The Littles

The Littles #1

by John Lawrence Peterson, Roberta Carter Clark (Illustrations)

The Littles is a timeless favorite that's been enjoyed for decades. Ready to grab the attention of a new generation, fresh cover art brings an updated look to this classic series.

The Littles live in the walls of the Biggs' house. But when the Biggs go on vacation a messy family comes to stay, the trouble begins. Mice! Cats! How much can one small family take? Will Tom and Lucy, the littlest Littles of all, be able to save the day

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction, Chapter Books, Classics, Adventure, Middle Grade

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

John Lawrence Peterson was an American author of children's books best known as the creator of The Littles.

Reviews

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have littles, sit with them and read The Littles. Yes, yes. I hear your collective groan.

But seriously, this entire series is just adorable and magical. Unlike Narnia and other well-known childhood books, this series actually makes you believe you have magic living in your own walls, electric outlets, and silverware drawers. No wardrobe needed! Watch close, kiddos. You never know...you might see them.

[Maede · Rating 4 out of 5]

خانواده ی لیتل ها که خیلی کوچک هستند، به راحتی در دیوارهای خانه ی آقای بیگ زندگی می کنند. البته که آقای بیگ خبر نداره چون تا به حال اونا رو ندیده. لیتل ها از لوازم و غذاهای خانواده ی بیگ استفاده می کنند و در عوض خانه رو برای آقای بیگ سالم نگه می دارند

چند وقت پیش انیمه ی خیلی خوب به این اسم می دیدم که چنین فضایی داره
The Secret World of Arrietty
به نظرم داستان خیلی آشنا میومد که یاد این مجموعه کتاب افتادم که سال ها پیش خونده بودم. ماجراهای این کتاب ها یکی از یکی جالب تر و شیرین تره و به نظرم امکان نداره بچه ای دوسشون نداشته باشه

راستی الان این کتاب ها در سایت کتابخانه ملی به صورت رایگان در دسترسه و کتاب صوتی هم داره
http://icnl.nlai.ir/

اضافه شده به گودریدز در کتاب تکانی
99.1.20

[Amy King]

Read this to Kate. She was very enthralled.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for something to hand off to your young reader, give this series a try!

The Littles are "humans" ... they just have a tail and are six inches tall. That's all. Oh, and they live in the Biggs house; not that the Biggs know it, because the Littles reside in the tiny spaces and nooks of the home. The Littles take food scraps and things they find in the garbage and in return for "mooching" off of the Biggs, they repair the leaks in the pipes and the electrical issues in the house. And when they're not doing that, they have all kinds of wonderful adventures; which is actually incredibly often.

A fun series, with lots happening, a silly uncle, and a family that love each other!

Reading Level: 2nd - 4th grades

Cleanliness: You will see gee, golly, gosh, goodness sake, heavens, doggone, holy cow, stupid, darn it, oh heck, and the like lightly sprinkled throughout The Littles series. Halloween is briefly mentioned in this title.

**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!

So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!

[HeavyReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a kid, I really wanted to believe that tiny little people lived in the walls of my house and took little things from me and my family to furnish their home. Alas, it was all just fiction.

[Wendi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of the Littles books. I read them when I was in grade school. I even thought that maybe the Littles lived in my basement.

[Sara Hannon]

1. Fantasy

2. When the family they live with goes on vacation, the Littles, tiny people with tails, have the adventure of a lifetime when a new family moves in for a few months. This new family brings mice and then a cat to give the Littles more than they have ever had to deal with before.

3. This is a well-written children's book. It is written on such a great level for young readers. The wording is clear, the story is adventurous, and the large type is offset by cute little illustrations. Unlike a large chapter book, this looks small and does not look intimidating, but it is a chapter book which is great. This allows readers to feel like they are taking a step up without being discouraged of overwhelmed.

4. This is an excellent book to encourage young readers. It is not terribly difficult, but it is hard enough to challenge and entertain a young reader. It has a lot of great aspects, like the Littles using their brains to solve problems and doing big things even though they are a little person. And this book is little but entertaining and a great way to encourage young readers that they too can read "big" things.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first introduction to The Littles was on Saturday morning when I was a child and they used to have these specials on TV that featured some sort of book or another. I remember the delight with which I found and devoured the first book.

I wasn't sure how the series would hold up with me now, 30 years later. But it does. I still love The Littles and as always am fascinated by their adventures, but even more by the way they live inside the walls. There was a time I was POSITIVE little people lived in the walls of my house.

You know...who's to say they don't?

[Miss Smith's Class · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to read an exciting book, this one is for you! We read it as a second grade class. Some of our favorite parts are when Lucy saves the day, when the Little's are scared of the mice, taming the cat, and many others! It is full of adventure, excitement, and has some funny parts. We definitely recommend this book to other second graders or anyone who wants to read a good book.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with my kids and they really liked it. We’ll be continuing the series. We loved the idea of the mini-sized people living in the house. I thought it was just going to be the same story as, The Borrowers, but it was different.

