160,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Happy Sunday! Auckland Store open until 5pm today 📚

Bartleby

By Matt Phelan
0.0 (0 reviews)
Brief Description
Everyone says NO sometimes. Bartleby says, "I prefer not to." He says it a lot. Bartleby does things his own way, in his own time. And that's what makes him extraordinary. Matt Phelan's Bartleby is an endearing, adorable, and humorous celebration of being yourself even when... Read More
Format: Hardback
$3800
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

From New York Times-bestselling and award-winning creator Matt Phelan, Bartleby is a whimsical, yet powerful new modern classic picture book for fans of The Rabbit Listened that follows a dapper polar bear who learns the power of staying true to himself. Won in a major auction!

From New York Times-bestelling and award-winning creator Matt Phelan, Bartleby is a whimsical, yet powerful new modern classic picture book for fans of The Rabbit Listened that follows a dapper polar bear who learns the power of staying true to himself. Won in a major auction!

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Everyone says NO sometimes.

Bartleby says, "I prefer not to."

He says it a lot.

Bartleby does things his own way, in his own time.

And that's what makes him extraordinary.

Matt Phelan's Bartleby is an endearing, adorable, and humorous celebration of being yourself even when you stand out—sure to delight readers everywhere.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780374393557

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 20 April 2026

Country: United States

Imprint: Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc

Illustration: full-color throughout

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Matt Phelan

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 229.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 40

Collections

Children's Books Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Comfort Reads Matt Phelan

About the Author

Matt Phelan is an award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author/illustrator of picture books, middle grade novels, and graphic novels for young readers. He has received the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for The Storm in the Barn, the Carolyn Field Award for Around the World and Snow White, the Jefferson Cup for Bluffton, and has been nominated for five Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. In addition to his own books, Matt has illustrated many books by renowned authors including Flora's Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall, Marilyn's Monster by Michelle Knudsen, Xander's Panda Party by Linda Sue Park, and The Higher Power of Lucky, winner of a Newbery Medal, by Susan Patron. www.mattphelan.com

Also by Matt Phelan

View all
  • The Library of Unruly Treasures
    The Borrowers meets Matilda in this funny, winning story of a girl who finds herself an unlikely hero when she stumbles upon a big secret about little creatures. This is the latest book from the National Book Award-winning author of the Penderwicks series. Gwen MacKinnon's parents are dreadful. Truly, deeply, almost impressively dreadful. So, Gwen's not upset at all when...
    By Matt Phelan and Jeanne Birdsall
    Paperback
    $2600
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Sweater Weather
    What a perfect autumn day! Papa Bear tells his cubs to bundle up in the cosy sweaters he knitted for them—but that is easier said than done. Award-winning author-artist Matt Phelan has created a hilarious and warmhearted ode to fall, patience, and knitting. Sweater Weather will be adored by fans of Anna Dewdney and Tad Hills. Sweaters on. Not yet!...
    By Matt Phelan
    Hardback
    $5500
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Happiness Index
    Learn to reconnect your brain and heart to find happiness and engagement at work and in life. In The Happiness Index: Why Today's Emotions Equal Tomorrow's Business Success, cofounder and CEO of The Happiness Index Matthew Phelan delivers a fascinating dive into data from over 100 countries and 2 million human beings that helps us understand what really drives our...
    By Matt Phelan
    Hardback
    $5299
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Snow White: A Graphic Novel
    A New York Times bestseller!A Wall Street Journal 20 Best Children’s Books of the Past 20 Years Selection“Phelan’s noir-esque adaptation of the classic fairy tale is atmospheric, clever, and touching. . . . A stunning, genre-bending graphic novel.” — School Library Journal (starred review)The curtain rises on New York City. The dazzling lights cast shadows that grow ever darker as...
    By Matt Phelan
    Paperback
    $2199
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Library of Unruly Treasures
    The Library of Unruly Treasures
    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. In this funny, winning, and unexpected adventure from the National Book Award-winning author of the Penderwicks series, a girl finds herself an unlikely hero when she stumbles upon a big secret about little creatures. "A tender story whose tone evokes the warmth of a much-needed hug." - Publishers Weekly, starred review Gwen MacKinnon's parents are dreadful....
    By Matt Phelan and Jeanne Birdsall
    Paperback
    $2100
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Children's Books

