Little Shrew

by Akiko Miyakoshi

Akiko Miyakoshi returns with a beguiling, quietly magical appreciation of life’s little pleasures. Little Shrew is diligent in all parts of life. He’s a hard worker and follows a strict schedule from morning to night. But even a life that runs like clockwork can be filled with unexpected pockets of joy, such as solving a puzzle for the very first time, enjoying the scent of freshly baked bread, seeing the vast beauty of a shimmering blue ocean or delighting in a visit with friends. This collection of three short stories — perfect for emerging readers — is illustrated in Miyakoshi’s signature soft monochrome palette with pops of color. The charming tales celebrate enduring friendships, dreams for the future and the little pleasures that make everyday life more meaningful.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Juvenile

72 pages, Hardcover

First published November 19, 2022

About the author

Akiko Miyakoshi (1982–) was born in Saitama Prefecture, and graduated from the Department of Visual Communication Design at Musashino Art University. Her picture book Taifū ga kuru (Typhoon Comes) won the Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix in 2009, and her Mori no oku no ochakai e (The Tea Party in the Woods) garnered the Japan Picture Book Awards Grand Prize in 2011. Her other works include Piano no happyōkai (Piano Recital) and Kore dare no? (Whose Is This?).

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was ADORABLE. The artwork was immaculate. The story is simplistic, but works well as a mash up of a picture book, beginner reader, and early chapter book. While readers get to know a little more about the shrew, they are introduced to some of the most beautiful illustrations of the shrew and his community. I flew through this but I can see it working well as a read a loud for a child and their parent/caregiver.

[Katie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am little shrew :,)

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Little Shrew is an adorable children's picture book containing three short stories about Little Shrew: Little Shrews Day, Little Shrews Dream, and Little Shrews Friends.
The illustrations are just adorable and nostalgic, too. I'd love a series about Liitle Shrew as he's just so sweet, and I hope this turns into one.
Little Shrew is so likeable and relatable. He shows us his daily life and how such small things like a small treat, a found item, or even a rare visit from friends can bring so much joy no matter how simple these things are. He teaches us to look for the little things and enjoy them when they occur. The illustrations alternate between black and white and colour, which works perfectly with the art and style of the book. The second and third stories left me with a smile on my face and made me fall in love with this little character. A beautiful little collection.I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read and review this little gem.

[Coro · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute it made me cry. This little shrew finds joy in the little things and his routines, may we all be as content as this shrew.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pictures and prose just ooze cute and cozy . . . but nothing happens!

The first chapter follows the title shrew through a boring day at the office, commute and breaks included. He's the only animal in an office of humans, but no attention is given to this. He's just another schlub grinding out the day.

In the second chapter, he buys a television at a garage sale and idly wishes he could vacation at the tropical locales he sees when he plugs it in.

Finally, he hangs with some other animal friends on their annual visit. They eat, watch some television, and then sing and dance a little while the shrew plays his keyboard. Then after a few hours they are gone, and shrew must wait another year to see them again.

So, the point is that, like men, the mass of shrews lead lives of quiet desperation? I guess it's never too early to break our children's spirits into conforming to the norms of our capitalist society. Maybe if we'd read this repeatedly to our daughter when she was younger she wouldn't be so angry about her pointless job and isolation now.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Little Shrew's Day -- Little Shrew's Dream -- Little Shrew's Friends

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, simple story about a shrew living in an apartment with a regular schedule:
On Mondays, he does the laundry.
On Tuesdays, he exercises,
On Wednesdays, he irons his clothes
On Thursdays, he plays with his Rubik's Cube.
On Fridays, he practices his instrument.
On Saturday and Sundays, he cooks a week's worth of meals.

Friendly pictures alternate with color or black/white on every page. This is a calming book where the excitement is finishing a rubik's cube once, or having friend over for their small annual dinner together.

Kids books are so often Zanny. It is nice to read this uncomplicated short story with such a congenial shrew character.

4.5*

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a gorgeous early reader! One of my biggest pet peeves with those emerging reader type books is how slap dash they are, usually licensed crap printed in a flimsy format. Not this book! The illustrations are sumptuous, the writing is lovely--even the paper smells good!

Little Shrew affirms those little routines and simple moments in your day that make life worth living. Plus it's so cute seeing a tiny shrew doing regular people things.

Lately I've been walking by the ocean on my lunch breaks, skipping stones and just losing myself in the moment. I like to think that Little Shrew would approve.

[Hannah Showalter · Rating 5 out of 5]

couldn’t love this more. this sweet little guy made me appreciate everything about my simple, sweet life. not a bad word to say for my friend little shrew.

[Dylan Varella · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re ever in the backseat of your girlfriend’s mom’s car on your way to Costco to stock up on eggs before the avian flu wipes out the national supply and this beautiful little book is sitting next to you, read it.

[Sierra Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

he seems kind of lonely but i’m proud of him for solving his rubik’s cube

[Bücherwolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein unglaublich niedliches Buch für Kinder und Erwachsene!

Die Spitzmaus steht jeden Tag zur selben Zeit auf, geht zur selben Zeit zur Arbeit und isst jeden Tag dasselbe. Und dennoch findet sie jeden Tag etwas, das ihr Leben bereichert. Seien es ihre Lieblingskekse oder wenn sie es endlich schafft, ihren Zauberwürfel zu lösen! Sie zeigt uns, wie wir im tristen Alltag trotzdem noch die schönen Dinge erkennen können.

