Devin Fan Books

Barnaby Unboxed is another fantastic children’s book by the Fan Brothers. This, like their other offerings, is beautifully illustrated and full of depth that captures the interest of a wide age range.

The picturebook tells the tale of Barnaby, half mouse, half elephant, with a dash of flamingo. The story recounts the life of Barnaby and begins on the shop shelf of Perfect Pets, where he has lived for a long time. Finally, he is selected by a girl and life becomes perfect for Barnaby, until one day an even more perfect pet comes on the scene and he has to try to navigate a new life. He decides to step out on his own for a while and the second half of the story recounts his struggle to find where he fits in and the steps he has to take, with a little help along the way to try to find his way home and how he finally remembers who he is and his old life.

This heart-warming story is perfect to share at home or in class and is a good way of introducing themes such as identity, friendship and embracing uniqueness, as well as to accompany topics about toys. It could be shared with younger children or could be used as a stimulus for discussion on the themes with older pupils.