267 ratings | 51 reviews | avg rating:4.88

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Barbara’s Year In Books

Barbara’s 2024 Year in Books

Take a look at Barbara’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Barbara’s Bookshelves

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J. Motoki

2,313 books | 2,829 friends

Candlewick Press

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3,175 books | 1,591 friends

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Sujata Massey

122 books | 135 friends

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1,659 books | 3,593 friends

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Michael Mallory

225 books | 130 friends

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Barbara DaCosta

Goodreads Author

Website

http://www.barbaradacosta.com

Twitter

barbaradacosta

Genre

Children's Books, Mystery & Thrillers, Literature & Fiction

Member Since

August 2008

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From lighthearted children's books to adult mysteries, award-winning author Barbara DaCosta enjoys looking at the odd, quirky things in life. DaCosta's newest book is NIGHT SHADOWS, the touching story of an intergenerational friendship, DaCosta's third collaboration with Caldecott Medalist Ed Young. Their previous work includes Mighty Moby (a Minnesota Book Awards finalist) and bestseller Nighttime Ninja, , winner of the Children's Choice Award.
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Barbara DaCosta's Blog

Ed Young Day at Hastings Library

The prolific illustrator and author Ed Young will be honored at the Hastings-on-Hudson library, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, from 1–5 p.m. Ed was very involved with the library over many years. A room will be named in his honor, and there will be lots of fun activities!

Ed illustrated three of my books: Nighttime Ninja, Mighty Moby, and Night Shadows. Each book opened up a new world to me of thinking

Combine Editions
Barbara DaCosta’s books

Average rating: 3.57 · 2,347 ratings · 397 reviews · 6 distinct works • Similar authors

	Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta (Goodreads Author), Ed Young (Illustrator) 3.61 avg rating — 1,679 ratings — published 2012 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mighty Moby by Barbara DaCosta (Goodreads Author), Ed Young (Illustrator) 3.43 avg rating — 441 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Resort to Murder by Carl Brookins (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Ellen Hart (Editor), William Kent Krueger (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 3.52 avg rating — 169 ratings — published 2007 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Night Shadows by Barbara DaCosta (Goodreads Author), Ed Young (Illustrator) 3.45 avg rating — 62 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Minnesota Not So Nice: Eighteen Tales Of Bad Behavior it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nighttime Ninja it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Barbara DaCosta…

Barbara is Currently Reading

Barbara DaCosta is currently reading

Prince & Knight (Prince & Knight, #1)

by Daniel Haack (Goodreads Author)

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Jun 08, 2022 10:40PM

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Barbara’s Recent Updates

Barbara DaCosta wants to read The Memoir Engineering System: Make Your First Draft Your Final Draft by Wendy Dale (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Wendy Dale's Memoir Engineering System strikes a nice balance between analytical and the deeply experiential, personal and typically emotion-laden genre of memoir. Full of practical information, this book will help novice and experienced writers alik ...more
Oct 02, 2025 07:37AM · like · see review
Barbara DaCosta has read The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A memoir about so many things—the elephants and his relationship to them are central to the story, but the book is also about his love for Africa and the Zulu people, and for nature. Written like a thriller, it is hard to put down.
Aug 08, 2025 06:33AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing Unglued: A Bipolar Love Story by Jeffrey Zuckerman	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 08, 2025 06:30AM · like
Barbara DaCosta has read Unglued: A Bipolar Love Story by Jeffrey Zuckerman	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 08, 2025 06:29AM · like
Barbara DaCosta is currently reading The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 29, 2025 04:44PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing Where Wolves Don't Die by Anton Treuer (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Ezra is grappling with middle-school and is tormented by a bully. As well, Ezra is torn between worlds: life with his father in urban Minneapolis during the school year, and summers on the reservation with extended family. A crisis sends him even fur ...more
Jun 30, 2025 02:42PM · like · see review
Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing Pinocchio by Ed Young	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Ed Young's Pinocchio art is fascinating. He illustrated my Nighttime Ninja 16 years later, and I can see the threads of connection between the two. Both unique, but the ways in which he played with the paper and other materials he used, and the maste ...more
Feb 24, 2025 09:54PM · like · see review
Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing Somebody I Used to Know: A Memoir by Wendy Mitchell	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 15, 2025 08:22PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Somebody I Used to Know by Wendy Mitchell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Somebody I Used to Know by Wendy Mitchell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing Peony in Love by Lisa See (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a stunning, captivating book. Takes you into the hidden women's world of an elite Chinese family in the early Qing dynasty and explores the this-world and other-world love affair of the young woman, Peony. Exquisite attention to detail, and w ...more
Feb 15, 2025 09:44AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Peony in Love by Lisa See. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Peony in Love by Lisa See <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Barbara DaCosta rated a book it was amazing The Flea's Sneeze by Lynn Downey	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Love this book! Quiet sleepytime punctuated with excitement, perfectly complemented by the artwork....it's all there. ...more
Feb 15, 2025 09:44AM · like · see review