Shiita et la forêt des minuscules T01

Sheeta's Little Big World #1

by Yuki Kamba (Drawings)

Shiita, un être minuscule qui vit dans la fôret, mène une petite vie paisible au sein de la colonie qui l'a recueilli. Mais lorsqu’un jour son ami Nara, qui rêve de grandes aventures, disparait après avoir aperçu de la fumée au loin au pied du grand arbre, Shiita n’a pas d’autre choix que d’oublier la prudence et partir à sa recherche ! Il doit alors apprendre à survivre et faire face à de dangereux prédateurs, ainsi qu'au mystérieux Izuna qui ne semble pas des plus amical. Et si Nara avait raison et qu'au bout du chemin, se trouvait son père ?...

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Comics, Graphic Novels, Action

192 pages, Pocket Book

Published October 18, 2023

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always on the hunt for Studio Ghibli-esque media, but I don't often come across titles similar to The Secret Life of Arrietty. It sure is in my top 5 Ghibli movies, so I'm glad to have stumbled upon this sweet little manga that also features littlefolk. The characters in the manga don't live among humans though, and the story mostly takes place in the forest. It's about the young boy Sheeta who leaves his village to search for his father and his friend. Of course everything is dangerous when you're as tiny as a mouse, but Sheeta soon crosses paths with a stranger and learns about survival in the wild. The manga was actually kind of informative, explaining certain animal behavior and survival methods. It reads pretty young but still shows the everyday brutality of nature. The art was very sweet for the characters and intricate for backgrounds. I especially liked the villages of the littlefolk, like Sheeta's village inside a fallen tree log. It's a series and so far there wasn't any progress in the search for Sheeta's father and his friend, but I honestly didn't mind. It's an adventurous story with various stops along the way, and that works very well for me too.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seems to exist to answer the question, "What if The Borrowers Afield had more violence and was kind of terrifying?" That's not a bad thing, mind you - the stakes for the littlefolk of Sheeta's world are up against enormous odds that are easy to get pulled into. But, uh, don't pick this one up looking for something cute.

CW: Animal death, implied child death

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC of this to read and review.

I heard about this at a panel at ALA Annual 2025 and was intrigued. When I saw it was available for request on NetGalley, I immediately hit the request button, no thinking required. However, the panel discussing it didn't mention how utterly DARK this was.

Yes, it has cute moments and it's about tiny people, think mouse-sized, in a regular-sized forest, so they are NOT at the top of the food chain and that fact is made VERY apparent throughout this volume.

It's not dark so much as , realistic I guess? Either way, it was a TAD too realistic/dark for my tastes, but that's not to say it's bad. It has strong characters, with differing motivations, secrets being kept and action and adventure, with realistic seeming dangers. The characters have agency and are in real danger as they try to accomplish their goals. It has animal violence, as the animals are trying to eat the tiny humanoid characters, so to survive, they have to be fought with and someone has to get hurt/die. So be warned, this could upset some younger readers.

2, not bad but too realistic so I'm tapping out here, stars.

[Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun, it reminded me a little of delicious in dungeon. It’s a childrens book but it’s also very fun and entertaining for adults. The main character is a very brave little boy and it’s honestly such a page turner. I’m a 100% going to read volume 2. Some parts were a little confusing when there was a flashback or something but i think that’s because i read it digital so the drawings aren’t as clear. But it really entertaint me and i can’t wait for the next volume.

Thanks so much to netgalley for sending me this ARC! :)

[anzhelika ୨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 3 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

pretty good start to a story! i definitely see a lot of potential with the plot and the characters in the next volumes. i recommend reading this if you're looking for an adventurous manga.

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Yuki Kamba for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This manga is adorable. It's kinda like Dungeon Meshi meets Honey I Shrunk The Kids/Grounded. They do a great job hooking you in with this first volume and I'm definitely gonna keep reading this series.

The art is great, the premise is ripe for a ton of cool little adventures, and I dig the character so far. Definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the review copy!

[BillyDingle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars!!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an advanced readers copy!!

