The Littlest Yak: Home Is Where the Herd Is

The Littlest Yak #3

by Lu Fraser, Kate Hindley (Illustrator)

The adorable new story starring Gertie, The Littlest Yak!

In this brand new adventure from award-winning duo Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley, Gertie the Littlest Yak and her family are moving mountains to pastures new. And for Gertie, that means SQUEEZING all her belongings onto her sledge.

But when someone special gets left behind, will Gertie come to see that home is about so much more than the things that you pack?

A gorgeous and heart-melting story about what REALLY makes a home.

Also by Lu Fraser & Kate
​The Littlest Yak
WINNER of Oscar's Book Prize 2021
WINNER of the Sainsburys Book Award 2021
The Littlest The New Arrival

By Lu Fraser, illustrated by Sarah
One Camel Called Doug
Mavis the Bravest
 

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Family, Childrens, Humor, Juvenile, Fiction

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2023

About the author

I’m supposed to be writing something about myself for the author page on my new website but, to be honest, I spend most of my time being hugely surprised that I’m now a published writer (so you can imagine my reaction when I come across one of my books in a bookshop!). How I’ve managed to create and publish picture books when I can barely use the remote control is a constant source of wonder to both me and my family but… here I am!

I’ve come to the conclusion that the ‘about me’ bit should be big on shortness and short on boring-ness so I’m just going to tell you five things about me that no one knows (Shhh! They’re a secret!) and leave it at that…

1: I secretly think I could be Indiana Jones – I even have the hat…

2: I do, on occasion, eat cake for breakfast.

3: I’m not very good at telling the time, even ‘though I’m a grown up.

4: I talk to Gertie, The Littlest Yak, all the time (when I get stuck on something, I ask her what she thinks I should do….)

5: I practice interview questions when I’m driving in the car so that I don’t accidentally let it slip that I eat cake for breakfast or talk to a yak…

Reviews

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: The third standalone picture book of The Littlest Yak series. Quite cute, but not as ‘awww’-inducing as the earlier two. (To be fair, they were exceptional, so this book had some hefty expectations to live up to.)

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Plot Preview:

Gertie the littlest yak and her herd are moving to a new mountain. Gertie is obviously not happy about the shift. How can she squeeze all her belongings onto her tiny sled? Her mother tries to tell her that a home isn’t about material objects, but Gertie cannot agree. Surely books and toys and all the other lovely things she owns cannot be left behind? Surely her mother is wrong this once? So Gertie does her best to pile up everything she owns onto the sled, making space for a special someone as well. However, midway the journey, something valuable goes missing, and Gertie realises the importance of what truly matters.

I had absolutely adored the first two books of this series: 'The Littlest Yak' and 'The Littlest Yak and the New Arrival', so this book had some mountainous expectations to meet. That might be part of the reason why it didn’t hit that high note with me. But this in no way reduces the value of this book.

The storyline is quite strong, as is the moral. Material objects certainly don’t make that big a difference in the long run. As they say, home is where the herd… errrm, heart… is. So the life lesson that Gertie learns is something quite important for children and adults alike.

I do feel Gertie’s pain. It was unfair that the young bibliophile had to leave much of her physical belongings (including books!) behind. I wish there had been some dialogue from Mummy Yak about how to choose what to take or about prioritising. Simply saying that a home is more than the things you pack would be quite vague advice for a child. Also, a tiny protest at the “special someone” being called a “thing” twice in the book.

It was amazing to see the herd together yet again, and even more awesome to see little Dotty (who was born in the second book and should now officially be the “littlest yak”) popping up in this story. Granny Yak is a superstar, as always.

The story is written in simple rhythmic prose that works wonderfully for readalouds, with longish sentences in the perfect meter and AABB rhymes.

The illustrations are as adorable as always. Gertie, her herd, and the entire mountainous setting is depicted beautifully. There is plenty happening in the background of the illustrations as well, so the sketches are enough to keep little eyes busy for a long time. Don’t forget to check out the names of the books Gertie owns when she is packing them – they are hilarious! I love this illustrator’s attention to detail!

Definitely recommended. This entire series offers the perfect dose of fun learning. The story should work great for general and bedtime reading at home, and will suit littlies aged 3-8.

I continue to love this series, and I hope there will be many more adventures with Gertie and even Dotty.

4.25 stars.


My thanks to Holiday House and Peachtree for providing the DRC of “The Littlest Yak: Home Is Where the Herd Is” via Edelweiss+. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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[Pam Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable! I am in love with Gertie Yak. You must read it out loud to enjoy the rhythm and rhyme that reminded me of all things Dr. Seuss. A great book for families to share and to share at story times!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this the follow-up to the two previous popular titles featuring Gertie, the Littlest Yak, Gertie is less than pleased when warm temperatures prompt Mummy Yak to move the herd elsewhere. Although her mother tells her that things don't make a place a home, Gertie doesn't listen, overloading her sled with all her books and favorite objects as well as her baby sister, Dot. Readers will be in awe at just how much stuff she piles on that sled, and they'll know that it won't be easy to haul all that stuff to the yaks' new home. Distracted by hauling the heavy load and gathering pinecones to help her remember her old place, Gertie doesn't notice when Dot disappears. Once she realizes this, she frantically unloads the sled to see if Dot is there. Someone else was watching out for Dot so all is well, and the book's positive, affirming message is summed up perfectly by Mummy: Home, she says, isn't "about what is around or above you, home is the herd that you love...and who loves you." Created with pencil and ink, scanned and digitally colored, the artwork is so child-friendly with all those long-haired yaks in their cuddly knitwear. While yaks might seem unlikely animals to feature in a children's picture book, they clearly have widespread appeal.

