ACCESS DIGITIZED EDITION
Guide/Reviews Database
PICTURE BOOKS
Fan, Terry , Fan, Eric , Fan, Devin

Barnaby Unboxed!

80 pp. | Tundra | September, 2024 | Trade ISBN 9781774882436 $19.99 | Ebook ISBN 9781774882443 $10.99
(2) K-3 The "half mouse and half elephant, with just a dash of flamingo" Barnaby (The Barnabus Project, rev. 1/21) sits in his box at the Perfect Pets store, along with other collectibles, hoping to find a "perfect family." One day he catches the attention of a little girl who takes him home, and soon the pair becomes inseparable: going on walks, playing dress-up, and watching TV (including their favorite show, Barnaby and Friends). All this attention leaves him with an inflated ego; however, when the girl's interest turns toward a newer-model "Rainbow Barnaby," his bubble quickly bursts. Ignored and unappreciated, Barnaby runs away and has a series of eventful encounters, culminating in a new friendship with two squirrels unconcerned with fame or perfection. As the seasons change, Barnaby develops a stronger sense of his own worth, making his eventual reunion with the girl all the sweeter and more satisfying. The story moves at a gentle pace, taking regular breaks from the action to offer reflective moments. ("The park was very quiet. Only the leaves whispered their secrets to the night air.") The Fan brothers' hand-drawn and digitally colored illustrations exist somewhere between classic and contemporary, confidently moving through an array of layouts, all the while constructing a smartly self-referential visual world.
Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

RELATED 

PICTURE BOOKS

Born Ready
by Patterson, Jodie
PICTURE BOOKS

The House of Grass and Sky
by Ray, Mary Lyn
PICTURE BOOKS

The Dog's Gardener
by Storms, Patricia
PICTURE BOOKS

And I Paint It
by Kephart, Beth
PICTURE BOOKS

Poem in My Pocket
by Tougas, Chris
More

Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?