I'm Just a Little Guy: How to Escape the Horrors and Get Back to Dillydallying

by Charlie James

A USA Today Best Seller
A National Best Seller

Are you burned-out, exhausted, and tired of hustling? Do you ever want to throw your head back and scream “But I’m just a little guy!”?

In this adorably illustrated gift book based on comedian Charlie James’s viral “Little Frog” sketches, Paul Bog is here to show you a softer, sillier, sunnier way to be.

Within these pages, Paul Bog walks you through a day in his life and shares advice on how to navigate modern existence,
Avoiding “For every hour of work I do, I spend three hours staring at a still life painting.”Finding a “If you’ve already tried speaking directly into a wishing well to no avail, I suggest talking to a wise old owl or a professional therapist (interchangeable).”Saving “I cannot save money for the future. The future is too unknowable. I can, however, toss a little coin into a nearby wishing well and hope for the best.” “My only advice for limiting anxiety is to spend fifty to ninety percent of your life supine near a large body of water.”
This hilarious and charming guide to the “little guy” lifestyle will inspire anyone who wants to slow down and muck around.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Short Stories, Cozy, Graphic Novels Comics

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2025

Reviews

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ah, Public. The Private of other people. I'm told it's important to leave my house from time to time. But I'm told this by creatures who do not live at my house and do not understand how cozy it is."

Felt that.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a funny and lovely book! There were pages I read and laughed out loud at. I love Paul’s philosophy and I think we can all learn from Paul.
Thank you NetGalley and Quirk Books for the e-arc.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Having a crush is when you want to go to the farmer’s market with someone."

Soooo true!! As a little guy myself who loves whimsy and being cozy, I thoroughly enjoyed this. The illustrations are delightful, and I heavily related to most of Paul Bog's musings. This would make for a great gift for anyone who has been told by strangers that they have a "cottagecore vibe" (am I speaking from experience? Perhaps).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received arc from NetGalley.
The one thing that I cannot praise this book enough for is the art, making we want the title to be "I'm Just the Cutest Little Guy Ever".
As well as the adorable illustrations, the book is packed with humor, whimsy and a dash of chaos.
My personal favorite section is "self employment", but you will have to read it for yourself to determine what you favorite section is.
There is something to giggle about in nearly every page and the way this little guy thinks is honestly too real, I love it.

[Alexandrine D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little comedy book about a frog and how to survive life as just a little guy. Super relatable. The illustrations are absolutely stunning

[Paige Tieken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfectly silly and lighthearted, and a great reflection on life and to always dillydally!!

[Neelam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends are creatures you'd share a baguette with. I would share a baguette with paul bog.

[Stephanie Molnar · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I can laugh out loud more than once while reading a book, then it's a win.

[Tori Mayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very lighthearted and funny read, the art is great and there are some guaranteed chuckles. I recommend having a friend nearby to show the funny things that stick out to you

[Becky Swales-Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is super cute and is a perfect addition to Charlie James' original TikToks about being a Little Guy. The illustrations are beautiful and it's very light-hearted fun which is also weirdly inspiring?

This was very relatable and I feel like Paul Bog the Small Frog taught me a lot about life. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

dillydallying is my life <333333

[Amanda Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was perfectly lighthearted. Who couldn’t use a little more whimsy in their day? I’m hoping this helps me get over my reading slump.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

He's just a little guy

[Mackenzie Francoeur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I’ve read all year (I’ve read 175 books).

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

brb smiling on the train - i’m just a little frog trying to get through this big life

[Andrew W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious and wonderfully illustrated adult picture book about adulting through the eyes of a little green frog.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn’t enjoyed James’s reels before reading this and, whilst it makes a little more sense once you’ve seen a few, this book can definitely be enjoyed without seeing them. Basically-

‘Before I do anything, I ask myself, “Is this something a little frog on a lily pad would do?” And if the answer is no? I’m busy that day.’

