Product Description

The farmer and his wife are so intent on preparing for the birth of their baby, they don't notice that their animals are acting a little . . . unusual. During the day, the animals moo and quack and neigh as always. But at night, when the farmer and his wife sleep, the animals gather in the barn to work on a big surprise--a musical treat to welcome the new baby!
Will Hillenbrand brings to this traditional song the imaginative touch that made his Down by the Station a shining success. He has created a world filled with the magic of nighttime--and an exuberant celebration of the joy of a newborn. Sheet music for the song is featured with the text.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #885653 in Books
• Published on: 2002-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 40 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Hillenbrand (Counting Crocodiles) gives a new angle to a favorite farmyard folk song in this jaunty adaptation. The cumulative lyrics begin, "I had a cat. My cat pleased me. I fed my cat under yonder tree. My cat plays fiddle-i-fee." Subsequent verses feature a duck, goose, hen, pig, cow and so on, introducing the various barn-dwellers and the musical sounds each can play. But as the animals prepare for a jam session, a human family (an obviously pregnant young woman and hard-working young farmer) prepare for another special event: the arrival of their baby. Hillenbrand's mixed-media illustrations depict a warm, bucolic life as it changes month to month and season to season. Scenes of scampering animals and the busy couple (shown knitting, quilting, chopping wood, etc.) employ a wide array of tones, from bold and crisp to soft and smoky. Most spreads contain hints of what comes next in the song and in the chain of events creating a pleasant guessing game for young readers. Ages 3-7.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. "I had a cat, and the cat pleased me. I fed my cat under yonder tree . . . " begins the familiar, cumulative folk song, presented here as a festive picture book. The farmer and his wife are preparing for their new baby's arrival--as are the barnyard animals. As the stanzas and time progress, other musicians join the fiddling feline: an oboe-playing duck ("quaa quaa"), a washboard-playing hen, a banjo-strumming cow, and more. When baby finally arrives, the barnyard band plays a musical welcome. Music and lyrics are included, but the picture story works nicely on its own, providing many opportunities for audience participation. The cheery, fine-lined mixed-media paintings, in predominantly pastel colors are also fun; some provide clues about which animal will next be joining the musical fray. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
WILL HILLENBRAND has illustrated many award-winning books for children, including Down by the Station, a Kirkus Reviews Children's Book of Special Note, and Counting Crocodiles, a Child Magazine Best Book of the Year. He lives in Terrace Park, Ohio.

Customer Reviews

Fiddle-I-Fee
This is one of our family's all time favorite children's books. As the seasons pass on the farm we watch the wife's belly grow and more and more animal's join the nightly musical jamboree. There are fun surprises to look for on every page. The classic song of Fiddle-I-Fee is easy to sing and the kids love it. They also love finding the hidden mice and looking for the clue that tells them which animal is going to make an appearance on the next page. I have bought several copies of this book to give as gifts and it has always gotten rave reviews.