Christmas in the Barnyard

Baby-Toddler–A board book that is exactly as imaginative as its title. Llamas, mice, cardinals, calves, kittens, and other animals that parents or caregivers can easily prompt babies to imitate all lark about singing, setting up a Christmas tree, generally decorating, and jubilating that Christmas is Jesus’s birthday. Mackall writes in four-line rhymes following an atypical A/A/A/B rhyme scheme that sometimes flows trippingly off the tongue and sometimes falls flat under its own belabored weight. More significantly, the way the religious message about Christmas is grafted onto barnyard antics feels thin. Lines referencing Jesus are generic and cursory, only barely exploring the Christian understanding of the holiday. Detailed drawings of perky animals rendered in cozy tones end up feeling more richly drawn. The final impression of the book is that everybody is happy, Christmas is nice, and nothing is memorable.