Honestly I'm so glad that I was granted early access to this manga. The art style is really good and not to mention cute (which is a big plus in my book) and the story was interesting, although a bit all over the place as it sort of kept changing here and there. So I suppose it felt just a tad bit disjointed? But nothing that made the manga feel worse, just sort of weakened the overall plot/goal a bit and made the story a bit harder for me to connect with. I also really enjoyed being introduced to this world of "little folk" who live in these tiny places in forests and trees and rocks and such and what they eat, and how they make their clothes, and how they navigate through life etc.

The characters we're introduced to are also all fairly likable and I took no issue with any of them. And although I didn't feel like they had a lot of depth I definitely hope for more character development in the next volume (which I definitely plan on reading). The little boy we follow is brave, kind, selfless, and easy to sympathize with and you want to follow along with his journey. I do hope though that the characters and plot get more depth in the next volume. Either way this was a quick, low-key wholesome read and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys manga and wants an Arrietty/Borrowers vibe with some cute artwork. I'm glad I read this and hope to get approved for volume 2 as well!!

[Mariahs_BookNook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: Littlefolk Nala and Sheeta are as small as bean pods, but that won't stop them sneaking out of their log village to seek adventures in the great wild grasslands. When Nala disappears one morning in the hopes of finding outsiders under the big tree, Sheeta takes on his biggest adventure yet to rescue his lost friend.

Synopsis: What a sweet graphic novel! I loved following along with Sheeta as he faced wild animals, met new allies, and helped others in need.

With thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rebecca Whaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute manga about tiny little people. the main character being Sheeta who is looking for his friend who went to look for the big tree. He meets different characters along the way and has different adventures. I'm certainly interested in reading more! it's so cute.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha comics for early copy for review*

This had a cute adventure concept following the little folk as they lived their lives. Reminded me of The Borrowers and A Bugs Life. Not something I would want to continue with, but an okay read.

[࣪ ִֶָ☾. Rhianna ࣪ ִֶָ☾. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.


Oh my gosh! I am in love with this manga! My only complaint is that I don’t have more of this to read. I am definitely gonna find the other books when I can!

We are introduced to a race of people called the “littlefolk,” and more importantly Sheeta and Nala who will be the focus of this story. Honestly, the race of littlefolk reminded me so much of The Secret World of Arrietty.

We find out early on just how dangerous this world is for littlefolk. Literally anything and everything could kill you. Which makes it very worrying when Nala runs off to investigate a smoke signal. Sheeta goes after Nala and ends up running into a cast of different characters, one of them being the person looking for Sheeta’s very own dad.

Honestly, the entire book was just so wholesome to read. So far the cast of characters have been very likeable and the art style is just so cute! I highly recommend someone pick this up as soon as possible!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheeta's Little Big World is a lovely ode to classic fantasy stories, with whimsical imagery, fun characters, and an interesting world design.
It is easy to compare it to Mary Norton's Borrowers series, or Studio Ghibli's adaptation The Secret World of Arriety, with its small protagonists in a big world, but the natural setting in the first volume gives it a different feel from the early Borrowers books. Sheeta visually reminds me a lot of Lord of the Rings' Samwise Gamgee, encumbered by his bag of supplies. I'm similarly reminded of the whimsy and magic I felt reading Redwall.
In terms of manga fans, I could see readers of Witch Hat Atelier, Eden Of Witches, and Delicious in Dungeon liking the adventurous story, and the pictures of food made along the journey.
While it is easy to compare to other stories, I can already see something unique and engaging about this story, and am very interested to see it continue in further volumes, and to get to know the characters better. I am especially excited to be able to recommend this volume to some of the younger manga readers who visit the library I work at.
Overall, I would recommend this volume to any manga lovers, or as a good entry way into manga from traditional fantasy readers, and young readers.
Thank you to Kodansha and Net Galley for providing me digital access to an early review copy.

[literarilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

— 3.5 ✷


It's not a perfect volume; the world building, action, and story lack a bit. But for someone like me, whose favorite Ghibli movie was The Secret World of Arrietty, this was such a delight. I'll definitely be picking up the next installment.


Thank you to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun!! It’s for kids but even the grownups would like it! A fantasy manga with a great adventure ! Reminded me a bit of Frieren ! Only thing : a big cliffhanger at the end and I need the second book !
I’m Canadian so the maple tree was a nice touch 😉
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc! Can’t wait for the next book !

