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Little Elliot #1

Малкият Елиът и големият град

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Кое е по-хубаво от лакомство?

Приятел, с когото да го споделиш.

36 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2014

10 people are currently reading
1083 people want to read

About the author

Mike Curato

20 books284 followers
MIKE was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City. He has been drawing ever since he could hold a pencil. Mike attended Syracuse University and has a BFA in Illustration. After college, he moved to Seattle, where he eventually began a career as a graphic designer. You can see examples of Mike's design work here. In 2012, Mike finally achieved his lifelong goal of becoming a published author & illustrator of children's books when Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (MacMillan) offered him a 3-book deal featuring his character, Little Elliot. The first book in the series, Little Elliot, Big City, debuted August 26th, 2014. Mike currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

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5 stars
1,049 (42%)
4 stars
946 (38%)
3 stars
408 (16%)
2 stars
59 (2%)
1 star
17 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews
Profile Image for Dream.M.
1,037 reviews647 followers
December 2, 2024
داستان درباره دوستیه و اینکه خودتو دست کم نگیری
اما خیلی باگ ذهنی داره
یه فیل کوچولو که متفاوته چون خال خالیه
اما یه فیل توی شهر چکار میکنه؟ تازه ما میدونیم بچه فیل اصلا هم ریزه میزه نیست و قطعا زندگی توی آپارتمان مشکلات جدی تری براش داره تا اینکه قدش به دستگیره در نرسه :)
ضمنا چرا فیله تنها حیوونی بود که توی شهر زندگی میکرد؟ هیچکس هم تعجب نمی‌کرد
میدونید، احتمالا بیشتر بچه ها به این چیزا فکر نکنن ولی برای من خیلی رو مخه
Profile Image for Ali.
260 reviews59 followers
July 20, 2024
حتی اگه کوچیک باشی
حتی اگه کسی تو رو نبینه
بازم می‌تونی کمک کنی و مفید باشی
Profile Image for Стефан Русинов.
Author 17 books233 followers
Read
April 17, 2015
Една от най-хубавите рисувани книги, на които съм попадал скоро. Каквото ми трябва, го има: красиви рисунки, които сами разказват историята и могат да бъдат четени и от читатели, които не могат да четат; хумор и лекота в отношението на автора към героите и на героите към света, бил той и не съвсем благоприятен; история, която демонстрира, че един възможен начин да подобриш себе си е като се сдружиш с друго същество, при това съвсем различно.

Забелязах, че издателството е “Прозорче”. Готин подход на “Прозорец”.
Profile Image for Niki .
965 reviews65 followers
June 10, 2014
You know you have a winner of a book when a second grade student says, "I want to marry Elliot! He is so cute." The things my students say....LOL! But I really do want Elliot in stuffed animal form! I just loved this book and so did my 2nd graders. Also, added bonus...I think Elliot and Babymouse would be fast friends...They both love cupcakes! :)
Profile Image for Candace.
950 reviews
March 16, 2018
Elliot is a small elephant living in a big world. When he tries to purchase a cupcake, Elliot goes unnoticed by the sales clerk and customers. This makes him sad until he meets a mouse who is smaller than him. They help each other out and form a friendship.

The author dedicates this book "for anyone who feels unnoticed." The vibrant drawings add description to the text. It's a book about noticing beyond yourself and friendship.
Profile Image for Abigail.
7,958 reviews262 followers
November 6, 2018
Little Elliot was a small polka-dotted elephant who lived in New York City - Brooklyn, by the look of the brownstones and the bridge. Although in many ways he enjoyed living in a big city. sometimes his small stature made things difficult. He often felt overwhelmed by the crowds in the subway, and had difficulty with infrastructure made for larger residents. His growing feeling of despondency at this state of affairs reached its peak when he couldn't even buy a cupcake - his favorite treat - because he was too short to be seen over the bakery counter. Feeling blue, Elliot was wandering along obliviously... until he met a mouse who was smaller even than he, and who needed his help.

