The Fan Brothers--Terry and Eric, joined again by youngest brother, Devin--bring back one of the "Perfect Pets" from their award-winning The Barnabus Project (2020) in the maybe-even-better companion title, Barnaby Unboxed.
Barnaby is a genetically engineered "half mouse and half elephant, with just a dash of flamingo." One day, Barnaby is chosen by a pleading "little voice": "Can we take him home? PLEASE?" The little girl waits until returning home to unbox Barnaby in front of a camera "so her father could record the special moment." Their relationship commences with an "I love you" and includes funny costume dress-up and learning "marvelous tricks." The pair are constant companions until the girl becomes obsessed with the new "Rainbow Barnaby" on TV and she quickly loses interest in her (formerly) perfect pet. Her father takes Barnaby for a walk, giving Barnaby the chance to run away--not forever, "just long enough for people to miss him." Unable to get home alone, though, he bonds with other lost ("or forgotten") pets, makes new friends, and survives. By the time the little girl finally finds him, Barnaby hardly remembers her. Can the girl regain his trust?
The story is a poignant delight that seamlessly incorporates striking lessons about pets, responsibility, and furever commitment. The Fan brothers' extraordinary art--rendered in graphite and colored digitally--overflows with imagination and whimsy. Their brilliant control of perspective is an invitation to share the point of view, accomplished with illustrations featuring the girl's or Barnaby's back, allowing the reader to share the same gaze. Audiences should be so lucky for more, more, more. --Terry Hong