The Fan brothers have put together another beautiful book for children. Who hasn't felt less than perfect? That is exactly the theme they choose to delve into championed with a half-mouse, half-elephant surrounded by perfect pets. This lovely picture book is a true delight.

Barnabus has only know his small glass home along with the others on his shelf in their own small glass homes. He is a failed perfect pet experiment. When the people in suits come to "take care" of the failures they have their own plans. The Fans have created another beautifully illustrated story that is as resonating with readers as their Night Gardener.

This is an absolutely gorgeous and adorable book! I loved the story and Barnabus himself, but what really sold me on this book was the illustrations. The story was worked so perfectly into the images and each picture was not only gorgeous but helped to tell the story. Definitely a great book about being unique and that not being perfect is ok. As someone who struggled with perfectionism and comparing myself to others, the story struck a chord.

What an amazing book! I loved this from the first page! The pictures are gorgeous, and the plot is one that both entertained me and pulled on my heartstrings. My students will love this book, and I'm already thinking of activities to do with this in my classroom.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Please read the publisher's description, so I don't have to try and recap this story, because I am having all the feels right now! Oh my gravy, this had my heart all over the place, and I want to adopt all the failed projects and take care of them, and let them run free if they want to (though I hope they'd like me and want to visit at least). The art is so wonderful and cinematic, with so much detail- the lab is dark and creepy, with a menacing feel to it, and the Green Rubber Suits are kinda scary (not to mention they're jerks). This is a lovely story about being yourself, about not letting society tell you who you're supposed to be and what you're supposed to look like, and about friends sticking together and helping each other. Just beautiful.

#TheBarnabusProject #NetGalley

This is a really unique story, but I spent most of it wondering how parents were going to answer children's questions about animal experimentation.

This was a lovely book. Gorgeous illustrations (the 'failed' pets were adorable) and a great message about the power of friendship, being true to yourself, and that you should always reach for the stars!

What a wonderful children’s book about friendship and perseverance. How our differences are not something to be ashamed of but celebrated. The artwork as is also beautifully illustrated and makes following along to the story a delight many children will appreciate. Overall, the Barnabus Project is a delightful and thought-provoking book children and parents will delight in reading.

I loved the cover of this picture book. It suggests a really unique art style with an intriguing storyline. Why is there a miniature elephant inside a bell jar? What is the Barnabus project?

We came with high expectations and loved all the illustrations. The art style reminds me of a Pixar movie but with a more hand-rendered quality. Truly mesmerizing!

That said, there is something to be desired about the story concept itself, the plot choices, the conclusion. I felt like I was stuck in an alternate version of Toy Story with bits of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh thrown in for good measure. Though it had the promise of being highly original, I had the strange feeling of the story being derivative and an amalgam of several popular movies, like Monsters, Inc., The Brave Little Toaster, etc. The cinematic escape of the lab creatures, the way Barnabus looked at the spitting image of himself inside toy packages being sold on toy store shelves - all of these iconic scenes have been overdone in our popular imagination. Additionally, the conclusion was a little unsatisfying: trying to squeeze a large, sweeping concept into a 32-page picture book, some of the intimacy of Barnabus' individual experience was lost.

I think the Fan brothers have a lot of talent and look forward to their other books in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a review copy for me.

This book seemed unlike the other Fan books I've read. The detailed illustrations were very sweet, and I loved the textured nature. I liked the idea, too, that the "failed" animals were really an inspiration for something to share with the world.

I loved this and so did my wife and son! It's a great little story about being different and looks incredibly unique and original. I think everyone can enjoy this book.

I really love the illustrations in this book! The book started out so wonderfully when the reader is introduced to an adorable mouse-elephant hybrid named Barnabus. Barnabus and a plethora of other oddball animals are kept in jars in a lab hidden beneath the Perfect Pets pet store. They band together in an attempt to escape from their confinement, I enjoyed their adventure but found the ending a little abrupt.

An adorable and heartwarming adventure with fun illustrations! Follow a group of ragtag toy rejects as they escape their toy store laboratory and venture out to find their place in the world. Part of the fun is spotting all the characters on each page.

I received an e-arc for this book thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and Net Galley for an honest review.

This was my most anticipated children’s book release this year - I knew from the title, description and cover that I was going to love it - and love it, I did.

In this book, we are introduced to the adorable creation that is Barnabus, a half mouse and half elephant creation that has been labelled a Failed Project. He lives deep in an underground lab with all his friends who are also Failed Projects. But they dream of the world above them. The book follows their adventures as they dare to break free and find a place in the world, imperfections and all.

This was an adorable book, filled with creations are so loveable and a story that is so heartwarming. It’s going to be a definite hit with children and I personally cannot wait to get a copy of this book to share with my students.

Another great book from the Fan brothers. The story was fresh and engaging, and the art was wonderful. A story that will be read and re-read.

Way, Way, Way below the street, underneath a pet store that sells genetically engineered perfect pets, far below where nobody can see, lives Barnabus. He lives in a glass jar, a cute tiny elephant, along side other glass jars holding his friends. They are the failed experiments. The less-than-perfect pets. Not quite cute enough. Not quite fuzzy enough. Then men in green suits come and feed them, but also put big red stickers on their glass jars.

Fail.

That's what they call Barnabus and all his pals. Failures.

But, Barnabus and his friends will all learn the power of friendship, sticking together through tough times and making the best of life. And.....the joys of not being perfect!!

This book is wonderful! The artwork is gorgeous! And the moral lesson is awesome! Nobody has to be perfect. And those who aren't quite enough to some....can be wonderously awesome to others! Friends stick together and persevere, through good times and bad. Great children's book!!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Penguin Random House. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Honestly, anything the Fan brothers touch is gold in my eyes. Their art is fantastic in every sense of the word, Can they illustrate every picture book from now on please? Plus the story was absolutely adorable.

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from Terry Fan, Eric Fan, Devin Fan, and Penguin Random House Canada through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love the illustrations in this book and all the different creatures in the failed project room, Barnabus is the cutest half mouse, half elephant I have ever seen. This was a really cute story about never giving up and believing in yourself to make your dreams come true. This would make a great bedtime story.

Barnabus was part mouse and part elephant. He was a toy that didn't turn out quite right but he had lots of company. They ate the food they were given and lived in their containers peaceably. But then one day they marked them all with a red sticker that said "failed". They were going to be remade...

Tundra Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published on September 1st.

Barnabus says they need to escape. They tell him it's impossible. He hits the glass wall. smashes into it and kicks it with no results. Then he sits down and lets a cry of frustration come out. The glass at the top has cracked. So he makes a really loud noise and he's free!

They work as a team to get off the shelves and head out for freedom. But the humans are after them. Will they get free?

What a strange and delightful children's book! 'The Barnabus Project' follows small, hybrid animals that were labeled "failed projects" that reside in bell jars in a basement. Barnabus is an elephant-mouse and they decide to escape to freedom. This is a wonderful story about friendship and valuing one's self accompanied with beautiful, dark illustrations. This would be perfect for children age 4-6.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Tundra Books