The Little Barbarian

by Renato Moriconi (Author)

The Little Barbarian
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

A brave warrior and his horse are on a dangerous expedition where together they must fight snakes, one-eyed giants, lions, carnivorous plants, and more, but their quest is suddenly stymied by an intruder.

A wordless picture book that captures the imagination. Being a barbarian is no easy task. A barbarian must be able to survive an army of one-eyed giants or a pit of venomous snakes. He must bravely fight off manticores, dragons, and sea serpents. Luckily, a barbarian can always rely on his trusty steed to see him through any peril. Readers of all ages will savor this wordless picture book with its clever twist ending.

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$17.00

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Starred Review

Deep transparent watercolors, masterful use of white space to build suspense, and a satisfying surprise add up to a stunningly original picture book. 

Kirkus

Starred Review
Children will be delighted at Little Barbarian's continued calm expression, even when he and his trusty horse are gliding above a group of spear-wielding cyclops. The art contains plentiful negative space around the well-crafted threats, allowing viewers to giggle nervously but not worry about any real danger. . . . Funny and enlightening. Inspired pictures will, in turn, inspire wide-eyed conversations.

ALA/Booklist

An epic journey of wild imagination. . . . Moriconi's clever book plays upon the immersive nature of imagination, showing how completely it can transform simple activities into the most incredible adventures.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

The little barbarian of the title runs across the bottom of the page, helmet on, shield and sword at the ready. His black horse awaits him. A page turn, and the barbarian is off: he's up at the top of the page, leaping across a gaping chasm! A turn later, he's at the bottom of the page, attacked by a flock of murderous birds! Then, top, leaping across a nest of vipers; then, bottom, under a rain of arrows. Loosely stroked watercolors by Brazilian artist Moriconi give impish humor to the nightmarish dangers the little barbarian faces, while the visual up-and-down rhythm hints at what's to come. When the barbarian's secret is revealed, readers will want to return to his adventures for another look. The wordless pages, tall and narrow, provide dramatic white backdrops for the action. And Moriconi's simple, even wise, adventure salutes the power of a child's imagination, which unspools endless visions of danger, courage, desperate rescue, and victory. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Renato Moriconi

Renato Moriconi is a Brazilian writer and visual artist. He has had more than forty books for children published in a number of countries throughout the world, including Brazil, France, Mexico, and South Korea. In 2014 he received the Jabuti Award for Best Children's Illustration for the Brazilian edition of The Little Barbarian.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9780802855091
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Publication date
August 21, 2018
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
Library of Congress categories
Stories without words
Imagination
Imagination in children
Merry-go-round

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