Horn Book

Richly mottled papers in sumptuous collage introduce an energetic and noisy assortment of domestic and wild animals in this barnyard tour. The simple catalog of animals and their sounds is extended into a bit of a guessing game with the presence of a red-billed goose who pursues a yellow butterfly through each scene. This imaginative illumination of a very basic and familiar scheme is masterful.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A hefty helping of rowdy fun,"""" wrote PW of this onomatopoeic catalogue of farm animals and their homes, illustrated with textured pulp paintings. Ages 2-6. (Oct.)

ALA Booklist (Sun May 01 00:00:00 CDT 1994)

Like Fleming's other picture books, this is a lot of noisy fun. Here, her handmade paper pictures are brighter and grittier, with coffee grounds and real oats worked into the pulp. As for the story, a pure white goose tours a farm visiting her friends, and each responds appropriately. Large, thick black lettering scattered around the double-page spreads shouts out, Hee haw, haw . . . caw, caw, caw. Readers will watch for Goose in each picture; expect a lot of honking by story's end. As usual, Fleming has created another original, excitingly designed book for the youngest children. (Reviewed May 1, 1994)

School Library Journal Starred Review

PreS-Gr 1-Roosters, cows, crows, hens, kittens, etc., noisly go about their barnyard business except for Goose, who silently flits through each scene chasing an elusive butterfly. She finally makes herself heard on the last double-page spread. Strong rhythm and rhyme, plus fun onomatopoeic animal sounds, demand reading aloud. But even more delightful than the engaging text are Fleming's spectacular illustrations, created by pouring cotton pulp through hand-cut stencils. They create realistically textured, bold, bright settings for the whimsical critters to romp through. Intimate perspectives (tucked in the hay loft at kitten's-eye level, wallowing with mud-mucking pigs), reminiscent of In the Tall, Tall Grass (Holt, 1991), make Barnyard Banter one more plus to Fleming's already impressive collection.-Claudia Cooper, Ft. Stockton Independent School District, TX

Kirkus Reviews

Each in their niche—hens in the henhouse, mice in the grain bin, and so on—the animals make their traditional exclamations as the barnyard goose careens through, chasing a bright yellow butterfly. <p> Each in their niche--hens in the henhouse, mice in the grain bin, and so on--the animals make their traditional exclamations as the barnyard goose careens through, chasing a bright yellow butterfly. Lush colors, startled, wide-eyed animals, and bold, black print make each page of this latest offering from a new Caldecott honoree (In the Small, Small Pond, 1993) jump with activity. Good for either group or lap reading; up close, you can really appreciate the texture Fleming creates in her specially handmade paper by incorporating such materials as coffee grounds and oats. Youngsters can responding to a repeated question (Where's goose?''), and the familiar animal voices will please them; here, they can also enrich their vocabularies with such descriptives aswallow,'' paddock,'' and, of course,banter.'' (Picture book. 1-4)</p> "