Barn

by Debby Atwell

For two centuries, a New England barn watches history unfold. The elegant oil paintings and lyrical text capture the beauty of a barn faithfully keeping vigil generation after generation.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, History

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 1996

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raised one foggy day in colonial New England, the eponymous barn in this lovely picture-book from author/artist Debby Atwell endures for more than two centuries, a silent witness to the changing human society around it. As generations of humans come and go, the barn stands watch, functioning as a farm barn, an antique store, and a horse stable. Destroyed by fire, the barn is raised again, and stands at the end of the book as it did at the beginning, with the east wind off the Atlantic blowing through its two big doors...

Being a great admirer of Atwell's work, and having read her four other picture-books, as well as the three she illustrated for other authors, I was eager to pick up Barn - the last of her titles I had yet to read. I enjoyed it quite a bit, appreciating the beautiful folk-art style illustrations, and the theme of change and continuity, over time. In this latter respect, it reminded me of Atwell's Pearl and River , which offer a similar narrative of generations passing, as marked by one woman's life in the former, and by the health of a river, in the latter. Although I have read it last of all of Atwell's titles, it was actually the first book she both wrote and illustrated, and I think it is not quite as strong as those subsequent books. Still, it is quite lovely, and could be used in a unit on the landscape and history of New England, as well as a general story about the themes of time and change.

[Anthony Minieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical Fiction
Awards: N/A
Appropriate Grade Levels: 1-5
Summary: This story is from the perspective of a barn as it endures history and the generations of people that find use for it. Through the great depression, the Vietnam war, and up until present day, the barn has served as a place for business, shelters for animals, a peace rally, and more.
Review: I thought barn was a very different story and that is why I enjoyed it so much. If a structure were a living thing, it would be witness to such much that has happened throughout history. It is a great story about people and passing time as well which, makes for an interesting perspective to study history.
In-Class Uses:
-Discuss the different time periods that the barn has endured
-Teach the concept of a time line by creating one based on the events that occurred in the story

[Miss Leinbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Book Historical Fiction (a barn experiences 200 years of American History on East Coast)
3-6 (upper grades as text set for US History)

Nice little book that teaches US history starting with the American Revolution. Simple format: each 2-page spread is one time in history, with one page containing text and the opposite page an illustration. It actually inspired an emotional connection with the barn- when it burned to the ground part-way through, my stomach flipped! (Don't worry, it was re-built.)

Txt-Set Ideas: US History
Mentor text for a "through-the-ages" book idea (upper grades) maybe as an assessment for a social studies unit involving history and/or geology (if the inanimate object isn't man-made, the story could start waaaay back.)

ATOS Book Level: 3.7
Interest Level: Lower Grades (LG K-3)
AR Points: 0.5
Rating: 3.5
Word Count: 840
Fiction
Topic - Subtopic: Award Winners-SLJ Best Book; History-Misc./Other History; Places-Misc./Other; Places-Farms;

[Kary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but I don't see my students appreciating it in the same way.

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this particular story, the barn is the narrator and tells readers its growing history through the great depression, the Vietnam War and to present day. It has been a family barn for many decades and has become an antique and celebratory universal place. I found this story very refreshing and interesting since the barn has a humanistic narration. The illustration is also very colorful and shows how much a place can hold history and significance to people of many generations.

This book is appropriate for grades second to fifth grade. This can be used in class to teach students about historical events and teach them how to create timelines. For younger grades, this story can be used to teach students about setting and plot.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

A barn tells its story from the day it was built in Colonial times, to times of World War, The Vietnam War, Peace Rallies, becoming an antique store, burning down and being rebuilt. It tells it quietly and matter-of-fact-ly. A nice story to read if you’re teaching a history lesson I suppose, but the ages of kids studying these times doesn't really jive with kids who like picture books. I'd say it's good for a one-on-one reading with your own child, explaining the times along with the time-frames of grandparents (and farther ancestors) and parents for reference.

[JustOneMoreBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever occupied with the details of existence, generations of fleeting lives brush past the stalwart narrator spinning a tale of contrast and continuance that is a humbling reminder of the beauty and brevity of life.


Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:
http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/0...

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's something sweet and epic about this book despite the fact that I'm unsure about it as a children's book. It's one of those books that is probably really for older children, and while those normally irk me, I like this one. It's also quite simple though -- epic, but simple. The illustrations are lovely. It's almost a history lesson. It grounds you in the late 1700s, after the Revolution and goes up to modern day.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but thought it underestimated kids. Kids, especially boys, like facts and details. Atwell could have made this book so much more if she had actually put dates of events in the book. As it is, it is just a sweet cute story which doesn't teach as much as it could of. I see this as a great idea and an okay execution.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A barn raised in Colonial days tells its story: how it changed owners through the years and watched them through good times and bad. Folk art style paintings illustrate the changes over time.

[CFAITC]

Using text and paintings, the life of a country barn is followed from the late eighteenth-century to the present day.

[Tammy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I use this book in my history class. The barn tells its story and as it does the scenery around it changes to reflect the historical events of the time.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A moving story told from the viewpoint of a barn of many generations who own a farma dn what happens to it. one on one or elemenetary and up