Free-spirited watercolor-and-ink illustrations show a barnyard full of animals going down to the pond at night for a rousing dance. Delightful facial expressions (glee, eagerness, joy) and loose, breezy movement—especially dancing—make the animals irresistible, while unsaturated colors create appropriate nighttime ambience. At first, in full moonlight, each animal dances with one of its own kind; but when clouds cover the moon, unintentional swapping occurs, leaving a cat dancing unknowingly with a bull, a hog with a goat, etc. Moonlight soon reappears, and everyone blanches—but only briefly. Dancing (with the new partners) soon begins again. On their way home to the barnyard at last, all admit that the change in partners wasn’t so bad. Visually charming, though a bit weighed down by the blatant message. (Picture book. 2-5)
