Great, Now We've Got Barbarians!

by Jason Carter Eaton, Mark Fearing (Illustrator)

An untidy kid sets off a pest invasion like no other in this boisterously fun picture book about the perils of messy habits.

Playing and having fun is a kid s job, right? Cleaning up is a parent's job, right? Why do grown-ups make such a fuss about tidiness and cleanliness, anyway? What s the worst that could happen? A couple of ants pass through? A lone little mouse pays a midnight call? No big deal, right? Right? Author Jason Carter Eaton and illustrator Mark Fearing are here to caution you that being a slob might in fact be a big deal a really big deal. Maybe even a BARBARIAN-size deal! This outrageously absurd cautionary tale might just make you think twice about the cupcake crumbs in your bed and the half-eaten cheese curls behind the sofa. After all, you could end up with an infestation of barbaric proportions!"

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Juvenile, Family

36 pages, Hardcover

First published February 14, 2017

About the author

Jason Carter Eaton was born in several small towns throughout the United States and one in Ireland. He is the author of numerous children's books, including How to Train a Train, How to Track a Truck, Great, Now We've Got Barbarians!, The Facttracker, The Catawampus Cat, and The Day My Runny Nose Ran Away, which most children thought was a funny story, though it was actually a tragic autobiography. Jason currently lives in Tarrytown, New York with his wife, two kids, giant dog, and pet freight train.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ignoring his mother's many admonitions about cleaning up in this humorous picture-book, a young boy thinks: what's the worst thing that can happen? As it turns out, the consequences of being a slob can be quite... barbaric. Hordes of barbarians descend upon his home, making a general nuisance of themselves, even preventing the boy from sleeping with their crumb fights. Nothing seems to help, until the boy finally does what he should have in the first place: clean up after himself...

A hilarious look at a common childhood problem - namely, a certain lack of hygiene in personal habits, and a reluctance to clean up after oneself - Great, Now We've Got Barbarians! pairs an entertaining text with humorous artwork. Although quite fastidious as an adult, I do recall a period as a young child when I was quite messy, and probably frustrated my parents no end, so I identified with the young protagonist here. I would imagine many young reader/listeners will do likewise. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories that address the problem of cleanliness in a humorous and engaging way.

[Kid Lit Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids can be messy and this young boy is no exception. Today it’s cupcake crumbs on his bedroom floor. Mom warns him he’ll draw pests, but the boy doesn’t agree. Mom’s tend to exaggerate—a lot. He figures what could really happen, a line of ants or a lonely mouse in need of a meal? Big deal, right?

Then Mom finds Vlad . . . then Törr . . . and then it’s an infestation of barbarians. “Great, Now We’ve Got Barbarians!”

Great, Now We’ve Got Barbarians! What a wonderful title. Immediately I opened the cover and laughed at each spread. Details upon happy details fill the spreads. Vlad pops out of a cupboard. Törr sits on the floor, playing as he eats cheese puffs. The garage light pops on and there are nine, no ten, barbarians scattering towards the door, the only door where dad stands terrified. The large book, the huge barbarians, the details, the laughs . . .

Originally reviewed on Kid Lit Reviews. To read the full review and see interior illustrations, go to: http://bit.ly/GreatNowBarbarians

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way too cute! Good message. We laughed and laughed.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a silly look at the results of one little boy's refusal to clean up his room. What would happen if you didn't clean your room, what kind of pests could be attracted? In this house, the worst happens. Barbarians begin to infiltrate the house and Mom and Dad are not happy. As time goes past the infestation gets worse and sillier. Thought this was a good book to use when your little one is just determined not to clean. Silly illustrations accompany the story and are a great visual aid as to why cleaning your room might just be the best thing after all.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! This one absolutely killed my kids. It's the warning everyone grows up hearing: what will REALLY happen if you don't clean up your room?

This played out like big-budget Spielberg or Zemekis film. And I would love to see an adaptation! Only drawback: now my kids are walking around the house acting like barbarians. Read at you peril!

[The Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little boy's messy habits leads to a horde of barbarians camping out at his house. It gets so bad he finally has to change his behavior! Super fun story!

Illustrations are great! So silly to see barbarians acting like insects!

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever book about cleanliness with the metaphor of cockroaches as barbarians. The lesson is that if you want to live like a barbarian, you will live with barbarians.

[Sarah Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this 20+ times and I still like it, and the 4yo cam quote large sections and still likes it. Winner.

[Amy Souza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This children's book is hilarious. We read it to 3rd graders and they could not stop laughing. I think the adults were just as enchanted. Great story that can capture the everyday struggles and make them into such a great story.

[Mr. Canning · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star books are books that change one's paradigm on how to think about something. This book definitely does that. I would never have thought to equate barbarians with a house pest like ants, roaches, flies, etc... The book is hilarious, entertaining, and can be loads of fun to read.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's so much that I love about this book! Firstly, it's hysterical! Secondly, I love the illustrations. I don't think you even need to read the actual words to be amused by this story about the need to clean. Thirdly, I think it is a silly but useful way to teach children to think of why they are cleaning up after themselves. Even little people don't like to do things when they don't know why they are doing it. Love it! I recommend it!

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A laugh-out-loud book. This will be a hit with the elementary kids in my school.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome approach to why we need to clean up!

Miss 4 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Keegan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up randomly at the library and discovered a gem. Just funny and unexpected and then the ending . . . ah picture books at their best.

[Renee DiGirolomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

My three children had the good fortune of meeting the author, Jason Carter Eaton, as he was a guest author at my child's elementary school book fair. In anticipation of his appearance, the school librarian read Barbarians to the young readers during their weekly library time. The librarian shared that the children were delighted with this fabulously fun book during reading time and even more excited when they met the author in person dressed as a BARBARIAN! A must read for messy children and their neat friends! Highly recommend the author's other books including "Catawampus Cat," "How to Train a Train" and "How to Track a Truck."

