Cute illustrations but insipid rhymes.

This story was interesting for many different reasons. The story shows how an animal, a sheep, on a farm plays pranks on his fellow barn animals on April Fools Day. After the sheep pranks multiple animals, the animals finally play a prank back on the sheep by shaving it like a poodle. The illustrations were very well drawn and followed the story’s plot. They showed how the sheep was pranking the other animals and their reactions to the pranks. The language at times was very repetitive. After the sheep pranked each animal the sheep would say, “April Fools!” The plot of the story was well organized. The sheep pranks one animal after another with things that it knows the animals will go for. The big idea is to not do something to others if you do not want it done to you. The animals were not happy with the sheep when it pranked them so when they did it back to the sheep, the sheep obviously was not happy. This story shows kids and students to be treated how you want to be treated. ( )

Review:
Great book to help developing readers learn how to use rhyming words and similes to compare different animals.

Summary:
Barnyard Fun follows a sheep around his barnyard as he plays practical jokes on all of his friends on April fool’s Day. By the end of the story, his friends are now the ones that are playing a big practical joke back on him. ( )

Silly story. April Fool's Day story. ( )

BARNYARD FUN is a good read-aloud with charming illustrations. I'd say it's for children in the 2.5 to 6 year old range.

The story centers on April Fools silliness. Old Sheep plays pranks and in the end has his comeuppance.

What makes BARNYARD FUN fun, besides Paul Ratz de Tagyos adorable illustrations, is Maureen Wright's great rhymes. They totally work -- although I will note that I had to practice on the last few to get them to roll smoothly off my tongue. You see, after the point where Horse takes over the story, the rhythm changes, and the text becomes a little bit more complicated and less easy to read aloud--at least for me.

Definitely recommend this as a quick simple read to share with younger children. You can name the animals and talk about them; and you can easily use this book to teach the TREAT-OTHERS-AS-YOU-WOULD-LIKE-TO-BE-TREATED lesson.

Pam T~ ( )