LITTLE SHREW

AKIKO MIYAKOSHI

Little Shrew is diligent in all parts of life. He’s a hard worker and follows a strict schedule from morning to night. But even a life that runs like clockwork can be filled with unexpected moments of joy, such as solving a puzzle, the scent of freshly baked bread, the vast beauty of a shimmering blue ocean or hosting friends from out of town. This collection of three short stories – perfect for emerging readers – is illustrated in Miyakoshi’s signature soft monochrome palette with touches of color. The charming tales celebrate enduring friendships, dreams for the future and the little pleasures that make everyday life more meaningful.

• New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award 2024

• Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2024

• Indigo Books Best Kids’ Books of 2024

• “We read [Little Shrew] as a way to calm ourselves down and to feel good about our own small lives.” Jenny Slate in L’Officiel

• “He’s both a stand-in for young readers and a role model whom they may wish to emulate someday … Charm incarnate.” Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

• “Renderings of quiet, precisely completed routines and the occasional celebration bring security and contentment to this intimate here-and-now portrait.” Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

• “Equally uncanny and endearing, this is a strange slice of an extraordinary and fascinating tiny life.” The Horn Book (Starred Review)

• “Charming in so many ways.” School Library Journal

• "Children who are drawn to quiet, spare worlds … will easily get pulled in by its unusual charm." Booklist