the borribles (occasionally known as "the borribles: the great rumble hunt") is the first book in michael de larrabeiti's borrible trilogy. it was first published in the united kingdom in 1976 by the bodley head, and in the united states in 1978 by macmillan inc., new york. it was named one of the best books for 1978 by the american library association, and was shortlisted for the whitbread awards and the other award.