[Sierra Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very funny, even the title I found amusing too! Each and every page was very enjoyable to read and giggle at. I enjoy most of the book. I recommend this book for readers of all ages because it was very funny and enjoyable. The illstrations made it even more funny. I loved this book!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Saturday Night Live skit for 6-7 year olds. Humor is the spoon full of sugar to help the moral go down: clean up after yourself! With a twist ending!

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

twist on the "if you don't clean your room..." theme.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ha! How did I miss this one last year? Illustrations are a hoot and the message is on point but done with so much humor.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious story about what could happen when you don’t clean your right right room.

[Kathryn (Dragon Bite Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally published on my blog, Nine Pages .

Mom’s upset because of the mess that her little boy leaves in the house, particularly food mess. She complains that they will get pests. But they don’t get ants or flies or mice. They get Vlad, a hulking, Viking-like man who demands an entire cupcake. Mom quickly puts him out, but then comes Torr, “seeking glory and cheese curls.” More and more barbarians invade the house. There is a page that shames men who wear make-up, which isn’t cool, Eaton. Otherwise, this is a funny story with funny illustrations and a good message about cleaning up after oneself. I wonder if this story was born of someone mentioning a pest invasion, and Eaton thinking about what else is known for invasion. Faced with having to move to escape the infestation (perhaps calling an exterminator was a little un-cool too, Eaton; the metaphor can only extend so far, and that might’ve been a step over the line; barbarians are human, and humans shouldn’t be exterminated), the little boy cleans the house, and the barbarians sulk away.

[Christine Turner]

An untidy kid sets off a pest invasion like no other in this boisterously fun picture book about the perils of messy habits. Playing and having fun is a kid's job, right? Cleaning up is a parent's job, right? Why do grown-ups make such a fuss about tidiness and cleanliness, anyway? What's the worst that could happen? A couple of ants pass through? A lone little mouse pays a midnight call? No big deal, right? Right? Author Jason Carter Eaton and illustrator Mark Fearing are here to caution you that being a slob might in fact be a big deal--a really big deal. Maybe even a BARBARIAN-size deal! This outrageously absurd cautionary tale might just make you think twice about the cupcake crumbs in your bed and the half-eaten cheese curls behind the sofa. After all, you could end up with an infestation of barbaric proportions.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

GREAT, NOW WE’VE GOT BARBARIANS! by Jason Carter Eaton is a hilarious picture book featuring uninvited guests.

When his mom says his dirty room will attract pests, a young boy doesn’t expect to be invaded by barbarians! This cautionary tale will teach even the sloppiest kids about the importance of a clean room.

The illustrator’s colorful illustrations of silly situations will keep readers entertained from beginning to end.

Librarians will find this humorous tale a hit with children. Use this picture book as a springboard for creative writing activities focusing on household chores and other everyday activities.

Published by Candlewick on February 14, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

How delicious, encountering sarcasm in the title of a picture book.

Thanks, author Jason Carter Eaton. I needed that.

The mess problem is soon evident, and so is a sense of humor straight out of my teenage favorite thing to read, Mad Magazine.

Wait until you meet the pest who demands... "an entire cupcake." Just scary enough, right?

Oh my, soon the pitched battles followed.

And at the end, there was the best ending I couldn't imagine -- took me loud, laughing surprise.

Thanks, Jason Carter Eaton, and also illustrator Mark Fearing. These pictures are one context away from cartoons or comic strip panels. So delightful!

[Kati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book at work while inspecting returns, and laughed out loud just at the title. Brought it home and struggled not to laugh so loudly I'd wake the family as I read it. A little boy ignores his mom's cautions against leaving uneaten food in his room and other more general messes, only to find out that ants & fruit-flies aren't the worst kind of pests that such messes might attract. The last two pages further cement this book as one of my new children's favorites. I only wish I had found this book when my own child was truly a child.

[Marissa Gidcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Jason Carter Eaton is about a little boy who refuses to clean up after himself. One day his house is infested by barbarians. The little boy likes them at first, but quickly gets fed up with the barbarians and cleans his house, making the barbarians leave. The boy vows to clean up after himself from now on, until he forgets to turn off the bath water and his house becomes infested by pirates.
This is a very funny book with cute illustrations. I liked how they showed a pest infestation in a funny way. I would use this book to teach about cleaning up after oneself.

[Madeline Masluk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good book to teach children that they need to clean up for themselves and why it is important to keep everything clean. I liked this book a lot because it is a funny way to tell children why they need to pick up for themselves and show responsibility. It also made me laugh when the character finally admitted that his mom was right and when he was wrong. Would recommend reading this book.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens if you do not clean up after yourself? Mom tells her son that if he doesn't clean up we are gong to get pests! PFFT! pests - a couple of ants, some flies, a little mouse...well, they GOT BARBARIANS! An infestation of Barbarians. The whole thing is quite hilarious. First one barbarian, then two, then they camp out in the garage and soon the whole house is full of BARBARIANS!! The boy finds the solution and gets to work. Great fun! Good lesson.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a comedic book about cleaning a child's room and what happens when things do not go as planned. This silly romp with the Barbarians coming to take over the house, eat the snacks, and watching t.v. and other funny scenes is just pure fun to read to children and then show the illustrations of what might happen. It took a little explaining of the word barbarian but the pictures did the rest. This is a really funny idea and book.

[Bmack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun book about a boy has been repeatedly told by his mother to pick up his room but doesn't untile the barbarians come to stay with him because they love to eat his leftover snacks! The only way to get rid of them is to clean up his room! :) Guess who comes when his bathroom floods?