In 2003, we may suddenly see a bunch of 10-year-olds learning to square dance. Sound unlikely? Yeah, but never underestimate the power of a good children’s book.

In 1993, Sandra Boynton published “Barnyard Dance!”, a board book for pre-schoolers featuring a square dance for animals:

Stand with the donkey, Slide with the Sheep!
Scramble with the little chicks, Cheep Cheep Cheep!
With an Oink and a Moo and Cock-a-doodle-doo,
Another little promenade two-by-two!

Most of us know Sandra Boynton through her greeting cards (“Hippo Birdy Two Ewes” is a classic), but she also writes children’s books and songs. I came across “Barnyard Dance!” while reading books to a one-year-old friend of mine, and, of course, immediately went into total patter-chant caller mode. But the cadence of the rhymes is so great that even non-callers can get that patented, old-time caller sound.

I love this review of “Barnyard Dance!”…Beowulf, anyone?

The words in “Barnyard Dance!” have been incorporated into a song on the Rhinocerous Tap CD. You can hear it here.

So think of all the pre-schoolers who are getting a totally positive exposure to the idea of square dancing. Maybe when they’re old enough, they’ll decide they want to “swing your partner once or twice.”