Raising Yoder's Barn

Rating:
Summary: The Amish Community in Raising Yoder's Barn
Review: Jane Yolen has written a substantial number of picturebooks. She touches fantasy, the ghoulish, the comic, and also thecultural in her many titles. Some of her titles have struck me as too dark or gory for young children, and some have struck me as a little too political, but most of her work I have found quite enjoyable. Of all her books that I have read, however, Raising Yoder's Barn is the best.

It is an exploration of the Amish community way of life. The story is told from the point of view of a young boy, Yoder's son. He tells of a lightning strike that burns his family's barn to the ground, and the resulting "barn raising" that their Amish community holds to help the family recover from the loss. The text is beautiful, almost poetic, and Bernie Fuchs's paintings offer an emotional enhancement to the story. He uses slight blurring and an emphasis on light to make emotional statements with each one. It's lovely.

The story nicely conveys the religious faith of the Amish, with Yoder encouraging his family at the end of the barn raising to give thanks to God for His wonderful provision.

A poignant way to introduce children to the Amish lifestyle.