Not dissimilar to The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, I’m Just a Little Guy approaches life with humour, charm, and whimsy. The gentleman frog we meet, Paul Bog, takes life a hop at a time, and his advice is relatable (‘I’d rather be throwing my head back and laughing knowingly in a big field’), as well as offering a nice feeling of camaraderie (‘Sure, it’s nice to go through life with another creature by your side, but just think of all the looking at moss-covered rocks you could get done on your own’)

And even after Paul’s more jokey answers, this short book offers some lovely bits to reflect on and has some adorable accompanying illustrations too. Thank you NetGalley and Quirk Books for my ARC 🐸

If this book appeals to you, read it! Art is subjective

[Periplus Bookshop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kadang hidup terasa terlalu berat dengan segudang tuntutan, sehingga kita lupa bagaimana rasanya bersantai tanpa rasa bersalah. Melalui karakter Paul Bog si katak mungil yang jenaka, buku ini mengajak kita untuk menertawakan keresahan sehari-hari—mulai dari urusan kerja, rasa cemas, hingga perjuangan menjaga kesehatan mental—dan menemukan kembali arti menikmati hal-hal sederhana. Setiap halaman penuh ilustrasi quirky dan humor segar yang membuat kita tersenyum, sekaligus mengingatkan bahwa tak apa-apa menjadi “kecil” di dunia yang terasa terlalu besar. Dengan nada ringan namun mengena, kisah ini bukan sekadar hiburan, melainkan juga refleksi tentang cara menjalani hidup lebih pelan, santai, dan jujur pada diri sendiri. Buku ini hadir sebagai teman sempurna untuk siapa pun yang butuh jeda dari rutinitas, pencinta buku bergambar yang unik, atau pembaca yang suka hadiah buku dengan pesan ringan tapi berarti. https://blog.periplus.com/2025/09/22/...

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Are you burned-out, exhausted, and tired of hustling? Do you ever want to throw your head back and scream “But I’m just a little guy!”?"

As someone who routinely says under my breath "I'm just a baby!!" this book resonated with my inner little guy.

The pictures are cute and whimsical, the topics tackled are pertinent to most people including "Handling a difficult coworker" (throw a lit scroll with everything you'd like to say to them stuffed in a bottle and toss it into the sea), "Saving money" (future is unknowable), and "Transporting your body from one place to another" (DO NOT ATTEMPT TO COMMUTE VIA SKATEBOARD).

So, yeah. V. enjoyable.

[Zephorah Dove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Submitting my request to switch lives with Paul Bog so I too can “spend fifty to ninety percent of your life supine near a large body of water.”

Reading this was a joy. Some parts were so outlandish that whatever was already on my mind disappeared because I was too flabbergasted to think beyond the words on the page. The part about saving money for the future really resonated. Adulthood is a dumpster fire anyway, why save for an even more torturing future?

Thanks so much to Quirk Books for the DRC. Cannot wait til it’s published in August so I can grab a copy.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book was absolutely darling! I read a couple of sections with my coworker, and we shared a good laugh to start the day.
While this little guy might have silly aspects, there are absolutely some good nuggets in here. I especially liked the advice about lying supine next to a body of water. I'll take that any day!
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

[Shyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the most precious book! the whimsy and imagination really does bring back your inner child. the illustrations are adorable and so cozy. a modern day frog and toad if you will. definitely has you smiling like an idiot at it because it’s so precious and witty!
read this waiting for someone to wander around a barnes and noble. definitely the highlight of my day. i need merch immediately.
5 stars

[Hannah Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was for kids and honestly, it would be great for kids, too. It's SUPER adorable, like painfully cute. The artwork is so charming, and Paul, the little guy, is way too relatable. I really enjoyed this! If you're not comfortable with talking about existential quandaries, maybe don't read this to your kid.

[Sydne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kept turning the page and being reminded of another person that needs this book! It's charming, relatable, and funny. There are at least 5 pages I want to frame and hang somewhere that I look every day.
This book is a delight and I can't wait to gift it to several people.

[Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC - 4.5 stars rounded up for this charming, cute, whimsical little guy. He sure knows the secrets of life, which include knowing you don't know the secrets of life. This would make a good gift.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely don't think I could have loved this book more. The drawings were fantastic, the advice was 10/10, and it was just the right amount of funny and sweet. Absolutely will be recommending this book to everyone I know!

[Rachel Matsuoka · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5. Cute! Gorgeous illustrations, too. A humorous gift book for the person in your life who yearns for the cottagecore life of a cartoon woodland creature, whose aesthetic could be described as "Frog & Toad."

[Kaley Breaden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick fun read! Lighthearted & the pictures were absolutely adorable! 😄 Worth the read if your in the mood for a nice chuckle! The topics were fitting to life itself so that's made this book hit home 🏡

[Astrid Lim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this hilarious little book, full of funny wisdom and tips on how to deal with this adult world. Meet Bob the Frog, who shared so many useful things on dealing with life as a little guy. Great practical pick me up that you can bring everywhere :D

[M Aghazarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's cute but some of it stresses me out (ex. Saving money - "I cannot save money for the future. The future is too unknowable. I can, however, toss a little coin into a nearby wishing well and hope for the best."