In this enchanting book the authors de Angeli answer the question, How do you fill a barn? . . . and their answer is embellished by a set of inimitable de Angeli drawings that young and old will cherish.

On the very first pages of the story, readers meet five-year-old Kate and her family (Grandmother, Grandfather, Mother, and Father). They are moving to the country, and Kate can hardly wait to get there. She daydreams about the spacious old-fashioned country farmhouse, plus garden, plus (best of all) a big musty-smelling barn, with its hayloft and myriad nooks and crannies to explore. But when she arrives, the barn is EMPTY.

Now, that is a worry—but not for long. Kate soon "peoples" her barn with animals that she and de Angeli readers and fans will immediately take to their hearts. 

First come Meredith the goat and her kid, Missy
Next, Lady, the lost beagle, who needs a home
Then Topsy, the cat, donated by the grocer
But the most exciting arrival of all is Kate's birthday present—Babe, the mare, who is about to foal.

Adventures, adventures, adventures—that's all Kate has! Lady has puppies, Topsy has kittens, Babe has her colt in the middle of a big, scary storm and just in time for Kate's birthday! Kate's barn gets filled with exhilarating life. 

Through this rereadable tale, youngsters four to seven share the joys and responsibilities of farm life and the fun of caring for animals. The Empty Barn is so simply written that it can be read by many first- and second-graders themselves . . . and doting aunts, uncles, cousins, and parents will find themselves reading to the end long after their "read aloud" session is over.

From the dust jacket