Christmas in the Barn

PreS-Gr 2—Originally published in 1952, with expertly crafted woodcuts by Barbara Cooney, then reissued in 2004 in a larger, full-color edition featuring bunny-strewn ink and watercolor art by Diane Goode, Brown's tender, lyrical account of the Nativity has been reissued once again, this time with illustrations by the late Dewdney of "Llama, Llama" fame. Using oil paint, pastel, pencil, and marker, the artist discards the two previous wintry depictions, providing a truer sense of place with appropriately spare flora set in a vast desert. The earthy pigments of the scenery and the animals are offset by a richly bright blue sky and colorful garments worn by Mary and the wise men. The animals are rendered with childlike accuracy and just a hint of cartoonish whimsy. The humans are a bit more realistic and in varying skin tones, leaving the ethnicity of the holy family open to interpretation. Multiple tableaus offer myriad details but are never too busy. They expand the succinct text, giving a quiet sense of grandeur while at the same time making readers feel a part of the events.