[Kelsey Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to my two "littles" and they loved it! This is a series we will continue. :)

[Rachel Herschberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

My ten-year-old loves when I read him books in The Littles series. I would find these little people more charming if they didn't have tails.😬

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud. Just as fun as I remembered 😁

[Colton W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I rate it four stars is because there was some dying in mice fights so minus one star for that. But I really like how the Littles became friends with the cat. I also liked how they made secret passageways and look out places. I am so happy to be reading chapter books!

[Aneesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're reading chapter books!

There are some weapons and some talk of war in this book but I don't think Everly's noticed.

Update: She's noticed.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the whole series aloud to my daughter. They are a little old fashioned but we loved them. Just right for introducing chapter books. We had great fun tracking down used copies of every book in the series. Now I’m re-reading them with my son. The wonderful illustrations just add to our enjoyment of the story.

[Bethanyanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read with my 4 year old. It's cute but not very engaging.

[Emily Riewerts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorites as a kid. Now I just finished reading it with my kids and we are hooked again! A nice easy read.

[Ammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting this to be a choppy, easy reader and it's not. What a fun, short and enjoyable read aloud. I read this series as a kid and watched the show and am exuberant to be sharing the Littles adventures with my Littles.

[Myersandburnsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A read aloud for my youngest. Fast, cute story. She can read the next books in the series on her own now.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

All these many years later, this simple kids fantasy still holds up!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What you should know is the new cover art feels very modernized compared to the 1967 copy sitting on my lap. The one I have is black and white, minus a burnt orange for the title and some illustrations. I only mention this because what I'm looking at and read makes me feel completely different then the cover staring back at me on Goodreads. I'm glad that The Little's is still being printed, but I feel like I've stumbled onto the real treasure so to speak with it's outdated illustrations and musty book smells.

ANYWAY.

This book is very nice! It's not at all what I originally thought given that I thought perhaps it was the story of Stuart Little and the movie had been adapted from this. Upon closer inspection I realized the Littles on the cover of this book weren't mice at all but something completely different. The Littles are a great family and not to give any spoilers but I loved the way the book ended. It wasn't how imagined the story going (I had a prediction after Stuart that fell through too), but it was just the best kind of animal ending. Of course, I'm probably basis as I have my own fur baby who I chat with each day, but still. It's cute! It's a quick read (I read it, like, 3o minutes). It's clearly an interest as it keeps being republished. If you have small readers I'd definitely check it out!

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was short and simple and obviously a bit childish, however, it was refreshing to read a fiction book that could be safely recommended to anyone. This is an early chapter book and I place it as a peer amongst the Magic Tree House books. Like those books, this is unlikely to end up being someone's favorite book of all time. It is cute, mildly entertaining, has some light adventure and then wraps up happily. I can't vouch for the entire series as I've only read this one, but, fans of Magic Tree House will probably like this too.

Only recommended for adults who are working their way through some list or who are sentimental about this. I can picture my daughter liking this one and I will update this after I read it to her. I just like to read ahead in any older juvenile fiction in case of content issues.

This one does have a smidgen of traditional gender roles, but, then the little girl ends up being the brave hero, so, I felt it evened out.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My great-grandmother gave me this book when I was in second grade. It was the first chapter book that I ever owned and I loved it! I went Littles crazy and begged for every one of their books I saw. I still have all of my books from my childhood and read the first one to my daughter. Hopefully, she will fall in love with them and let me read more to her!

Emily (6 years old): The Newcombs have mice because they didn't take care of the Bigg's house and Tom made friends with their cat. The Biggs found the cat in the house and thought the cat snuck in. People should read this book. The end.

[Candi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just started reading this series with my son. I thought it was appropriate since I'm always calling my kids "The Littles". I think it's super cute and interesting, a bit like Stuart Little (which came way later). When I asked my son what he would rate it (between 1 and 5), he said "Six, for epic." Love the enthusiasm. :-)

[Heather Pleier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this as a read-aloud with my 6yo. The writing is good, the characters not completely one-sided, and the tension in the stories is easier to handle than in most realistic fiction.

[Sara Skouson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun little read. I read it aloud to my son in about an hour. So it's quick! But it was a fun story and easy to read aloud. It has some drawings on some of the pages so that was fun for my son to follow along and look at.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember if I read this as a child. It is familiar, but that might be only because of the similar books The Borrowers and The Littles tv show (and various movies with small people)

It still has a great nostalgic feeling to it.

[JoAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this as a family, a truly fantastic family read! Both my 7 year old and my 3 year old enjoyed the tales of the Littles. I didn’t read these books when I was younger, but I feel as if the story itself has stood the test of time! We will also be reading the others in this series.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matthew read this one out loud to me one evening after a busy day of cleaning my old apartment. It was 5 star experience, but the book itself was pretty predictable.