Die wunderschönen Kohlezeichnungen verströmen beim Lesen einen angenehmen aber auch leicht melancholischen Charme, der perfekt zum simplen Alltag und den kleinen Freuden der Spitzmaus passt.
Das Buch lässt sich innerhalb kurzer Zeit durchlesen und kann so öfter gelesen und betrachtet werden.

Das Buch erzählt für Kinder eine tolle Geschichte, die ihnen zeigt, was ihm Leben von Bedeutung ist. Für Erwachsene dient das Buch als kleiner Wachrüttler, um sich daran zu erinnern, dass der Arbeitsalltag nicht unsere Lebensfreude nehmen sollte. Wir sollten uns stattdessen auf die kleinen Freuden des Tages fokussieren, Träume haben und uns besonders freuen, wenn wir unsere Freunde sehen, die wir lieb haben.

Definitiv ein Buch, das ich regelmäßig lesen werde!

[Chloë Mali · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cutest picture book, oh my word. 🥹 The story is so wholesome and the illustrations are absolutely adorable. Such a heart warming read!!

[Vika Reads Occasionally · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful little fella little shrew is, and what a lovely life he leads. I will always be enamored with Miyakoshi’s illustrations.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book / first reader reminds us that a good life can be a simple one. The story of our protagonist unfolds via 3 stories - Little Shrew's Day, Little Shrew's Dream, and Little Shrew's Friends. Lovely illustrations and cozy vibes.

[Kole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cute I want to eat it.

I loved the illustrations in it. They're clearly hand drawn and they have that pencil feel to them, which makes them feel unique and original and sort of old school, rather than the crisp lines we see nowadays with digital art and AI generated images. I guess my only confusion is some of them are black and white and some are full color and there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to it. It changes page to page.

It's surprisingly long for a children's book, but it contains multiple stories of the Little Shrew so you'll really get your money's worth if you buy this for a child.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a simple story, the daily life of a little shrew. But so interestingly told. What he does daily, on his day-off, even his annual meeting with his friends. A mundane life, and one like everyone is living right now, however, it is so neatly told . With some illustration to support the story, this is an interesting read, finished the 78 pages in a whiff.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collects three cozy, comforting illustrated stories about simple pleasures in the life of a quietly content shrew.

Sweet, but it is hard to get a feel for the audience of this one. The page count is higher than most picture books but the small font may limit its appeal to easy reader and transitional chapter book fans.

[Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be a person with no kid to read this book to, so i cant speak to how a younger person would enjoy this book, but let me just say, this book is still adorable and enjoyable from a grown up perspective (and relatable in that i too have a particular routine like Little Shrew). If you're like me and saw the cover and thought "I've gotta read this" please do! There's something so soft, bittersweet, and beautiful about the stories of Little Shrew and his life, with the sweet, cute, and sometimes silly illustrations being a highlight for me. It's a simple and cozy book that will take maybe 15 minutes to read if you take your time, but it's worth looking at whether for the cute stories or for the artwork (and to watch a tiny creature walk around like a human person which is the pinnacle of cuteness to me)

Addendum: if any more Little Shrew stories get published, I'll be first in line to read them.

[Luke Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

The shrew's tiny, comfortable life moves forward fixed to the clock. Illustrations are cozy-- you feel like you a peering into the shrews life. Their size-- diminutive compared to coworkers and dogs they pass on the way to their job-- is part of the humor. The simple message about stoic coziness, isolation, and being yourself is all wrapped in routine.

[Kayla Zabcia]

Little Shrew leads a simple, quiet life.

Normally I'd find this sort of book endearing, but it left me feeling a bit melancholic. I'm not entirely sure Little Shrew is leading his best life; he sees his friends once a year? He only plays with his Rubik's Cube on Thursdays? I just feel a bit sad for Little Shrew.

[Natalie Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

And absolutely beautiful little book. So cozy and wholesome.

[Kaitlynd The Hopeless Romantic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a dramatic live reading from my friend Ameema and now I’m convinced this is the coziest book on the planet

[Zahro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gila art-nya keren bgt. Tipe arsiran yang teksturnya kelihatan jelas

[Jane Keranen · Rating 5 out of 5]

little mother fucking shrew

[Georgia Earley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would die for Little Shrew

[Lisa Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute short story.

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable. Translated from Japanese. I love how Shrew worked and navigated among humans, who never questioned his abilities.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful little book about a little shrew and a look into his life; at work, on a day off, and with friends. He is a delightful, resourceful creature and it was just so lovely to read this sweet story.

Filled with lovely illustrations, both black & white and color, you get a front-row view into Little Shrew's world and it's really captivating.
This, to me, is a "quiet" book, and I think littles will love this when they need to be quiet [bedtimes etc] as it will help them settle down [I found this book to be very soothing, and as it was a rough day for me, it was much needed, which just shows children's books can be for adults too!] in the most delightful way.

Very well done!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Akiko Miyakoshi, and Kids Can Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our friend, and main character "Little Shrew" lives a life of regimented schedules. Every minute of his life is the same as every other day and he takes comfort in the sameness. A visit by friends shakes up his world for a day. They play games and music and enjoy each other's company. Shrew is content to return to his scheduled life after his friends leave. The illustrations are soft and dreamy in muted tones and the environment feels foreign. I enjoyed the illustrations but the whole book left me unsettled.

[Sarah BT]

I adored this quiet little book. It's simple and goes through small, everyday adventures in Little Shrew's life. The art is gorgeous and has a cozy feel to it. This is a lovely picture book and perfect for talking about noticing small things that bring joy and thriving in routine.