View all
  • New Release
    Gruffalo Granny
    The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...
    By Julia Donaldson
    Hardback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Fight or Flight: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (21)
    When the going gets tough, what’s a wimpy kid to do? In Fight or Flight, Greg Heffley faces his biggest challenge yet as he becomes a target for the school bully. Luckily for Greg, his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, takes karate, so at least Greg’s got someone in his corner. But an unexpected twist makes Greg realize he’s facing an uphill...
    By Jeff Kinney
    Paperback
    $1699
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Sixth Faction
    Beatrice Prior stands on the brink of a decision every person in her world must make: five factions, five futures, five lives. She has a plan: she's going to make the bravest choice, and leave Abnegation behind to join Dauntless, even though it means leaving her family behind. But when tragedy strikes at her Choosing Ceremony, everything changes—her world, her...
    By Veronica Roth
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    All of Us
    A new heart-wrenching, well-researched historical novel for middle-grade readers. 'The weirdest thing,' continues Tove, 'is that I don't feel any different to the rest of you.' 'That's because you're not!' snaps Birgitte. 'You're Danish.' 'So why do the Nazis hate me and not you?' When twelve-year-old Viggo and his friends Finn, Tove, Birgitte and Konrad start writing rude letters to...
    By Katrina Nannestad
    Hardback
    $2599
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Detective Beans Colouring Club
    New Release
    Detective Beans Colouring Club
    Help Detective Beans solve the case of the missing colours! Join the Colouring Club now! Join the Detective Beans Colouring Club! Inside you'll find 40 removable colouring pages featuring scenes from all over Cat Town. Filled with all the characters you know and love from the Detective Beans graphic novels like Biscuits, Beans' mum, Mr Brickle, Bear, Detective Baby Bird...
    By Li Chen
    Paperback
    $1799
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Wahine
    New Release
    Wahine
    From a majestic mermaid to a clay woman, the creator of glaciers to the mother of gardening, discover powerful wahine and how their stories shaped the world around us. Wahine introduces readers to twelve purakau of brave, bold, and inspiring women of Aotearoa. A beautifully illustrated collection that will delight the whole whanau, from award-winning illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White....
    By Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
    Hardback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas
    From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! But this time... it's not about Lottie! From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! And it's CHRISTMAS! In The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks we spent the holiday season with...
    By Katie Kirby
    Paperback
    $1799
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Matihe! Achoo! Matihe! Achoo!
    On Sale
    21% off
    New Release
    Matihe! Achoo!
    What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pūrākau e pā ana ki a Mataoho me ngā puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...
    By Qiane Matata-Sipu
    Paperback
    $1500
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Sweet As Looky Book
    New Release
    The Sweet As Looky Book
    Can you find all the chocolate fish? Is it possible for kiwi to fly? Can you spot the difference? See Aotearoa New Zealand through the eyes of award-winning artist Donovan Bixley in The Sweet As Looky Book. Use your finest skills to seek out pirates in the Bay of Islands and birds in Rakiura Stewart Island. Get in a car...
    By Donovan Bixley
    Hardback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Pocket Observology
    New Release
    Pocket Observology
    Pocket Observology is a practical field guide designed for those who love to explore and understand the natural world around them. Slip this guide out of your pocket to identify, measure, compare, or find clues to the things you encounter every day in nature. This pocket guide is a useful tool and a fun reminder of how to engage with...
    By Giselle Clarkson
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    The Day of the Dinosaur Disaster
    Angry anacondas, blizzarding blobs, carnivorous cactuses ... what kind of twisted curse will Glam-Evil think up this time?!Only it's not just Glam-Evil's curse the gang needs to worry about; they've got a few other problems, too. Swooping Pteranodons, a hungry T-Rex, a missing mother, and ... is that ... an ASTEROID?!Join MILES AND JONES as they face their biggest challenge...
    By Sam Smith
    Paperback
    $1400
    Elsewhere:
    $1499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    15% off
    New Release
    The Neverfear
    A world of richly-imagined wonder Cressida Cowell It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is...
    By Katherine Rundell
    Paperback
    $1700
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 160,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Children's Books lists from the team

Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!

The Latest at Book Hero

View all