[eesee · Rating 3 out of 5]

— 3.5

RIL

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story. Im not sure if I enjoyed it enough to continue with the series, but I do think the artist style is unique and the story is lighthearted and fun.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sheeta was left in a village with other littlefolk as a child. Since littlefolk are smaller than a rat (whom often chase them), they seem to face a lot of struggles. Sheeta’s friend Nala is determined to venture away from their village to discover more. Nala runs away, which I felt like happened too fast. There was really no buildup to it. The small glimpse we see of Sheeta & Nala’s friendship is heartwarming though. Izuna immediately takes a fatherly figure role to Sheeta (despite hating Sheeta’s dad?) which was an interesting twist, but cute. I loved seeing Sheeta and Izuna interact with another village of people, and I love the bravery that all of the littlefolk display. This manga ended right as I wanted to know what happened next, so I look forward to reading further volumes. This manga reminds me a lot of Hakumei and Mikochi, but more adventurous and serious.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this digital arc.

[Zephorah Dove · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork was cute enough to make me, a scaredy cat of rodents and bugs, consider them kind of adorable. Although being chased by big rats may haunt me in my dreams from now on.

Sheena’s bestie, Nala, has gone off to find Sheena’s dad and then Sheeta goes after him. Sheeta encounters a guy who is looking for them and the dad. In a whirlwind of agreements, they both set out to find Nala and stumble into…a sticky situation.

I really enjoyed the details the artwork included about where Sheeta lived and how everyone was able to make a community with what they had.

They have huge rats, weasels and ants…I’m afraid to see what wildlife is next.

Thanks so much to Kodansha for the DRC~

[Megan Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced e-copy.

Well, this was stinkin' adorable! I had a great time in this tiny world.

We meet Sheeta and Nala, Littlefolk friends. They live in a community of itty bitty friends. Sheeta is on the lookout for his father, who disappeared five years prior, but said he would come back for Sheeta. Nala, a hot-headed little guy, takes off into the vast wilderness in search of Sheeta's father. So, being like any good friend, Sheeta follows Nala. He gets into some trouble with the wildlife (frogs, weasels, fish, ants) and meets Izuna (who has an unexpected connection to Sheeta's father) and Princess Kugel. It's a big world out there for these little ones. I am eager to see where this story goes! Very fun and light and charming.

[Amanda P · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This was a good start to this series. I'm very interested to see where Sheeta's quest to find his friend, and also the larger search for his friend will go, and what other adventures he and Izuna get into on the way. Very much reminiscent of The Borrowers in that we are following tiny people making their way through the world. Something as small as ants for instance, are a very large obstacle for them. I look forward to when I can continue this series.

I received advanced access to this volume in exchange for my honest review.

[Geoffrey POTIER · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un univers agréable à arpenter mais beaucoup trop rapide à suivre. Certaines planches sont difficiles à saisir qui plus est.

[blackcatbookblog · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I'd like to thank the publisher for a digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own. The description of this manga said for fans of "The Borrowers" and "The Secret World of Arrietty" and I said: Sold! However I'm glad I was able to try out this book first and I'll get into why. I've loved stories like The Borrowers and similar books ever since I was a kid, where the "little folk" as they are called in this use objects in nature or random human objects in interesting ways like a thimble or a matchbox. I was about 16 or 17 when Arrietty came out and it just renewed my love for these kinds of stories. There was just something so whimsical and charming about it. I was expecting to love Sheeta's Little Big World as well, it sounded like a fun adventure as Sheeta goes in search of his friend who disappeared after they spy mysterious smoke in the distance. I was expecting cute slice of life moments about food and nature like foraging for nuts and berries or finding strange objects and figuring how they could make use of them. And while there were a few moments of them sprinkled in this first volume it's mostly a survival story with dangers from just about every creature they encounter even ones that I wouldn't expect to be threatening. And while that does seem more realistic I was surprised when they end up killing some of these dangers. If you're sensitive to animal deaths no matter how small I wouldn't recommend this series. If I had read this as a kid I probably would have cried and hated it. They do use a couple of the creatures as food (one of which is a fish). There is some blood shown with a spear also being involved as well as cutting up the meat. Not too much is shown but my initial thought that this would be a cool colored manga or an anime changed here with me being glad it was in black and white. There were also a few dark moments one of which was Sheeta searching for his friend's remains in a pile of bones (he doesn't find him) another moment was a character's back story though this is just briefly shown. So my final thoughts: while this manga isn't for me if you don't mind a survival story that's a bit of a darker take on The Borrowers then you might enjoy this book.

