There's No Such Thing as Little

by LeUyen Pham

A heartwarming book that takes a look at all things little . . . and reveals some big surprises with each turn of the page.
 
These things may seem
A fish.
An idea.
A snowflake.
But what if that little fish was also brave? And that little idea was fantastic? And that little snowflake turned out to be unique in all the world?
 
Featuring die-cut holes in the spirit of Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s Lemons Are Not Red, There’s No Such Thing as Little is bright, warm, and endlessly inviting, and will encourage readers of all ages to think BIG about what “little” really means.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Self Esteem, Art

48 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2015

About the author

LeUyen Pham is the illustrator of many books for children, including God’s Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams, The Princess in Black series and Aunt Mary’s Rose by Douglas Wood. LeUyen Pham lives in California.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using our imagination to see alternate perspectives are two important skills to help us develop empathy, sympathy, insight, and wisdom.

I would gift this to my grandchildren if I had any. I recommend it to all ages. Pictures are adorable.

The only minor fuss I have is that the boy is almost always the more active, the doer, the leader, the holder of the pencil, whereas the girl tends to be a more passive follower. Not always, but enough that it bothered me.

Edit: I read some negative reviews. The writers of those didn't catch the message, probably because they read too fast. If the title had been "There's No Such Thing as Just Little" they might have understood that this is not predicated on false dichotomies nor are the comparatives non sequiturs.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relying on die-cuts--there's even one on the book jacket--the author/illustrator meditates on the concept of little. The idea is introduced, and then when readers turn the page, it's clear that size is relative. For instance, a little light can actually be enough light to keep a ship from crashing along the shoreline. My favorite pages show the importance of one little letter like I since the author/illustrator fills two pages with text and highlights all the i's on the page in read. That one LITTLE letter is a lot more important than someone might think. The illustrations are lovely, even paying tribute to Auguste Rodin, Georges Seurat, Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Georges de la Tour, Pierre Bonnard, Claude Monet, and Cy Twombly on two of the book's pages, artists whose "little" lines changed the art work in various ways. Young readers will want to read this book several times since it shows in so many ways that little is not something to be dismissed. It all depends on how you look at it.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sometimes I wonder whether stupider picture books will appear. I seem to be regularly surprised - in a very unpleasant way - by the absolute tripe that is produced. Instead of rejoicing in things that are little, this inane effort attempts to tell us that being "little" is somehow inherently bad, or that we are mistaken in thinking of anything as "little". One by one, each objective truth is replaced, through nonsensical sleight-of-hand, with non-sequitur. I isn't a "little letter" (as if the other 25 letters are somehow "bigger"?) but rather an "important letter". "Little fish" - no, "brave fish" - because somehow these things are at all related? The clincher is the last one: "Little?" No, "Me!" What utter crap!

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's No Such Thing as Little challenges readers to think big! Creatively placed die-cut holes reveal that things that seem small are often part of something more - something welcoming or unique or important. A thoughtful book about perspective told through bold illustrations, this newest read aloud from LeUyen Pham is a treasure.

[Jordyn Braun]

1. *Reading from book: "Everyone says I'm little. I really don't agree. If only they could see what I see when I look at me."
"Boys and girls the book we are reading today is called There's No Such Thing as Little by LeUyen Pham. This is a wonderful book because it shows how sometimes things are actually different than they may first appear. It can also help us to understand that people and things all come in many different shapes and sizes, sometimes you just need to look at the whole picture! As I'm reading, I want you to pay close attention to the pictures in this book because they have a very unique feature. When we are done reading, I want to see who noticed the change from page to page so make sure to keep an eye out as I read!"

2. My opening moves for There's No Such Thing as Little included reading some of the text to engage attention, laying groundwork to help children understand the theme (we all come in different shapes and sizes) and alerting children to unusual features of the text along with prompting listeners to notice details (different die-cut holes that first feature something small and when you turn the page it is just part of the bigger picture).

3. I chose There's No Such Thing as Little because I love how it shows the concept of perception and how one's first impression may change based on the bigger picture. The book also ties in size, which is another aspect of diversity and how it is okay to be bigger or smaller than others- size is only a relative concept and nothing to be embarrassed about!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When one peeks through a hole, one can discover a different perspective, and this is exactly what LeUyen Pham has done in her delightful book. Each double page asks a similar question, and there is a "peek" of something through a die-cut hole. When the page is turned, an entirely new perspective appears. For example, one page shows a "little fish", a fish with a fishbowl drawn around the hole. But turning the page reveals that same fish in a school of bigger, different fish. And the words replace "little" with "No, a brave fish." It's a clever idea, and was fun to read. Once one gets going, there's opportunity for guessing what's next. One lovely page shows the "little line", but when that is turned it becomes "inspiring" with quick sketches of well-known masterpieces and one that's a surprise. Each page invites discussion, and the illustrations are lovely, differ in detail from page to page.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful die-cut page-turner that also flips the concept of being "too little" to finding the "BIG" in who we really are. This could be used as a metaphor with older readers for self-concept, bullying, and recognition of differences.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interactive pages with fold-outs. Encouraging message. Not much story.. 2 stars for the text, 4 stars for the art.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was uncomfortable with the repeating emphasis on negating the word "little" - which seemed to me to create a negative association with a word that could be a neutral word.

However, after reading it aloud to children at the Family Storytime (mixed ages; 9 months to 7 years, with parents & other caregivers), I noticed that the children seem to enjoy it - they are attentive despite the lack of plot or strong action or even humor.