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

The next story in the cute Littlest Yak stories, this one is all about what makes a home. As a kid who used to bring a backpack of books on every walk or hike, I understand Gertie’s struggles on wanting to bring all the “important” things, especially while moving. It’s a great message of remembering what is important especially when everything around you is changing. I also love that the grandmother is the one to help Gertie learn her lesson and save the day. I love the story, the message, and the super cute illustrations (Dotty is particularly adorable). A cute continuation of a cute series.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes us feel at home? Is it all the stuff we love having around us -- our books, our pine cones (for Gertie), etc? Or is the people (or yaks) who are with us along the way?

Gertie, our favorite littlest yak, is back. The herd needs a cooler climate so they are going to move. Gertie's sled is so full, baby sister Dotty barely fits and "she's the ONE THING that can't be left behind!

This is the third book in the Littlest Yak series. It is not quite as cute as the first two. I do still LOVE the color palette so much. And I can't help noting that now Dotty is really the Littles Yak. Will she get to star in the next book? 🤔

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this rhyming story, a herd of yaks packs up their household and moves to a colder climate, but little sister gets lost along the journey as big sister pays too much attention to her sled-load of stuff and ends up learning valuable lessons about the meaning of home and the importance of family. (Seems like the little yak could also use a lesson or two about littering and decluttering.) Engaging artwork of this endearing yak family and their snowy clime—except for the contradictory campfire in the last scene.

[CONSTANCE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s the third book in the Littlest Yak series – again managing to be sweet and to give a lesson at the same time. In this one it is the season for moving to a new mountain with new pastures and Gertie wants to take all of her things even though there really isn’t room. But she piles them up on her sled and proceeds to follow the herd only to realize her little sister is not on the sled. She finds Dotty and makes room for her, realizing what is really important.

[Lucy Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series of books and I cannot recommend them highly enough. This book is centred around moving home (or for the littlest yak mountain) and the importance of people rather than objects. With a lovely rhyming narration that makes it a joy to read aloud and beautiful illustrations it’s another delightful children’s book from Lu Fraser.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read them out of order when I borrowed all three together-- but either way it doesn't really matter because the inspiration and entertaining humor of following the little yak around is the best. In this, the yak has realized that even if they have to move somewhere else and bring all of their items like books and toys, it's not as important as the yaks you surround yourself with.

[Elizabeth]

Why is Gertie responsible for her baby sister? I feel like that needs to be a parent's (or other responsible adult's) responsibility, not a very young older sibling.

I enjoyed reading the various book titles, and the rhymes worked well for readability.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest title in this picture book series was published in Great Britain in 2023 and now in the USA in 2024. In this title the Yaks are moving to a new mountain home and of course Gertie wants to take lots and lots of “ stuff” piled high on her sled including a huge stack of books. On the journey Gertie learns what the real meaning of a home is. Love the rhyming text, the colors and their hues used in these illustrations, and the expressions on the Yaks faces. I await the fourth title in this series.

[Lynne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this and found the message super sweet in a good way!

[Annie MacPherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Near Seussian rhyme-scheme

[Sabrina Wannet · Rating 5 out of 5]

heerlijk voorleesboek
gelezen in het nederlands

[Tachan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je commence à prendre l’habitude chaque année de retrouver notre chère Gertie, cette petite yack, et sa famille pour de nouvelles aventures et c’est toujours avec bonheur que j’y replonge, partageant ce plaisir avec mes jeunes lecteurs, fan d’elle de génération en génération.

Découverte en 2021 avec Le Plus Petit Yack, c’était l’occasion de parler de la place de l’enfant et de l’envie parfois trop rapide de grandir. Assise avec Le bébé Yack l’année suivante, nous avons parlé grâce à ça de l’arrivée d’un autre bébé dans le foyer. Cette année avec La maison des Yacks, il est l’heure de parler d’un autre sujet important dans la vie des enfants touchés : le déménagement.

A chaque fois, notre duo d’autrices prend ainsi plaisir d’inscrire leur histoire dans le quotidien des jeunes lecteurs et avec un texte court et simple, des dessins pétillants et plein de malice, elle gagne le lectorat à leur cause. Cela n’a pas changé cette fois encore. C’est avec un vif plaisir qu’on a retrouvé les paysages enneigés de Gertie et sa horde qui, un peu à contre-courant pour nous, vont chercher un endroit plus froid tandis que le réchauffement les gagne. Mais déménager n’a rien de facile et les autrices adressent un message aux plus petits comme aux plus grands.

Étant moi-même comme Gertie une collectionneuse de collections, notamment du côté des livres, j’ai parfaitement compris son envie de tout garder, tout emporter pour ne pas perdre ses souvenirs et ses biens. J’ai donc souri de l’humour de la situation à voir ce petit yack tout empiler sur son traîneau. Pour cela le trait de Kate Hindley est parfait ! C’est savoureux et truculent avec ces dessins pétillants et comiques qu’on lui connaît bien. Mais le plus important est le message qui vient après bien sûr où on découvre, bien évidemment, que les biens matériels ne font pas tout et qu’un foyer, c’est avant tout les gens qui vivent dedans. Le message est bien passé !

Petite aventure philosophique, doux paysages enneigés, charmante héroïne à hauteur d’enfant éveillé et belle morale, les ingrédients de cette lecture jeunesse étaient savoureux et comme à chaque fois j’ai beaucoup aimé le message délivré et la façon rassurante, drôle et douce avec laquelle il est passé. Voici une série avec laquelle je continue à aimer dialoguer avec les enfants sur leur quotidien et les valeurs de la vie.

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