Minikin

Serendipity

by Stephen Cosgrove, Robin James (Illustrator)

Minikin is upset because he is the smallest lamb, and tries to find a way to get bigger.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Fantasy

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minikin reminds me so much of a little runty dog that I had that I told he couldn't go on our walks in the country until he was bigger. As a result the pup did exactly what the lamb did by trying to swallow down everything he could get his mouth on but unlike Minikin he didn't gain any weight.

This is an adorable story about a lamb who knows that what makes him different wasn't actually his fault and is alright with it until he can't take it anymore. From there you see his attempts to be better than he is and then his eventual acceptance of just being him with cute photos to follow through the story.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a review of the second printing of the first edition (1984). It was almost shocking to see the moral poem at the end not in italics.

I'm conflicted about the story. Why?

* There's victim blaming going in here. Our Protagonist is getting bullied, and he's told to just do nothing and wait until he grows up. Now, I fully understand that this was apparently a lesson about patience, but to just put up with bullying until he grows up? That seems a trifle harsh.
* Granted, you really can't stop bullying. Learning how to deal with bullies is a something everyone has to go through. The first time is devastating -- but you do get used to it. You then learn how to pick your battles. You learn who to ignore, and who to confront.

Although not mentioned, I have a good feeling that when Minikin grew up into a ram, no one called him Minikin anymore. After a few head slams, his former bullies probably called him Bigikin. Or Sir.

So, is that the subliminal message, here? When you're big enough, you can do major damage to your former bullies, so start planning your revenge now and soak in it's comforting waters.

The story here gets one star. I gave it two because of the artwork. The late, great Robin James did one of her best ever illustrating jobs in the whole series. The sheep and lambs are realistic without the exaggerated huge eyes and cutsey features seen in most other books in the series. The adult sheep were done particularly well.

So, what breed is Minikin and his flock? Although there are several sheep breeds with black faces and white coats, I'm going with Suffolk. Here, I'd normally post a photo of a Suffolk, but my copy and paste function isn't working.

I think I'm getting bullied by my tablet.

[Arwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the gentle slopes of the island, in secret small meadows where the grazing grasses and meadow flowers grew in great profusion, the woolly sheep of Shy lived and played their lives away..."

Some of the Serendipity books are almost lyrical. Together with the wonderful illustrations they are just treasures. Minikin is a lamb who is smaller then the rest of the lamb and has to deal with bullying because of it. No matter how hard he tries he just can't seem to grow any bigger and faster. I think this book is one a lot of young kids would empathize with.

[Atlantis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is part of a series from the ‘70s (Serendipity). Colorful pictures and a little lesson in each story. About one paragraph a page alongside a full page picture.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic plot: Minikin wants to get bigger.

I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book series for kids that want to work toward reading chapter books but are not quiet there yet. Every other page has a beautiful illustration next to a page that is not overwhelming with text.

I tell my daughter every day to slow down on the growing up! Wish she took her time a bit more. Minikin is a lamb born late in the spring that is racing to catch up to the size of the other lambs. Sometimes going to ridiculous lengths to quicken the process.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, Minikin just wants to be taller. So he walks in mud, which sticks to his hooves, until he's tottering around. Eventually he falls down and his momma licks him clean. Lesson learned? Be patient for adulthood. Being tall isn't all it's cracked up to be.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book from my childhood that my mother was getting rid of; so I grabbed it and absorbed it into my own library. :D

A lamb realizes that you cannot force change before it is time.

1/16/15

I re-read this & was less impressed.

[Amber the Human · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book I've owned since childhood. Read it again - it's alright. Basically a story about being okay with yourself even if you're not as big as you'd like to be. I owned two books like this, this one and one with the title The Muffin Muncher - no comment. I think that's in a box somewhere.

[Ilana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of books is the most wonderfully illustrated, sweetest series available for children. Each book is beautiful, the animals are so sweetly drawn and each book teaches a wonderful lesson. I still have all of my original copies from my childhood (the 90s).

[What's Dat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much. Many many years later and now I have a rescue cat named Minikin.