An adorable book, Little Elliot, Big City - hopefully the first of many picture-books featuring this winsome elephant-mouse duo - pairs an appealing story and beautiful artwork. Elliot is a hero sure to strike a chord with young children who themselves must often confront a world that is physically out of scale with their smaller bodies. The message that often our own troubles can either be forgotten, or at least put into perspective when we help others with their problems, is communicated without any overtly didactic fanfare, and the happy ending, in which Elliot has found a friend (something even better than cupcakes!), leaves the reader feeling satisfied. The illustrations, which reminded me very strongly of Chris Van Allsburg's work, are just lovely, capturing the charm of a historical New York (the cars and clothing feels very 1940s to me), as well as the emotional ups and downs of the hero's experiences. Recommended to anyone looking for appealing picture-books for younger children, or for stories for young people set in New York City.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
12.9k reviews483 followers
November 17, 2024
How cute is Elliot? So cute, that when I set the book on the table to read, by the time I turned back from pouring a drink, my 20 yo son had grabbed the book and was reading it. And when he was done he said, yes, you guessed it, "Aww, so cute."

You know what I appreciate? He's not wearing any clothes. Far too often critters are wearing just a shirt... as if that's a nod to decency? Or are wearing too many clothes, as if they're human. No, Elliot is comfortable in his spots, tyvm.

And I just love the wordless spread, in which the little girl gazes at Elliot in sympathy, but can't help him, as she's even more powerless than he is.

And if there's a plushie toy of Elliot, I want it.
---
Reread because I just discovered that there's a series. I don't think the others can match this, but they're welcome to try. Btw, what makes it stand out the most from other stories with similar themes is the sophistication of the art.
Profile Image for M. Lauritano.
108 reviews14 followers
October 4, 2015
This is one that is always on the back of my mind, because an agent I met told me that I needed an 'Elliot' in my portfolio if I ever wanted to get a book out there. With book two of three in the series coming out in a few days, I thought now would be a good time to organize my thoughts on this cutesy underdog story.

Mike Curato makes some really interesting choices here: setting the story in 1940s New York, coloring scenes with a rich, subdued palette, and featuring a protagonist who is childlike, but lives alone in a third floor walk-up. Unlike some others, I applaud all of these decisions, but my praise pretty much ends there.

I'm genuinely surprised that only one other reviewer noted that Elliot's design is almost identical to an elephant from the island of misfit toys in the beloved Rankin Bass Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Christmas special. It's not that children reading this will necessarily care, but on principle, it feels wrong. Yes, he is ridiculously cute, but so are many characters emblazoned on the covers of children's books.

Elliot is supposed to represent how we sometimes feel as children: small and unnoticed. Curato nails this in a spread depicting a crowded subway station. Other than that moment, I wish Elliot emoted this emotional state better. Where the story really loses me is when it introduces Elliot's love of cupcakes. It's just too twee. I wish the cupcake thread had been cut. It would have been much sadder and more accurate to childhood to show a series of failed attempts at conversation/friendship.

When Elliot finally finds a kindred spirit, it turns out to be a lily white mouse Pizza Rat. For New York residents young and old, this won't come across as particularly authentic, as your average rodent here could easily find a way to climb up to that pizza. This scene adds another question to the book, if anthropomorphic Elliot is living on his own in an apartment, is his garbage-eating friend homeless? All kidding aside, the new friendship brings self-confidence and joy to our two characters. Curato decides to express this with an image that takes us away from the city to some kind of symbolic mountain top--an interesting decision which I guess I like.

Unfortunately this moment, which is arguably the climax of the story, is undercut by a return to the cupcake shop, where Elliot finally gets truly validated... by paying for baked goods. Don't get me wrong, I like to eat cupcakes, but an exchange with a cashier does nothing to ease feelings of loneliness. Thankfully the new friendship gets the emphasis on the final spread.

Mike Curato clearly has some skills, so he's one to watch. Although the cuteness and the story are not impressive to this hard-to-please picture book connoisseur and the design is a bit scattershot (jumping from gorgeous full bleed, to soft, then hard-edged vignettes, then weird combinations of all of them), there's something else at the edges that's intriguing. I look forward to seeing him take on a story with human characters and lots of well-researched details.
Profile Image for Mary Louise.
242 reviews42 followers
February 26, 2015
Before I even read this heartwarming story, I noticed the dedication page: "For anyone who feels unnoticed." What a sweet thought for the author to have! Little Elliot is a small elephant who feels lost and unnoticed in the big city. No one sees him, and even little things like washing the dishes are a challenge for him! One day, he comes across someone even smaller than him- a mouse- and he finds a way to help the mouse out. A friendship is formed, and Little Elliot no longer feels small. A beautifully illustrated book that so many people will be able to relate to and enjoy.
Profile Image for Fatemehshahvari.
185 reviews15 followers
December 9, 2022
واقعا عاشق تصویرگری این کتاب شدم. احتمالا فیزیکی‌ش رو برای خودم بخرم.
از طاقچه بی‌نهایت خوندم.

