Ten Clever Ninjas

by Sarah Floyd, Marcin Bruchnalski (Illustrator)

A very clever ninja and his nine ninja buddies spar across the countryside, build a secret hideout, and follow their inner Zen to discover a sweet cupcake surprise. Ki-ya!

The upbeat rhythm and lively illustrations will appeal to children ages 2-6.

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 23, 2019

About the author

Sarah Floyd was born in Carmel Highlands, California, where she and her friends climbed trees, built forts, rode horses, and acted out adventure stories in the rugged Big Sur wilderness that surrounded their homes. When she was in fifth grade her family moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then to San Francisco. She always brought her favorite books wherever she moved, and she always made new friends who loved to read. Now she writes books for children and teens — for her, it’s the best job in the world.

Sarah is the author of the upper middle grade novel, SURVIVOR MOUTAIN (Wild Ink Publishing, 2025), BUTTERFLY GIRL (Clear Fork Publishing, 2019, re-published by Wild Ink Publishing, 2025), and the picture book, TEN CLEVER NINJAS (Clear Fork Publishing, 2019). She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and lives in Florida with her husband and college student son.

Reviews

[Julie Abery · Rating 5 out of 5]

TEN CLEVER NINJAS has wonderful rhythm, fun activities and a diverse group of friends having fun. This one to ten counting book takes place outdoors, which I particularly like, as children love playing outside. The illustrations are bright and cheery and suit the text well.

[Cheryl Pilgrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute rhyming book that will have little ones searching for all the clever ninjas. This is a fresh take on a counting book that kids will want to read over and over. The fun, colorful illustrations show lots of inclusion which makes thus a great addition to our picture book shelf.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is Ten Clever Ninjas, written by Sarah Floyd and illustrated by Marcin Bruchnalski, a playful counting book that follows the friendship of ten young martial artists.

One clever ninja wakes up in his room, finding a note from his mom to him and his brother, asking for some quiet time in the house to finish a project. She suggests that her “clever little ninjas” think of fun things to do outside today, and so the two ninjas set off, gathering more of their ninja clan one-by-one as they go. They pick up friends from their homes or meet them out and about, practicing their skills in stealth, evasion, engineering, meditation, and of course, ninjitsu. At last, numbering ten, they head back to the boys’ home, where two surprises await: cupcakes for everyone, plus the result their mom’s top-secret project…

Delightful! Jumping off from an enjoyable take on a counting book, subtle details in the text and art give this story a welcome sense of inclusion. Floyd’s cast of ninjas are a racially-, ability-, and gender-diverse bunch, and their ninja activities are not limited to fighting. They build clubhouses, meditate and quietly enjoy nature together, as well as take time to nurture the brothers’ young toddler sibling. Bruchnalski’s clean yet rich illustrations are filled with a sense of childhood enthusiasm and joy that fit the tone perfectly. There’s a head-scratching moment when one of the ninjas greets to others with “Namaste,” a traditional Sanskrit word, but based on the character’s design, this may be a reflection of her culture as opposed to her “ninja” status. Regardless, the length was great, and JJ and I really enjoyed this one. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the author in exchange for an honest review.)

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