"There is a silence inside of everything." The almost prayerful early lines of this reverent episodic narrative by the married collaborators (The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine) confer unexpected dignity on its protagonists: a mule, a milk cow, and a miniature horse, all worrying together under a starry night sky. Noting that "the sun is late... And so is the farmer," they reason that the farmer is unlikely to appear with breakfast if the sun doesn't rise. Erin Stead conveys their anxious expressions with unfailing sweetness against inky blue backgrounds. When they approach the farm's barn owl, it sends them on a quest "beyond the field full of sheep... all the way to the edge of the world.... Bring Rooster along--Rooster will know what to do." The three animals strike out: "We will have to be braver than we ever thought possible," writes Philip Stead. As the sky lightens, though, readers realize that the journey may not be as challenging--or necessary--as the animals had feared, building to a happy if precipitous ending. It's a gently comic telling that appreciates creatures' gentle ways and offers a quiet reminder about perceptions' ability to mislead. Ages 4--8. Agent (for author and illustrator): Emily van Beek, Folio Literary. (Nov.)

A hungry mule, milk cow, and miniature horse wait for the sun to rise. Declaring that the sun is late ("and so is the farmer"), they go to Barn Owl for advice. Barn Owl gives the trio instructions for persuading the sun to rise, the steps of a journey that will deliver them "all the way to the edge of the world." They are also instructed to bring Rooster along: "Rooster will know what to do." The animals muster their courage and set out, pondering the nature of dreams. The gentle text -- there is an eloquent opening passage about the silence of the barn in the early-morning hours -- leaves space for child listeners to ponder their own dreamscapes. The illustrations, which contribute moments of subtle humor (the edge of the world, the trio imagines, is designated by a sign that says merely, "THE EDGE"), are dominated by beguiling shades of blues and then glow with warm peaches and yellows at the break of day as the trio makes their way to the farmer's house. Their bravery pays off, as the farmer wakes, and she feeds them -- because, yes, Rooster knows what to do: "COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!" Julie Danielson November/December 2022 p.75(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A trio of farmyard animals are worried. The sun hasn't risen, and the farmer hasn't appeared, so there's been no breakfast. The mule, the milk cow, and the miniature horse decide to consult Barn Owl, as "he will know what to do." He tells them of a journey they must take--farther than they've ever gone before--to where the sun is bedded down. Joined by Rooster, they pass by the herd of dozing sheep, climb through the broken fence, traverse a cornfield, skirt a "sleeping giant," and arrive at the edge of the world (so indicated by a helpful signpost) in order to wake up the slumbering sun. The quiet, quirky story is beautifully illustrated with soft-hued watercolor, pencil, and colored pencils. Images vary in size and alternate placement with the text. Delicate lines, exquisitely drawn and detailed, are covered with a wash of blue, aptly depicting the just-before-dawn sky that gradually lightens as the animals reach their destination. Relying on the advice of a wise farm resident and plucking up their courage, the foursome awaken the sun, and their day begins. An endearing new folktale from the Caldecott-winning duo.

Animal friends pull together in another collaboration from the Steads. A disruption in routine prompts a worried group of animals to work together, just as the zoo animals rallied together when Amos McGee fell ill in the Steads' first joint picture book, A Sick Day for Amos McGee (2010). As in that Caldecott-winning title, Philip Stead's artful text employs repetition and just-right word choices to result in a pleasing aurality. A mule, a milk cow, and a miniature horse wonder why the farmer hasn't arisen yet and then decide to venture forth to awaken her. Leaving the barn is daunting; as Milk Cow says, "We will have to find courage." Erin Stead's illustration style closely resembles that which she employed in Sick Day, though the palette here is attuned to the darkness of pre-dawn hours, ultimately giving way to the warmth of the sunrise. Before that happy ending, a whimsical reference to a "sleeping giant" is accompanied by a picture of enormous stocking feet, toes pointing to the sky, which offers a visual echo of Amos' feet poking out of his bedclothes as he sleeps. And yet, this is a farm setting, not a zoo, and the light-skinned farmer is a woman, not a man. The plot is also slightly more complex, with dream references that may prompt discussion about what happens in the reality of the story world and what is all a dream. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Waste no time in adding this gem to the storytime shelf. (Picture book. 2-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--The Steads have created an environment as whimsical and kind as the one that nurtured Amos McGee. This one takes readers to a quiet farm where three animals, "a mule, a milk cow, a miniature horse," are looking expectantly at the darkened early morning sky, waiting for the sun to rise. When it fails to come up, the animals take action, for the farmer has also failed to rise and breakfast will therefore be late. A journey ensues, wise animals are consulted, giants are faced, and eventually the trio arrive at the edge of the world, where the sun makes its belated appearance, as does the farmer who leads the animals back to the barn, where breakfast is waiting. A gentle array of soft colors and sweet animal faces quickly engages readers. Onomatopoeia, descriptive phrases, and repetition make this a very endearing reading experience for all. If the animals from the farm ever get a chance to meet the animals from Amos McGee's zoo, they would find boon companions and fast friends. VERDICT This meets all the expectations one has of this duo. Recommended for libraries looking for titles with sophisticated, age-appropriate art and language.--John Scott