اول فکر کردم درباره تفاوت یه فیل خال خالی با بقیه فیلم‌هاست ولی اینجوری نبود و از اینش خوشم اومد.

تا آخر کتاب این جمله اومد تو ذهنم(نمیدونم چرا) :
کوچیکِ جمع بزرگا باش نه بزرگِ جمعِ کوچیکا!🌚⚡️

در کل کتاب خوبی بود 🐘🐘🐘
Profile Image for Jana.
2,601 reviews47 followers
November 26, 2015
This was a cute story about a little elephant, who has a difficult time getting around the city because he's so small. He is so small that he finds it difficult to buy cupcakes. When he helps out someone who's even smaller than himself, he learns something about friendship.
Profile Image for Ðayana.
67 reviews17 followers
June 6, 2025
و شاید حتی یک چیز بهتر.
Profile Image for Josiah.
3,485 reviews157 followers
June 4, 2025
Mike Curato had a difficult adolescence, as we learn from his 2020 YA graphic novel Flamer. His first book, Little Elliot, Big City, parallels some of those struggles in ways the youngest readers will identify with. Elliot the miniature elephant lives alone in the city. He has a hard time getting noticed; how is a timid creature to stand out in a positive way among skyscraper buildings, loud motor vehicles, and tall humans? The city isn't designed to accommodate a tiny elephant with a different lifestyle from everyone else.

Elliot seeks small joys, but the one he covets most is a cupcake from Speranza Bakery. He has money to pay, but is too quiet and short to earn the cashier's attention. If even the minor pleasure of a fresh cupcake is denied him, how will Elliot make it in life? Trudging home, he spots a white mouse in a predicament similar to his, but Elliot has the size to intervene. This is the start of a friendship Elliot and Mouse both need, a symbiosis that allows them to lead satisfying lives in the city.

What should you do when there seems no solution to your most serious issue? Wallowing in misery won't get you closer to happiness, but you can look for someone more vulnerable than yourself who has a problem, and concentrate on helping. You won't be dwelling on your own pain because you're busy being useful, while making a friend at the same time. The person you assist may have no more influence in society than you, but together you add up to something more, and it's nice to have pleasant company to keep. Helping those smaller and weaker than yourself may be the first time you ever feel tall...and you'll never be alone again.

The artwork is cinematic, and Mike Curato's solidarity with the downtrodden and ignored is keenly felt. Offering a hand up to little ones sets you on the right track to a purposeful life, with rewards greater than pure self-interest. Whatever the cost, you'll never regret making a habit of it. Little Elliot, Big City is an extraordinary first book for Curato, one that resonates deeply.
Profile Image for Gaby.
483 reviews342 followers
June 26, 2014
THE BEST.
Profile Image for Книжни Криле.
3,601 reviews202 followers
July 10, 2018
Спомняте ли си книжката „Малкият Елиът и голямото семейство” от изд. „Прозорец”, за която ви разказахме преди време? Една среща с петнистото слонче е повече от достатъчна за да се влюбите в поредицата на талантливия илюстратор Майк Кюрито. А днес поемаме заедно с Елиът на разходка из Големия град. Да си малък в света на големите често не е лесна работа, затова пък дори и най-малките мъници могат да открият по неподозиран начин голямо приятелство! Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":
https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
Profile Image for Garrett.
583 reviews9 followers
January 31, 2018
Usually this is the time when I say, "I'm not crying, you're crying!" or "Who's cutting onions in here?" BUT NO! I'll admit that this book is just the sweetest!

Also, that dumb little girl looked RIGHT AT ELLIOT and still didn't help him! She was smirking at him! Elliot showed so much restraint not pushing her over and stomping on her mom's foot!
Profile Image for Mary Stergioti.
209 reviews8 followers
July 1, 2019
Αλήθεια έχω ερωτευτεί την εικονογράφηση!!!
5/5 ⭐️ για την εικογράφηση.
Το κείμενο αν και μου άρεσε θα το ήθελα λίγο πιο πλούσιο. Ωραίο και το μήνυμα περί φιλίας που περνάει. Σίγουρα θα διαβάσουμε και την υπόλοιπη σειρά. Γειά σου προς το παρόν μικρέ Έλιοτ! 🐘🧁💞
Profile Image for Samantha.
4,985 reviews60 followers
September 9, 2014
Elliot is a little elephant who loves living in the big city, but gets frustrated with being overlooked due to his size. He makes many adaptations, but it's not until he meets an animal smaller than himself, a hungry mouse, that he feels his true worth and gains a friend.

