Play Book Tag discussion

Barnaby is the son of Eleanor and Alistair Brocket whose main aim in life is to be ‘normal’ and not stand out in any way. They can't seem to accept the fact that Barnaby is 'different' and eventually make a terrible decision. This leads Barnaby on a series of adventures that have him meeting lots of different people.

If I had read this as a child I would have thought it was an amazing adventure. As an adult and a parent I thought his parents were horrible and I absolutely hated them. I realize that the novel wants to make the point that there's nothing wrong with being different but the level of malice by his parents just made me so sad.

The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket is a beautifully written tale that will touch many readers. Oliver Jeffers’s illustrations capture Baranby’s story perfectly, and certainly add to the story. The book is peppered with rich insights into human characters and lessons on friendship and family. I think children will really love it.