ALA Booklist (Wed Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

Move over, ninjas, barbarians are here , in this case, "brobarians," two small brothers who battle in their backyard. Once at peace, but now locked into an escalating war (begun over a broken cookie jar), titans Iggy and Otto clash royally when Otto steals Iggy's most prized possession: his baby bottle. It appears that both might lose everything when Mamabarbarian steps in and the warring brobarians are sent to the "dungeon of seclusion." But by bath time, it is clear that the brothers will "live to fight another day" d this time, perhaps, side by side. While the narration is lofty and faux serious, the illustrations show goofy kids working hard at play. This disparity provides a good amount of the humor, while displaying how deeply kids immerse themselves in fantasy worlds. Never mind that Iggy wears a mop and diapers and uses a rattle for a sword or that Otto has wacky headgear: in their imaginations, they are masters. The over-the-top tone of the narration makes this a natural for a read-aloud.

Kirkus Reviews

Two brothers, two great warriors—two brobarians!—engage in an epic backyard battle, until the "magic that ruled all" (aka mother) calls them in.This mixed-media contribution from Ward is highly cinematic, both in imagery and narrative soundtrack. Iggy, the younger, is "master of the sword" (his rattle), "conquer[ing] magical beasts, and challeng[ing] colossal monsters" (the family dog and the outdoor grill). He does this all in his diaper, milk bottle tucked into his sash and crowned by a mop (literally) of hair. Otto, the older, "looked on... / ...as Iggy seized his army!" Iggy looms over Otto's miniature medieval action figures. Otto is "not amused." Sometimes the kooky overdramatization has its tongue so deep in its cheek it's in jeopardy of poking through. It is also in jeopardy of scooting right over smaller heads, as when Iggy "navigate[s] treacherous quicksand." Still, what young reader can't relate to being worked into a frenzy when an older sibling, say, polishes off the milk in their bottle—that is, "guzzle[s] Iggy's bah-bah, finishing every drop!"? If that is not call for a serious mud fight, then what is? Enter Mamabarian! "Heads bowed in shame, they marched inside to the dungeon of seclusion." Yes, the bath. Good and campy and a fine opportunity for vocabulary building. (Picture book. 4-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Otto and his younger brother, Iggy, share a love for dressing up like fearsome Norse warriors: Otto has a horned Viking hat, Iggy wears a mop wig and necktie-as-sash, and both sport rippling towel capes. But their marauding friendship is on the rocks, thanks to an incident involving a broken cookie jar, and the two are now engaged in a battle for territorial supremacy of the backyard. Their tussling eventually brings down the wrath of Mamabarian, and a reconciliation is forged at bath time. Ward (Rosco vs. the Baby) makes her mock-heroic scenes out of cut-paper collage decorated with crayon and pencil, echoing the homemade stylings of the siblings- costumes. But it-s her text, written with florid tale-as-old-as-time bravura, that delivers the real treat. Every spread is packed with vocabulary that cries out for stentorian solemnity: -A master of the sword,- she writes of Iggy, -he plundered wondrous treasures, conquered magical beasts, and challenged colossal monsters. Many sought his counsel.- As readalouds go, it-s pretty epic. Ages 3-7. Agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management. (Mar.)