[Shiritaku · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richtig cute, gleichzeitig aber auch ernst.
Sheeta gehört zum “Littlefolk” (Winzlinge), somit haben sie sehr viele Feinde - z.B. neben Mäusen und Wieseln auch Frösche und Ameisen. Sein Stamm verlässt das Zuhause daher nicht, denn es könnte jederzeit der Tod auf sie lauern. Alle haben Familie dort, nur Sheeta ist allein - sein Vater hat ihn vor 5 Jahren dort zurückgelassen und ist losgezogen. Sein Freund Nala ist eher ein Abenteurer und will in die große Welt hinaus. Als sie eines Tages ein Feuer in der Ferne entdecken, wird Nalas Drang loszuziehen immer größer und versucht Sheeta zu überreden mitzukommen. Dieser hat aber etwas Angst und so schleicht sich Nala eines Nachts alleine fort…

So beginnt unser Abenteuer, denn Sheeta bricht daraufhin selbst auf, um Nala zu suchen und nach Hause zu bringen. Natürlich läuft alles anders als geplant..
Es tauchen immer wieder neue Individuen auf und Sheeta trifft auf viele Feinde und andere Situationen, in denen er sich immer wieder neuen Herausforderungen stellen muss. Die Charaktere sind sehr unterschiedlich und detailreich gestaltet. Der Plot ist sowohl cozy, als auch abenteuerlich - eine schöne Mischung. Das Pacing ist gut abgestimmt und ich hatte nie das Gefühl, dass es nun zu schnell oder zu langsam vorangehen würde. Das Artwork ist auch sehr schön.

Insgesamt ein schöner Titel, der entschleunigt und immer wieder was neues parat hält. Erscheinungstermin ist der 23.09.2025 und die Reihe ist in 3 Bänden in Japan abgeschlossen.

[Sasha Tiamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please let Sheeta find Nala 🙏😭

I just finished "Sheeta's Little Big World 1" and seriously, I need to know what happens next! Turns out this is just the first of three books, which makes total sense because by the end, I was like, "Where's the rest?!" I kinda wished we saw more progress in Sheeta finding his dad and his friend, but honestly, it was still super good.

This manga totally pulls you into a tiny world packed with big dangers, where its tiny inhabitants are just trying to live their lives. The coolest part is how all these searches intertwine: Sheeta is looking for Nala, who is also looking for Sheeta's father. And to complicate things even more, Izuna is helping Sheeta search for Nala, but Izuna's real goal is finding Sheeta's dad! It's a whole chain of quests.

I loved how everyone's connected in this intricate way. And the art? So lovely! It gave me total Ghibli vibes, super cozy. But what really got me was how real it felt, plus all the cool facts about animals, where they live, and all the risks they face. Can't wait to grab the next one!

⭐ Story: 9/10 | ⭐ Characters: 10/10 | ⭐ Illustrations: 10/10 | ⭐ Overall: 9.67/10

📆 Reading date: 14/07/25
📖 Read on: NetGalley ARC
💖 Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[E (manga_runner) · Rating 3 out of 5]

-adventure
-netgalley & Kodansha ARC read
For starters it gave me a bit of nostalgia, as it sort of reminded me of the Borrowers and Honey I Shrunk the Kids. The art work was definitely Studio Ghibli feeling. It was a story of finding not only Sheeta's father, but mainly to find his friend who left their little folk village. All ages can enjoy this short series (only going to be three volumes). The target audience is geared more toward the younger/tween audience though.

I give this a three stars because personally I wasn't necessarily hooked into the series and feel if I did four it would be more because of the nostalgia I felt. You can sense that the Little Folk Village might have been hiding the fact that there are others (even possibly other villages) outside of their community. Which leads you to wonder what else they might be hiding. Sheeta is basically raised by the village, as his father left him there. We also find out that his father might be a criminal. I am curious about what his father might have been involved in, which leads me to think he was left at the village for his protection.

