Down by the Barn

PreS-K—Fans of Hillenbrand's Down by the Station (Houghton Harcourt, 2002), in which young zoo animals board a train, will appreciate this companion title. In this cheerful story, young animals riding in carts behind a tractor meet up with a group of children disembarking from a school bus for storytime on the farm. The simple yet comforting text contains repetitive phrases, such as "See the tractor driver pull his little lever…" and invites youngsters to join the reader in making the ever-lengthening sounds of the passengers as they board the tractor ("Puff, Puff, click, clank, moo, moo, peep, peep, OFF WE GO!"). The story even contains a moment of dramatic tension when a fox, which has been watching the animals on every page, leaps out to grab a chick. He is put in his place and ends up listening to storytime with the other animals and children. The bright and cheerful illustrations feature a cast of endearing animals and lots of humorous details. The exuberant art, combined with the pattern and repetition in the text, makes this a perfect read aloud.—Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, Hillsborough, CA