Bright Barnyard by Dahlov Ipcar

A picture book by celebrated Maine artist Dahlov Ipcar, following a young boy who scatters corn to feed the birds and animals of the barnyard. In Ipcar's signature vivid style, the farm's inhabitants parade before him: speckled hens, drakes with black velvet heads, and runaway white rabbits, all joining the feasting throng.

Published by Globe Pequot, the book captures the textures and rhythms of farm life with the warmth and precision that define Ipcar's work. The little calico cat watches the birds with fierce longing, knowing they are off limits, while the shifty brown rats are another matter entirely.