- Picture Books
- Ages 5–9
- Fantasy
The Barnabus Project
A visually spectacular picture-book adventure about imperfect laboratory creatures escaping a world that wants only perfect pets. A brilliant fit for children who like secret worlds, odd creatures, rebellion and emotional acceptance.
- Best for5–9
- FormatPicture
- Length80 pp
- Read aloud~16 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Literary
- Conversational
Tone
- Warm
- Exciting
- Thought provoking
- Whimsical
- Heartwarming
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Deep below Perfect Pets is a secret lab where Barnabus and the other failed projects live in glass jars, hidden away because they are not perfect enough to be sold upstairs. Barnabus is half-mouse, half-elephant, and he dreams of seeing the world beyond the basement. When the failed projects learn they may be recycled, they decide to escape together. The Fan Brothers turn a classic underdog escape story into a lush, cinematic picture book full of strange hybrid creatures, glowing laboratories and emotional warmth. It has adventure, peril and rebellion, but the core message is tender: being odd, unfinished or imperfect does not make you less worthy of freedom and love. This is a major high-quality modern picture book with strong child appeal and adult-level visual craft.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 5–9
- Read aloud · 5–10
- Independent · 7–10
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: animal harm, abandonment.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Imperfect creatures
- Secret lab
- Escape story
- Self acceptance
- Beautiful illustrations
Avoid if
- Very sensitive to animal confinement
- Wants light bedtime only
- Prefers realistic stories
Particularly good for children who are…
- Low self esteem
- Making friends
- Anxiety and worry
- Being bullied
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A gorgeously imaginative read-aloud about 'failed' creatures escaping to be themselves — a lovely prompt for talk about difference and what makes us perfect.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific kick is the secret lab of imperfect creatures — Barnabus half-mouse half-elephant, his fellow Failed Projects hidden underneath the Perfect Pets shop, the escape they plan when they hear they might be recycled. The picture book where being odd and unfinished is the whole point.
- Friendship and belonging
- Making a difference
- Secret world
- Surviving danger
- The underdog winning
Why parents love it
The Fan Brothers picture book about imperfection and freedom — lush cinematic illustration, the Failed Projects' escape from a Perfect Pets shop quietly subversive about consumerism and conformity. Strong for any child who feels they don't measure up.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Conversation starter
- Great writing
- Indie gem discovery
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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