Artwork has a muted color palette with a hazy green tinge to it. I really liked all of the vignettes in which Elliot adapts to a world much bigger than himself. They provided essential characterization and offered a little humor too. The two page spread in which Elliot rejoices in helping his new friend solve his hunger problem is so uplifting that I dwelled on it for many minutes before finally turning the page.

The text is so wonderfully descriptive in a simple way; it poetically described what I think it feels like to be a child. Highly recommended read aloud for PreK-2.
Profile Image for Angela.
1,357 reviews27 followers
June 10, 2014
Get a peek at Mike Curato's gentle, creative soul as you meet Little Elliot, his BIG world and his even BIGGGER heart.

This is a story about feeling lost in a BIG world and then realizing that you are never alone. There are always people struggling more than you and in need of a kind hand.

There is so much wonderful detail in these completely original illustrations there is not point in cataloging them here.

A nice gift for young people feeling small and a must-have for school library collections and early character education on kindness.

Recommended for fans of Alexis Deacon's BEEGU (which appears to be sadly out of stock at the publisher) and Anna Alter's DISAPPEARING DESMOND.



Profile Image for Peacegal.
11.7k reviews102 followers
August 21, 2014
This is a very cute book but it threw me a little that the elephant seems directly lifted from "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Did they get permission?
1,087 reviews130 followers
February 8, 2018
4.5/5

A sweet story about a little elephant who helps out someone in need, and ends up benefitting as they work together and become friends
Profile Image for Nadine in NY Jones.
3,149 reviews273 followers
March 26, 2022
This was absolutely adorable!!! Little Elliot faces all of the challenges that children face, being small and hard to noticed. Elliot perseveres, AND finds a new friend.
Profile Image for میم صالحی فر.
348 reviews39 followers
April 2, 2023
یه فیل کوچولوی سفید با خال های رنگی، طبیعتا قشنگه و هر بچه ای دوستش داره، ولی داستانی که به این تصاویر اضافه شده بود، حرفی خاصی نداشت.
شروع خوبی نداشت. معلوم نبود این فیل چرا اینقدر تنهاست، نه پدر و مادری، نه خواهر و برادری و نه حتی دوستی.معلوم نشد فیل کوچولو چرا نیاز داشت که توی شهر جا به جا بشه؟ مشکلاتش ناگهانی ایجاد شده بودند یا از قبل هم بودن؟ و اگه از قبل بودن چرا به فکر راه حال درونی نبود براشون؟ و ...


https://taaghche.com/book/83641
Profile Image for Gita.
358 reviews79 followers
July 24, 2023
داشتن دوست در این دنیای بزرگ، باعث می‌شود کمتر احساس کنی کوچکی.
خوشحال شدم که دوست فیله یک موش بود. چون درست است دوست خیلی گنده منده‌ای نبود، اما کمکش باعث شد هم الیوت به خواسته‌اش برسد هم خودش.
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امشب حدود ساعت ده، بعد از تمرین یوگا، روی زمین خوابم برد و چند دقیقه پیش، وقتی ساعت از سه‌ی صبح گذشته بود، بیدار شدم. خوابم برده بود که بابا صدایم کرد و گفت چیپس خریده. :-) بعد برق اتاقم را خاموش کرد، رویم پتویی انداخت، و رفت. حسّ معدود روزهای مدرسه را دارم که بی نوشتن مشق‌هایم خوابم می‌برد و وقتی از خواب می‌پریدم، مامان میگفت فدای سرم و دوباره می‌فرستادم بخوابم.

۲ مرداد ۱۴۰۲ - در حالی که هنوز باورم نمی‌شود وارد مرداد شدیم.
Profile Image for Brigid.
263 reviews31 followers
July 8, 2020
One of my all-time favourite kid's books. I think I've delivered about 5 copies to littles around the world.

There's a little elephant. A cupcake dream. And a mouse who could maybe be a friend!

I still remember my nephew's reaction the first time we read this together. It's too too sweet.
Profile Image for Sophie.
438 reviews
November 11, 2024
Too cute! Loved every page and the illustrations are amazing, full of color and detail, just beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews

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