Then I decided to ask a 6-year-old girl who I consider an authority on the topic because she is a regular library user who welcomes conversation and is uninhibited in expressing both positive and negative opinions about books, story time themes, craft projects, or any other thing.

Also, she is a small person, who already has had many conversations with her parents (that I know of) and (I'm guessing) her sibling and others about her being smaller than other children her age or even younger. She appears undaunted by the curious looks she gets, and she shows or tells her feelings to the library staff and even to other patrons without apparent hesitation.

This past week I said to her, "Would you please read this book and give me your honest opinion about it?"

She said "I already read it! I LOVE this book! Can I take it anyway and read it again?"

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this book starts off with a pretty questionable premise. I'll set aside the preposterous idea, for any reasonable person over the age of two, that "There's No Such Thing as Little." Let's just have us a fun read, shall we?

For sure, this is a colorful book -- heavy on illustrations as a picture book ought to be.

You'll find paired ideas:
- First, something that's true in reality. Concerning something little.
- Second, a parallel idea that's far away in time, or otherwise removed from its context in reality, in order to give a feelgood sense of importance.

For instance:

A little tree?
[Picture shows a very small start of a tree, being watered in a flowerpot.]
No, a generous tree.
[Picture shows a tree that has grown and flourished for maybe 200 years. Its surreally large apples are nearly as large as the childrens' heads.]

HEY, IF YOU LIKE YOUR SENTIMENTALITY BIG, NOT LITTLE

You may well adore this book.

You'd be the intended audience. On your behalf I rate this book with FIVE STARS.

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story tries to emphasize that character traits are much more important than physical size. And that's a good message! I think character traits *are* much more important features about a person than their physical size!

But the way the book emphasizes character traits over physical ones demonizes being little. There's nothing wrong with being little. There are a lot of benefits to it, in fact. Just as there are benefits to and nothing wrong with being big.

I wasn't sure how to feel about this book. It is, in a way, empowering. I just wish it wasn't also shaming in order to be empowering.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple idea - the meaning of 'little' - explored from multiple perspectives as two children explore different objects and their meaning. Objects are depicted though a hole in the page, with an entirely different interpretation presented on the next double page.
Brightly colured stylised illustrations convey themes effectively.
Very clever and excellent springboard for exploring adjectives, personal interpretations and size.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very little text. The die cuts are more for 0-2 year olds but it's a picture book not board book, which is typically 2-6 year olds. If this was a board book, I think it'd work better.
I also thought it'd be more about children and how being little is not a bad thing, but it only got to that in the last page spread.

[Brianna Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how this books shows the kids that no matter how small a problem or something is it's still important and still matters. The book illustrates no matter how small something is, it's a part of something bigger.

[E · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really didn't care for the message, being predicated on false dichotomies. One can certainly be little AND brave, etc., and that may be what the author is trying to express, but I'm not sure the words really reflect that, especially to kids.

[Little Seesaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book about being little. Sometimes little things make a big difference. Reading this book makes me want to belt out Little People from Les Miserables. I think little people will really appreciate this cute book with little surprises on each page.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many things in the world are little (like children), but when looked at from a different perspective, are they REALLY little? Nice little peeking book.

[MelMon Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiration for lityle minds, growing into intellectual grown ups.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quarter-sized die-cut hole on each page reveals the secret to small being BIG in ten wondrous ways.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two children show how there is no such thing as little because each little thing is part of a something bigger. Nicely illustrated.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, heartwarming, imaginative illustrations and a cute story.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wonder if children will understand this?

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring tale of how big, little can be. Also, great use of vocabulary with synonyms and related words for big.

[Polly Crandall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the idea of re-imagining the pejorative sense of "little."

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not even going to read this book to my PreK bunch. I was disappointed in it. While the die-cuts are fun, the message is too fluffy for me.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be a great book for Summer Reading 2023, All Together Now, Friendship/Kindness/Unity.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Pham's illustrations, as always, but struggled to connect with the text in this one.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just right book for a laptime story with a preschooler.

[Erin Stewart Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, wise, fun to look at (for littles and grown ups alike)!

[Celeste_pewter · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best parts about reviewing picture books, is when you find richly illustrated stories that both entertain and share important life lessons for young readers.

Such was the case with There's No Such Thing as Little, the latest offering from author/illustrator LeUyen Pham. Pham, a former animator with Dreamworks Animation, introduces us to a young child who cheerfully reminds us why there is no such thing as little in our day-to-day lives. Even when things may appear small or dimunitive initially, there's actually immense potential behind each of these little things and ideas, and they have the power to change the world around us.

E.g. A lit candle or "A little light", is tranformed mangificently on the next page, into a lighthouse that guides seafarers into a port. Similarly, an idea that starts off as tinker toys, becomes a fabulous ice cream machine on the next page.

In each case, it's the willingness to believe in that little object or little idea, that helps to transform a small object into a big thing. Pham's subtle but important themes, are highlighted by her digitally rendered drawings. There's a warmth and joy to her detailed illustrations, which will dazzle and inspire readers of all ages.

Bottom line: There's No Such Thing as Little shares two subtle but important lessons for burgeoning young readers: they should never understimate the potential of something that may appear small, and they should always remember to view things in a positive light (pun intended).

Things have a way of becoming magnified and magnificient, if readers remember that there's always a strength behind even the smallest-looking things. It's a wonderful mentality to keep in mind for young minds, and LeUyen's Pham's book is an asset to every shelf.