brown's books and I especially love the illustrations in the originals. The illustrations in this edition of The Big Red Barn are disappointing. The artist can't seem to decide between a realistic style and a cute, stylized look. It's not a big deal but when I'm reading the book for the hundredth time to my little grandson, it's the pictures I'm studying and thinking about. He loves the book, though.

My 30-year-old sons loved this book, and I purchased for my five-month-old grandson, and he loves it as well

Wonderful art, short phrases great for 3 yr olds, gently teaches about family and love.
MW Brown is so gifted!

This is such a great little story for toddlers! So cute and sweet, perfect for bedtime. My 13-month-old will dig through his entire box of books just to find this one (the board book version), and he brings it over to me to read multiple times every evening. There are so many interesting things to point out in the pictures, and I make the story interesting for him by really vocalizing the animal sounds (I even stomp my feet when I read "the horses stomping in the hay" - he loves it!) I would recommend ordering the board book version, as it's a story better suited for toddlers who have a tendency to rip paper pages (plus the board book version is smaller and easier for little hands to hold).

I bought this for my child at ~20 mos, and she loved it right from the beginning. As she's gotten older, she engages with the story in new ways, talking about the animals, their activities on the farm, the farmer and children (not present :). It is a wonderful book. I was initially disappointed that the illustrations aren't by the same illustrator as many of Wise Brown's other works, but these more contemporary images are lovely too. We've given it as a gift to children from 2-6, and they're all equally taken with it.

I wrote the below review when my daughter was 14 months old. However, by 18 months, this was one of her favorites, and kept her very engaged. She's now 22 months, and still loves it, and it makes a great going to bed book. She loves seeing how the animals "go sleepy sleep" at night. 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. 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. But, I've upgraded the review score from 3 stars to 5. I take it back-- this is a keeper!

I bought this book before my daughter was born, because it was such a cute, classic book for children. It's been around for ages, gets wonderful reviews, is written by the extremely prolific children's author Margaret Wise Brown, and features a toddler favorite-- farm animals! I LOVED how the illustrations shows life at the farm progress from day to night through the lighting-- the sunset page and the night page are just lovely. And I loved that it is a goodnight book, with all the farm animals asleep in the barn by the end.

Now, for the real test: My daughter. At 14 months, has several farm themed board books and, I am sad to say, this one is not her favorite by a long shot. Every time I try to read it to her, she gets bored about three pages in, and this is NOT her reaction to all books. Having watched her reaction to this and other books, these are my conculsions about why this one is not as engaging: (a) The cadence is not that great for a M.W. Brown book. It can read kind of awkwardly. (b) It is short on things like animals sounds and long on references that young toddlers cannot grasp, like references to children who are not there (but usually play there) and a golden weather vein (NO way board book age kids will understand what that is). In terms of learning about animals, pointing them out, and hearing mommy make their sounds, she much prefers other farm books (for example, [[ASIN:0756655447 My First Farm: Let's Get Working! (My First Board Books)]]. In terms of classic toddler fiction books, she much prefers others like [[ASIN:1402757018 Baby Animals]] or [[ASIN:0307001466 I CAN FLY (Little Golden Book)]]. In terms of board books, anything by Karen Katz is a bigger hit than this.

Before my daughter was born, I probably would have given this 4 stars, because I love it (despite the sometimes slightly awkward language), but I can't give it more than 3 stars, given my daughter's reaction thus far. If she changes her mind, I'll update the review. For the record, this book came up recently and my husband (not really knowing which books are "classics" that my daughter owns and which are not), deemed this book "boring." So, that's two thumbs down in our house against my one.

lots of details are here.
my daughter loves it.
reads it back to me now.
lovely book.

My son loved it when I read this to him as an older infant. He got enjoyment out of the different animal sound effects I would make. Now as a two-year old he still enjoys this book. He loves that he is able to identify the animals and the individual noises they make. This book is a bedtime ritual and I highly recommend it!

My 3-year-old son picked this book out himself and loves it. The rhyme is enjoyable, and he has fun looking at the illustrations.