The Christmas We Moved to the Barn
Kindergarten-Grade 3.  An almost wordless fantasy about a young family consisting of a mom, her two daughters, and an assortment of animals who get evicted from their farmhouse on Christmas Eve. In a parallel to the original Christmas story and the small family that had nowhere to go, this odd group makes the best of a bad situation and takes up residence in an empty barn nearby. With good humor and determination, they march down the snowy path to the barn. The horses pull the grand piano (its flaming candelabra still lit) on skis, the dogs pull the bed (stuffed animals still arranged on it), and everyone gallops back for more. Everything goes: even the Santa and sleigh display from the yard, the decorated tree, and a toboggan carrying everything else, from the animals' food to the dryer (with the clothes still tumbling). And it's all moved in and set up, as the snow begins to fall, in plenty of time to celebrate the holiday. The beautiful oil paintings capture the cold, snow-swept, star-filled countryside as effectively as they portray the essence and personality of each character, human or animal. With Day's characteristic comic touches, realistic scenes are given a whimsical, at times almost absurd spin, and a jolly good time is had by all.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.