Full Moon Barnyard Dance

by Carole Lexa Schaefer

Come billy-bob the bebop and slink-slank a samba! An infectiously rhythmic read-aloud pairs up with charming illustrations, inviting us to step lively - and enjoy our differences.


"What a moo-oon," crooned the cow beside the barn.
"Maa-agnificent night," bleated a goat in the grass.

It’s the night of the full moon, and the barnyard animals just can’t settle down. Pig declares it’s a fine night for a snufflin’ big dance, and two by two the animals sashay down to the pond to jig and fandango under the round moon. But when the bumptious clouds blow across, and the revelers dance on in the dark, a mix-up ensues - a tangle! Will the unexpected muddle turn out to be unexpectedly . . . wonderful?

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

When Carole Lexa Schaefer was growing up, she wanted to be both a poet and a journalist. In an unexpected way, she feels she achieved her ambition. While studying for a master's degree in early childhood education, she once put together a picture book made of photo essays. "The lyrical, every-word-counts genre captivated the poet and journalist in me," Carole Lexa Schaefer recalls--and she's been writing stories for children ever since. Her first book with Candlewick, THE COPPER TIN CUP, traces the origin of a family keepsake that's been handed down for generations. "It was inspired by my connections with my immigrant relatives through stories and songs--invisible heirlooms--to keep handing on," she says.

The longtime director of a Seattle preschool that she founded in 1980, Carole Lexa Schaefer often draws on her experience with young children when writing stories. In DOWN IN THE WOODS AT SLEEPYTIME, not one of the baby animals in the woods is ready to go to bed, until Grandma Owl finally finds a way to settle everyone down. The author says she was inspired "by all my friends at Little Friends Preschool who like to play just a little bit longer--even at sleepytime." Luckily, preschool teachers now have some help at nap time: DOWN IN THE WOODS AT SLEEPYTIME, says PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, is a book in which "author and artist make bedtime about as appealing as it gets."


With her next books, Carole Lexa Schaefer switches gears from sleepytime to partytime. FULL MOON BARNYARD DANCE is a rousing read-aloud that showcases farm animals dancing as they learn to appreciate their differences. ONE WHEEL WOBBLES, a zany counting book, follows one fun-loving family on Family Parade Day as they roll along on an ever-increasing number of wheels--Gramma on a motorcycle, Sister on a trike, and Grampa on some snazzy skates. Of ONE WHEEL WOBBLES, Carole Lexa Schaefer explains, "I wanted to create a counting book for children with which they could have a rollicking good time."


Carole Lexa Schaefer, who has a master's degree in early childhood education from the University of Washington, taught school for ten years in places as varied as Taiwan, Switzerland, and Micronesia, as well as Missouri and Washington. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, the author now lives in Seattle.

Reviews

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this for storytime and it went over okay, but was the weakest of the stories (Goodnight Moon, Papa, Please Get the Moon For Me, and Kitten's First Full Moon.

[Relyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book I used in our space themed summer school. This one got a five because it has it all. I can hardly wait to use it next year in my writing and reading lessons. It's got rich language, advanced vocabulary that lends itself easily to inferring, onomatopoeia, a fun theme, great illustrations... This is a fantastic book for teaching! And such fun. Plus, we can follow it up with a barnyard dance of our own.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this story is a good one: On the night of a big bright moon the animals leave their pens two-by-two and go out to the pasture to dance... When the cold wind brings in the fog, partners are unknowingly switched. When the fog clears the animals are taken by surprise to see who they have been dancing with. The illustrations were messy and lacking in color, the story was difficult to read.....

[Ina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't used this one yet. I previewed it and loved it. The illustrations are just beautiful and it tells a beautiful story about making new friends. The animals go off to a dance in pairs - due to the dark, the pairs get mixed-up. After the initial surprise, the animals realize they are enjoying their new friends!

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full Moon Barnyard Dance is a beautifully illustrated story with muted tones of blues and greens. As the barnyard animals make a music all their own and the moon shines down with its brilliant silvery glow, they're inspired to kick up their heals and DANCE!...that is until the moonlight gives way to a morning sky.


Used for Dream Big:READ!: Moon Storytime: July, 2012.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The restless animals can't sleep so they end up having a dance party under the full moon. When clouds bow in and block out the light they don't give up but keep on dancing. When the clouds bow away they all realize they have inadvertently switched partners but that doesn't stop the fun. It turns out that new friends can be fun, too1 Suitable for a group story time or one-on-one bedtime story.

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The colors are a bit muted for my taste, but the story (branching out, dancing with new friends!) is a good one and I enjoyed the rhythm of the vocabulary. Another reviewer thought the words didn't flow when read aloud-- I disagree. I was pleased with this library find.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not as fun to read aloud as

"Barnyard Dance"

by Sandra Boynton

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

picture book -
GOod book - kind of random. Didn't really have amazing pictures, but they were still semi-interesting.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

A beautiful night and a full moon inspire the barnyard animals to hold a dance by the pond, where the arrival of some clouds provides them with an unexpected experience

[MJ]

odc this copy