What do you think?
Rate this book
My Life As A Small Boy
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 30, 2026
Wally Cox Could Write, Not Just Act
Wally Cox was a charming actor whose MR PEEPERS and OUR MISS BROOKS characters delighted TV viewers in the early days of that medium. Interestingly, he was a close friend of Marlon Brando, who once said that if qCox had been a girl, he would have wanted to marry him (her).
In any case, I have loved this book since first read it at the age of 12, more than 60 years ago. I recently came across it again and have it now on my Kindle. It is sweet, humorous but with some dark touches embedded within. I am sure that anyone who has ever been a child (which is most of us, right?) will relate to this well-written and detailed description of childhood.
Wally Cox was a charming actor whose MR PEEPERS and OUR MISS BROOKS characters delighted TV viewers in the early days of that medium. Interestingly, he was a close friend of Marlon Brando, who once said that if qCox had been a girl, he would have wanted to marry him (her).
In any case, I have loved this book since first read it at the age of 12, more than 60 years ago. I recently came across it again and have it now on my Kindle. It is sweet, humorous but with some dark touches embedded within. I am sure that anyone who has ever been a child (which is most of us, right?) will relate to this well-written and detailed description of childhood.
September 14, 2021
One of my favorite books
February 19, 2022
#18 of 120 books pledged to read during 2022
October 29, 2024
I remember being in elementary school in 1973 when I heard that Wally Cox had died. It struck me as especially sad at the time because we shared the same last name. I knew him mostly as a regular on Hollywood Squares and the voice of TV’s Underdog.
My brother had a book by Wally on his shelf for years called My Life as a Small Boy (1961).
When I was at my brother’s house a couple of months ago, he recommended that maybe I should read it. (My brother never gets rid of any of his books.) I agreed to give it a go. The book is Wally’s takes on his life as a boy at home and at school. We learn about his home adventures dealing with cold weather, catching a cold and smoking in front of his mother.
Then we learn about his trials at school dealing with penmanship (my favorite chapter), bullies and shop class. It’s funny and nostalgic and certainly brought a laugh or two.
It also inspired me to watch an episode (Thanks to the magic of YouTube) of Wally’s signature TV series, “Mr. Peepers.” I’d never seen one before partly because I can’t remember any affiliate stations ever showing it in reruns. Wally plays the sweet, shy but good-natured science teacher Peepers, a character who may not have the edge to make it in a TV series today as the central focus of the show. That being said, there was something appealing about Wally's take on that character that might make me check out another episode.
My brother had a book by Wally on his shelf for years called My Life as a Small Boy (1961).
When I was at my brother’s house a couple of months ago, he recommended that maybe I should read it. (My brother never gets rid of any of his books.) I agreed to give it a go. The book is Wally’s takes on his life as a boy at home and at school. We learn about his home adventures dealing with cold weather, catching a cold and smoking in front of his mother.
Then we learn about his trials at school dealing with penmanship (my favorite chapter), bullies and shop class. It’s funny and nostalgic and certainly brought a laugh or two.
It also inspired me to watch an episode (Thanks to the magic of YouTube) of Wally’s signature TV series, “Mr. Peepers.” I’d never seen one before partly because I can’t remember any affiliate stations ever showing it in reruns. Wally plays the sweet, shy but good-natured science teacher Peepers, a character who may not have the edge to make it in a TV series today as the central focus of the show. That being said, there was something appealing about Wally's take on that character that might make me check out another episode.
March 10, 2016
Yay, Mr. Peepers! According to my 1963 diary listing I read this that year but only gave it 2 stars. I was a tough rater.
October 18, 2016
Read it when I was 12 or so. Gave me ideas on more ways to stay home from school ;).
January 25, 2009
Kimmycakes will agree. There's no bittersweeter look at childhood!
May 6, 2016
read SOMETIME in 2002
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews