Escape from Baxters' Barn

May 4, 2015
A heartwarming atmosphere enriches Bond’s chapter book, in which a down-on-his-luck farmer plans to burn down his barn to collect insurance money. Burdock, a scrappy, one-eyed cat, learns of the plot after sneaking into the farmhouse to get warm. Inspired by a caring owl who swoops in with a plan, the barn residents band together to carry out a thrilling escape. Bond (The House That George Built) excels in creating characters whose personalities flirt with but defy typecasting. An anything-but-lazy pig works tirelessly to dig a hole under the barn wall to facilitate the animals’ flight; a take-charge nanny goat’s patience and kindness exceeds her stubbornness; and free-spirited Burdock, though tempted to make a break for it, puts the others’ wellbeing ahead of his own safety. Among numerous snippets of humor are inadvertent bunglings of clichés (“My wish is your command!”). In the tradition of Garth Williams’s pen-and-ink barnyard images, Bond’s energetically sketched b&w illustrations illuminate the animals’ distinct dispositions as well as their communal courage and devotion. Ages 6–9. Agent: Judy Sue Goodwin Sturges, Studio Goodwin Sturges.

April 15, 2015
A group of talking farm animals catches wind of the farm owner's intention to burn the barn (with them in it) for insurance money and hatches a plan to flee. Bond begins briskly-within the first 10 pages, barn cat Burdock has overheard Dewey Baxter's nefarious plan, and by Page 17, all of the farm animals have been introduced and Burdock is sharing the terrifying news. Grady, Dewey's (ever-so-slightly) more principled brother, refuses to go along, but instead of standing his ground, he simply disappears. This leaves the animals to fend for themselves. They do so by relying on their individual strengths and one another. Their talents and personalities match their species, bringing an element of realism to balance the fantasy elements. However, nothing can truly compensate for the bland horror of the premise. Not the growing sense of family among the animals, the serendipitous intervention of an unknown inhabitant of the barn, nor the convenient discovery of an alternate home. Meanwhile, Bond's black-and-white drawings, justly compared to those of Garth Williams, amplify the sense of dissonance. Charming vignettes and single- and double-page illustrations create a pastoral world into which the threat of large-scale violence comes as a shock. Ironically, by choosing such a dramatic catalyst, the author weakens the adventure's impact overall and leaves readers to ponder the awkward coincidences that propel the plot. (Animal fantasy. 8-10)

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February 1, 2015

Gr 2-5-This story of friendship and teamwork is about a group of barn animals that functions as a close-knit family. This well-paced story told by the animals themselves is marked by a sense of anxiety as they deduce that the farmer is going to burn down the barn for the insurance money. They need to escape, but how can they get out of the locked barn? And where will they go? As the animals plot and plan, readers learn that each creature has a special gift and talent. It will take all of them working together to pull off their escape. Fans of Charlotte's Web and other gentle animal stories will enjoy this charming tale, which includes spot drawings throughout, illustrated by Bond using pen and ink. VERDICT This sweet story with a serendipitous ending has a comforting, classic feel.-Laura Fields Eason, Parker Bennett Curry Elementary School, Bowling Green, KY

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