A Song for Barnaby Jones by Anna Taborska, illustrated by Reggie Oliver ( Buy from: Zagava )

Zagava, 2022

Dusseldorf, 2022

ISBN: 978-3-949341-22-9

This is a lovely book about a lonely man who doesn’t quite fit in, who is caretaker to a cemetery and lives in the gatehouse, where there are strange noises in the dark and he feels that something is watching him. He decides to explore the catacombs under his house and accidentally encounters the night creatures that have been sharing his bedroom. Once they’ve been frightened away, he discovers he misses their noises and lures his friends back.

Looking at it as a picture book, there are design issues, such as blank page spreads in the middle of the book that disrupt the story’s flow. However, the  black and white drawings by Reggie Oliver are gorgeous and complement the story beautifully. A Song For Barnaby Jones, while it doesn’t qualify as horror, has its own darkness and wonder. While I’m not sure exactly which the audience for this is, it is easily one of my favorite books this year. Recommended for lovers of the dark, wistful, and whimsical.

Reviewed by Kirsten Kowalewski