Might give volume 2 a read when it's released.

[Bryanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

With the whimsy of The Borrowers or The Secret of Arietty and the darker edge of Redwall, the story of Sheeta and his search for his missing friend is both charming and full of danger.

Volume 1 introduces the main character who was left behind by his adventuring father five years ago. Now, he has set off on a journey away from the safety of his adopted village and is trying to save the hot-headed Nala. However, hungry animals, warring ants, and a mysterious stranger out for revenge don't make things easy...

I liked the innovations the folk created to make their lives easier, and it was fun seeing how Sheeta would figure out different problems. I found that sometimes the details were a little hard to make out (especially trees!), but overall the expressions and design are very good.

The little tidbits of information about different creatures and plant life was interesting and I could see this being a great read for younger readers in particular.

I enjoyed volume one and will be seeking out the next book quickly as I'm curious to see how the cliffhanger resolves.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, Yuki Kamba, and Kodansha Comics, for a copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review!

Final Verdict 5.0

I've read this a few times, and I have to say that I really enjoy this manga! I wasn't sure what to expect when I decided to read it, but it's more charming than you think. Sometimes, all-ages stories can feel a little too geared towards a younger audience, but this felt like it was written with all ages kept in mind. That isn't to say that there are any hidden adult references, like a lot of E-rated material tends to sneak in, but the characters, world, and stories are so endearing you can simply get lost in them. I really do like this world and the way nature is used as both something beautiful and equally dangerous. I also love how the author handles the natural coursing of life and death in the world of nature. Everything happens for a reason, there is a natural process to the way the world works, and the author doesn't shy away from this, but they also aren't overbearingly gruesome about it.

Overall, I'm very intrigued by this world and the adventures that will be set before these characters, and I can't wait to read the next volume!

[Siina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheeta's Little Big World is such a cute manga and only three books long. It's seinen and as much as it's cute, it's also somewhat dark and serious. A great combination. Our main characters are Sheeta and Nala. They live in a village for little people and Sheeta's dad left him there years ago. Now Nala wants to find Sheeta's dad and have adventures, but Sheeta enjoys the village life. So, basically Nala disappears all on his own and Sheeta must now find him for the world is a dangerous place. The story is about friendship, family and home. Also, it will interesting to know why Sheeta's dad hasn't come back for his son. Three books feel slightly short though, so it's hard to say what can even happen, but at least now the pace is good as well as the balance.

The art looks wonderful and heartwarming. The characters have personality and facial expressions, which is great. The backgrounds are interesting and the nature seems so luscious. Shorter series are good too, so I look forward to what will happen and how things are tied together eventually.

[Lanie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five years ago Sheeta's father left him with his best friend Nala's village saying he would return for Sheeta, however, after so much time has passed Sheeta has given up on ever seeing him again. Nala has not though and one evening she leaves on her own adventure to find Sheeta's dad. Sheeta immediately leaves after her determined to find her but thats a tall order for one of the little people and Sheeta isn't so certain he has the skills needed to survive out in the big world!

This was just a cute little fantasy adventure manga that could have felt like a Borrowers rip off but did not. It does definitely feel like any fantasy adventure anime though but with the "little people" twist it's from a completely different perspective, quite literally. What I found really interesting about this though is the little people don't seem to know what humans are, which means there is going to be some sort of interesting twist there.

If you are looking for a quick, light read this is the perfect manga for you!

As always thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the eArc!

[Chandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not the cozy adventure I expected based on the cute cover. It follows Sheeta, a littlefolk character, as he sets out into the big world to find his missing friend. Along the way, he encounters predators, natural dangers, and a few unsettling surprises.

The tone of this story took me off guard. There is a lot more darkness and animal death than I was prepared for, and at times it made it hard to stay engaged. The world is beautiful but harsh, and the story doesn’t shy away from showing that. Honestly, it felt a bit like if The Borrowers had taken a much more violent and grim turn.

The art is nice, but the storytelling could be confusing. There were definitely moments where it was hard to tell what was happening or who was doing what. That made it tough to stay emotionally connected, even though I wanted to care about Sheeta’s journey.

If you go into this expecting something light and whimsical, you might be surprised. It’s a darker survival story with small hints of warmth, but not the vibe I thought I was getting into.