The Little Barbarian
by Renato Moriconi
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.
“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.”
*Publishers Weekly Starred Review
“Inspired pictures will, in turn, inspire wide-eyed conversations.”
*Kirkus Reviews Starred Review
"The armed horseman that we meet in 'The Little Barbarian' (Eerdmans, 48 pages, $17) wears an expression of disdain verging on boredom, which only goes to show how magnificent he must be. For who but the greatest warrior could maintain such hauteur in the face of the monsters and terrors encountered by this fellow? In Renato Moriconi’s delicate watercolor illustrations, our hero sees off such dread opponents as cyclopes brandishing spears and cloud demons shooting lightning. He sails over nests of vipers and beds of carnivorous plants, eluding the hungry teeth of manticores, dragons and sea serpents, and never does his sword drop or his steed falter or his face betray the slightest fear. Is there any creature that can daunt the brave barbarian? There is, and children ages 3-5 may feel an empathetic pang at the surprise ending that answers the question in this witty, wordless picture book."
Wall Street Journal
”Up, down, and through this entertaining wordless picture book, the little barbarian and his horse encounter every kind of danger until the end, where readers will find a surprise.”
Julie Roach, The Boston Globe, The best children’s books of 2018
“Moriconi’s loose watercolors capture the little barbarian’s zeal and lamentation and eventual comfort.”
Thom Barthelmess, The Horn Book
"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."
Booklist
“Loosely stroked watercolors by Brazilian artist Moriconi give impish humor to the nightmarish dangers the little barbarian of the title faces. And his simple, even wise, adventure salutes the power of a child’s imagination.”
Publishers Weekly - Holiday Gift Guide 2018
"A wordless epic journey with a twist ending that makes you look at the cover again and say 'It was right there in front of me the whole time'."
School Library Journal
“Un plauso davvero va a Renato Moriconi: ha condensato in una quarantina di pagine un capitolo di pedagogia, senza dimenticare il gusto per i colori acquerellati e offrendo ritmo, movimento e una novità in ogni facciata.”
MilkBook
“Un colpo di genio assoluto. Un colpo al cuore. (…) Sono caduta dalla sella, come il barbaro bambino.”
Le Figure dei Libri
“È sorprendente come Moriconi sia stato in grado non solo di meravigliarci ma anche di lasciarci sperimentare la magia del momento ludico, farci vivere l’emozione di essere un bambino che gioca.”
Libri e Marmellata
Awards
★ Brazilian Jabuti Award – Best Children’s Illustrations
★ Boston Globe - Selected among the Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2018
★ CaldeNott 2019 - selected among the Honor Books
Rights sold:
Brazil, Spain, Italy, France, China (simplified Chinese), NA English, Greece
For foreign rights inquiries, please contact us.
All books by Renato Moriconi:
