The Little Family

by Lois Lenski

The Little family is composed of Mr. and Mrs. Little and their two children Sally and Tommy Little. Together the Littles share in the routine activities of family life in the early 1930 they get dressed for the day, they eat breakfast, and enjoy their chores and playtime together. Children will recognize their lives and enjoy noting the differences between the Littles’ time and the present. The world has changed a great deal since 1932, but it’s fascinating to see that some things haven’t changed much at all!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

56 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

Lois Lenore Lenski Covey was an influential American author and illustrator whose work reshaped twentieth-century children’s literature through its combination of artistic skill, documentary realism, and deep empathy for childhood experience. Beginning her publishing career in the late 1920s, she went on to write and illustrate nearly one hundred books, ranging from picture books and historical novels to regional fiction, poetry, songbooks, and literary essays. She is best known for the Mr. Small picture book series, her meticulously researched historical novels, and her groundbreaking Regional books, which portrayed the everyday lives of children across diverse American communities.
Born in Ohio and trained formally as both an educator and an artist, Lenski studied at Ohio State University, the Art Students League of New York, and the Westminster School of Art in London. Although she initially aspired to be a painter, exhibiting work in New York galleries, she gradually turned to illustration and then to writing, encouraged by pioneering children’s editor Helen Dean Fish. Her early books drew heavily on her Midwestern childhood, while later works reflected extensive travel, field research, and close observation of family and community life.
Lenski achieved major critical recognition with her historical novels Phebe Fairchild: Her Book and Indian Captive, and with her Regional novel Strawberry Girl, which won the Newbery Medal. These works were notable for their commitment to authenticity, incorporating dialect, material culture, and social realities often avoided in children’s books of the era. She believed that literature for young readers should neither sentimentalize nor sanitize life, but instead foster understanding, tolerance, and empathy.
Alongside her own writing, Lenski illustrated works by other major authors, including Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could and the early volumes of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy series. Her influence extended beyond publishing through lectures, teaching, and advocacy. In 1967 she established the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation, dedicated to providing books to children facing social and economic disadvantage.
In her later years, Lenski continued writing while living in Florida, publishing her autobiography Journey into Childhood shortly before her death. Her legacy endures through her books, her educational philosophy, and ongoing efforts to expand access to literature for children.

Reviews

[Viridiana Rico · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because it talks about a little family that has a "little" house. It talks about their activities throughout the day For example, they say good morning, and they eat breakfast with the entire family. Sally is the little girl waters the grass and flowers while Tommy feeds his dog. Children can see this and it can teach them to take care and to love family pets and responsibility. The father goes to work while the mother stays with the children by taking care of them and cleaning the house. The father and son mow the lawn while the mom goes to the grocery store. Children can relate to this book in some way.

[Lobstergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Families don't get any better than this one.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

The four members of the Little family perform chores and then go on a picnic.

This picture book was written in the 1930s, which makes it extremely quaint.

My children were particularly amused that the children in the story enjoyed eating oatmeal and prunes for breakfast. If I attempted to serve them oatmeal and prunes for breakfast, there would be a riot.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's short and sweet. The Little family lives in a little house and each page shows what each member of the family does throughout the day.

Ages: 1 - 3

[Mely · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this book being written in 1932, it's pretty spot on. A simple story about the day in the life od the Little family. Easy to read. Small book for little hands. Vintage greatness.

[Ting Zhang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is appropriate for ages 4 to 6 in early childhood classrooms. The book “The little family” by Lois Lenski, it talks about Mr. and Mrs. Little and their two children and the two children named Sally and Tommy. They lived in a little house. It has doors and windows and a chimney on top. Sally and Tommy get up in the seven o’ clock in the morning. Mrs. Little helps Tommy put on his shoes and stockings. They have prunes and eatmeal. When Mrs. Little sweeps the floor, Sally helps her mother to hold the dust-pan and the brush. Tommy has a dog and Sally has a cat. They take good care of them. I like this book because the book provides beautiful illustrations and short paragraphs. This book talks that many times Tommy and Sally help their parents with household chores. This book encourages children that to help their parents with household chores. The children between the ages of four to six, they can learn responsibility and feel they’re a part of the family. They can take care of their little brothers or sisters, and they can help with many chores. For example, putting books on bookshelves correctly, emptying small trash; wiping low windowsills with a damp cloth etc. They feel like part of the family rather than the 'masters' of the family. When they begin to do chores, they will become kind and helpful because they learn how to help their family to do something they can do, and they will help their friends in the same way. Children have an enduring and pervasive sense of gratitude. They thank each other, their fathers, mothers, and siblings for little things we do for each other. It is healthy parenting behavior, teaching them not to do what they want to do, but that they need to do what they should do.

[Liz Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is SO OLD! It's like 80 years old! Tiny little book about the day of a family of 4. Interesting discussion with the kids that "back then" kids could ride in the front seat of the "automobile." :) 2 stars only because I don't see this book ever being revisited by our family, but it was enjoyable in such a different way.. cool.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

E LOVES his book. She loves that she can hold it in her little hands and calls it a "baby" book for that reason. Some of the subject matter is very dated, such as when Tommy rides in the front seat of the car with his Dad and Sally rides in the back with her Mom. Car seats? What are those??

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Old time-y illustrations although full of gender stereotypes.

[Caedmon · Rating 1 out of 5]

WORST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!