Cover Image: The Barnabus Project

The Barnabus Project

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Member Reviews

An epic sci fi-laced delight about a little guy, a mouse-elephant hybrid trying to escape from a lab where he has been marked a scientific failure. A story so big the immensely talented Fans need a third brother (Devin) to help tell it. Love the cinematic feel of this adventure. The other creatures are compelling and readers will cheer them on as they outwit the humans and make a fraught exit towards freedom.

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This book was absolutely adorable. Barnabus is the cutest little animal experiment, and teaches us that everyone is special, even if they aren't perfect. That we should all strive for more even if others think we aren't worth it. The artwork is what really makes this book. It's beautiful and unique and creative. I loved looking at all the other reject experiments and I just know I would have enjoyed it so much as a kid.

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Goodreads Rating: 4 stars

Absolutely adorable, sweet, and the slightest bit melancholic, a perfect mixture. The art style is amazing–soft, yet vibrant–and the story’s message is excellent.

Barnabus is a half mouse, half elephant hybrid who has been deemed a “Failed Project” and lives in a bell jar underneath the Perfect Pets store, where the creatures deemed successful are sold in droves. Barnabus and his fellow Failures (all of whom are adorable and I want them all) plot to escape, wanting to see the outside world. The message of not seeing yourself as a failure, but embracing your strengths is woven throughout the narrative without feeling too heavy, and Baranbus is an easy character to sympathize with.

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A different kind of children's book about being happy just the way you are. Excellent illustrations that match the easy to understand story. Perfect for story time or bed time. I love Barnabus!

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The Barnabus Project was an adorable story about a perfect pet invention gone wrong (according to the laboratory people that is!) Barnabus showed bravery as he helped save his fellow “failed” projects to escape. This is a great book to show acceptance and perseverance.

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I pretty much love everything the Fan brothers do, so I was looking forward to reading The Barnabus Project. This book did not disappoint. The illustrations are wonderful. As always. And it’s just a cute story about how you don’t have to be perfect to find friends.

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The art is STUNNING! This is probably the best work The Fan Brothers have done to date. Very detailed and great use of the medium.

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Perfect Pets is a pet store who genetically engineers the "perfect pet". In the underground belly of the store, live all the "failed" experiments, Barnabus among them. Barnabus is half mouse, half elephant who is not fluffy enough with tiny eyes. When they find out that they are to be destroyed, Barnabus plans an escape.

The illustrations in this book are great. All of the experiments, success and "failures", are adorable! I want one of each please! The pictures are detailed and colorful; great for a children's book.

The book shows that everyone is valuable, even if you are a little different.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Terry, Eric, and Devin Fan, and to Tundra Books for the ARC.

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The Fan Brothers do it again (this time with a third Fan brother in the mix). With it's wonderfully imaginative creatures and strange underground lair, it's a feast for the eyes. It is a story that will pull one in on an epic level. This quirky story about friendship and finding one's place in the world will warm hearts.

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Barnabus, half-mouse and half-elephant, is a failed project and lives in a special section of a lab that is beneath the Perfect Pets store. Barnabus does not want to be there and determines to break himself and the other failed projects out of the lab and to freedom and all that awaits above ground.

The illustrations, rendered in graphite and colored digitally, are breathtaking and imaginative. Readers will be captivated, and will especially appreciate looking at the illustrations of the underground, as well as inspecting each of the "failed projects." The illustrations brilliantly capture the essence of the story.

Unfortunately, the story itself is not as strong as the illustrations. While it is a nice story, it feels as though the plot suffered due to the authors' attempt to convey a lesson that "nothing is impossible." While it is a wonderful principle to teach children, the book would have been far stronger had the story had a different ending--for instance, when the projects end up in the store, it would have been a much more compelling ending for them to have been bought over their successful counterparts on the shelves, and then taken home and loved by the children. The ending is not terrible, but is mediocre and unsatisfying.

This book has a great beginning, but fizzles out before its conclusion. The illustrations may be enough to keep a reader's attention, but the story itself may not be one to remember.

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No everyone is perfect and we must stick together. Kids will love the themes and cheer for Barnabus. I hope we get to meet him again and read about more adventures!

