The Little Barbarian

by Renato Moriconi

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467467476
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	08/21/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

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.

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. The Little Barbarian (Eerdmans), his North American debut, received multiple starred reviews and was named one of the Boston Globe's best children's books of 2018.

Editorial Reviews

★ 06/25/2018
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.)

Publishers Weekly

Kirkus Reviews (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."

Publishers Weekly (STARRED review)
"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. "

— 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."

From the Publisher

★ 2018-06-25
This wordless picture book uses watercolor to show a helmet-clad, sword-bearing horseman moving miraculously unscathed above, below, and past all manner of scary situations.Stark white pages—sized 12 inches tall and fewer than 6 inches in width—are the perfect backdrop for this simple story and its humorous punchline. The first double-page spread shows the Little Barbarian running from left to right across the bottom of the pages toward a docile-appearing, saddled steed. Next he's mounted, and the pair fearlessly leaps across two pages of jagged, brownish cliffs bookending a deep, bottomless ravine. They continue to move, always left to right, effortlessly through rains of arrows, above licks of flame, and past vividly painted creatures of sea and air, some mythologically inspired. 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. When all the frightening situations have disappeared, the rider, who has beige skin and brown hair, looks concerned for the first time. He is crying by the time he is approached by an enormous pair of light brown arms extended below a benevolent, bearded face. Is God intervening? The final spread is funny and enlightening.Inspired pictures will, in turn, inspire wide-eyed conversations. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews