The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket

There's nothing unusual or different about the Brocket family - and they're keen to keep it that way. But when Barnaby Brocket comes into the world it's clear he's anything but ordinary. To his parents’ horror Barnaby defies the laws of gravity - and floats. Soon the Brockets decide enough is enough. The neighbours are starting to talk. They never asked for a weird abnormal floating child. Barnaby has to go . . .Betrayed and frightened Barnaby floats into the path of a very special hot air balloon - and so begins a magical journey around the world with a cast of extraordinary new friends. Review Boyne’s previous children’s novels have dealt with serious life-changing themes and his deftness of touch is equally evident in this uplifting celebration of otherness ―Daily MailCharming uplifting and perfect for any growing child who might be feeling a little different ―IndependentIt's unashamedly and often delightfully whimsical. It's lovely to look at . . . It has much of the pell-mell what-the-hell-happens-nextness of Dahl and Ibbotson -- Mal Peet ―GuardianA whimsical warm-hearted adventure ―The BooksellerVery entertaining reading . . . This is a book very much on the side of the child operating rather in the same way that for example the children’s novels of Roald Dahl operate. But Boyne’s humour is much gentler and subtler than Dahl’s . . . Oliver Jeffers’s black-and-white illustrations capture both the wit and pathos of Boyne’s text ―Irish Times About the Author John Boyne is the author of thirteen novels for adults six for younger readers and a collection of short stories. His 2006 novelThe Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide and has been adapted for cinema theatre ballet and opera. His many international bestsellers includeThe Heart's Invisible Furies andA Ladder to the Sky. He has won three Irish Book Awards along with a host of other international literary prizes. His novels are published in over fifty languages.Oliver Jeffers is a visual artist and author working in illustration painting collage and sculpture. His critically-acclaimed picture books have been released internationally and translated into over thirty languages and his artwork has been exhibited at institutions including the Brooklyn Museum in New York City the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin the National Portrait Gallery in London the Ulster Museum in Belfast and the Palais Auersperg in Vienna. Oliver has been the recipient of numerous awards including a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award Irish Book Award Texas Bluebonnet Award and United Kingdom Literary Association Award. He will release his fifteenth book as author and illustrator in late 2016. Oliver grew up in Belfast Northern Ireland he currently lives and works in Brooklyn New York.|John Boyne (Author) John Boyne is the author of fourteen novels for adults six for younger readers and a collection of short stories. His 2006 novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide and has been adapted for cinema theatre ballet and opera. His many international bestsellers include The Heart's Invisible Furies and A Ladder to the Sky. He has won four Irish Book Awards including Author of the Year in 2022 along with a host of other international literary prizes. His novels are published in fifty-eight languages.Twitter: @JohnBoyneBooksInstagram: @JohnBoyneAuthorOliver Jeffers (Illustrator) Oliver Jeffers is a visual artist and author working in illustration painting collage and sculpture. His critically-acclaimed picture books have been released internationally and translated into over thirty languages and his artwork has been exhibited at institutions including the Brooklyn Museum in New York City the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin the National Portrait Gallery in London the Ulster Museum in Belfast and the Palais Auersperg in Vienna. Oliver has been the recipient of numerous awards including a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award Irish Book Award Texas Bluebonnet Award and United Kingdom Literary Association Award. He will release his fifteenth book as author and illustrator in late 2016. Oliver grew up in Belfast Northern Ireland; he currently lives and works in Brooklyn New York.|There's nothing unusual or different about the Brocket family - and they're keen to keep it that way. But when Barnaby Brocket comes into the world it's clear he's anything but ordinary. To his parents’ horror Barnaby defies the laws of gravity - and floats. Soon the Brockets decide enough is enough. The neighbours are starting to talk. They never asked for a weird abnormal floating child. Barnaby has to go . . .Betrayed and frightened Barnaby floats into the path of a very special hot air balloon – and so begins a magical journey around the world with a cast of extraordinary new friends.|Boyne’s previous children’s novels have dealt with serious life-changing themes and his deftness of touch is equally evident in this uplifting celebration of otherness|Charming uplifting and perfect for any growing child who might be feeling a little different|It's unashamedly and often delightfully whimsical. It's lovely to look at . . . It has much of the pell-mell what-the-hell-happens-nextness of Dahl and Ibbotson|A whimsical warm-hearted adventure|Very entertaining reading . . . This is a book very much on the side of the child operating rather in the same way that for example the children’s novels of Roald Dahl operate. But Boyne’s humour is much gentler and subtler than Dahl’s . . . Oliver Jeffers’s black-and-white illustrations capture both the wit and pathos of Boyne’s text