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I really enjoyed this title. The illustrations were very lovely. This story went past "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and straight to "everyone is perfect in their own way." I was reminded of the Rudolph and the Island of Misfit toys, honestly. Barnabus is definitely cuter than Barnaby. It was awkward and a little awesome that Barnabus' best friend is a cockroach, but everyone needs friends and a group of misfit experiments that stick together through thick and thin seems like a good place to start.

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This book is full of fun and whimsy! My children loved the story and the illustrations were amazing. Definitely a book we will read again and again. This book would make a lovely gift for any child!

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I thought that this was such a cute, fun, creative story. I especially loved the illustrations and names for all the animals; it makes it more interactive for kids to try and figure out what the animals are combinations of and who matches which name, etc. The illustrations are also very detailed and Barnabus is so small it's fun to look for him. This story teaches the lesson of believing you can do anything as well as working as a team and doing the right thing by helping others. It also teaches you that even though someone may label you as a failure, as long as you're happy with yourself that's all that matters. I wish by then end they had a happier ending and were able to find their place, but I still loved it!

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The Barnabus Project is about a "failed project" - a half elephant, half mouse experiment named Barnabus. Barnabus and his friends eventually decide to break out of the science lab before they are recycled. Barnabus is so cute and sweet. I just love the way he, and all his other misfit friends, are illustrated. It's very contemplative on what is considered to be a "perfect pet" and I like that Barnabus likes himself the way he is. This is a story you can read again and again and find new things to look at or notice in the pictures. I would for sure recommend this title for all those who seem a little unsure of themselves and wish to be free.

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The Barnabus Project begins by letting us know that not all is what it seems. Beneath the Pet Store, underground several stories, is a particular work facility. Here is where we find Barnabus.

Barnabus and his friends are held behind glass, confined to their own space. He dreams of what it would be like to be free, to see the outside world. No one believes it possible, but Barnabus.

Then the unthinkable. Each confinement was stamped fail. Barnabus did not understand what that meant. Upon finding out that the failed "projects" were to be destroyed, Barnabus chooses to try and break out of his confinement and help others break free as well.

He finds a strength he never knew he had. He refuses to leave no one behind, What Barnabus and the others find is beautiful yet overwhelming, and a freedom they all believed did not exist.....together.

The artwork is beyond words. I fell in love with each character, their uniqueness. The storyline, strong. The ending a shade darker. This book is a happily ever after based more in reality than an over the rainbow.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Terry Fan, Devin Fan, and Eric Fan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I'm a big fan of the Fan Brothers (no pun intended), so I was very pleased when I was given this advanced look at their newest book. Barnabus is a genetically engineered elephant mouse created in the secret labs beneath the Perfect Pets pet store. Unfortunately, he is a Failed Project since he didn't come out fluffy and cute enough to be sold in the store above. This is your classic jailbreak story though. He, and the fellow Failed Projects decide to escape rather than be recycled into fluffier, cuddlier, more sellable versions of themselves. The book takes you through their escape, page by page, obstacle by obstacle. It's cute and the illustrations are intricate and detailed in the most inviting way. Another success by the Fan Brothers, not that that should surprise anyone. Definitely a book to buy for your library when it comes out.

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The Fan brothers always bring whimsy and joy to their work and this book is no exception. A sweet little “failed” experiment learns that nothing is impossible if you try and have friends beside you. I loved the drawings and the beautiful imagery of this book. I have a feeling Barnabus is going to become a new favorite.

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The artwork is the star of this lovely picture book that looks like a Pixar movie already. The premise is that Barnabus and his friends are failed pets in a lab that makes genetically engineered perfect pets for kids. Barnabus dreams of seeing the real world and when they all realize they're about to be destroyed they make a daring escape plan. The second half feels rushed and incomplete. It almost felt like it was just out there to set it up for the series or movie or something that's coming next. I'm in love with the illustrations though, and intrigued to see where the author is going with it.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

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The Barnabus Project is a sweet tale of identity. I can't wait to read this at a storytime. I would love to have any one of these "failed" pets!

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