Chester's Barn

In Chester’s barn for the winter are all sorts of farm animals. Lindee Climo describes the natures of these animals, their lives and, sometimes, how the pictures happened.

Children will learn a lot about animals’ lives from this book, and will be exposed to the great beauty and strength in the patterns and designs of animal markings and shapes, especially in winter, when the background is less distracting. Although not all the stories are happy ones (after all, some of these animals are bound for market) there is a comforting matter of factness in the way they are told. Lindee Climo’s love for the barn itself and the way of life it represents makes us all aware of the glories to be seen anywhere if we look, even (or especially) in the “dead” of winter.

The illustrations are in P.E.I. mud red, white, grey, and black. That economy makes the richness of Ms. Climo’s designs all the more satisfying. For many adults, Chester’s Barn is a book of nostalgic reflection. For any adult, it is a treasury of beautiful, powerful, satisfying illustrations. For all children, the text is educational. There is no “cuteness” or talking down; the illustrations, as delightful as the animals themselves are charming, appeal more to older children than to younger ones.