Little Pea: A Picture Book

by Davide Cali, Sébastien Mourrain (Illustrator)

Overview

Discover Little Pea’s debut in this gentle, joyous picture-book story from award-winning author Davide Cali and illustrator Sébastien Mourrain about embracing what makes us unique—in this specially formatted edition.

Little Pea was born tiny, but with big aspirations. As he grows up, he loves to climb, explore, swim, daydream—just like any other kid his age.

But when Little Pea starts school, the realization of how small he is sets in. Suddenly, he’s too small to sit at his desk, play the flute, or even join classmates at recess. What will become of Little Pea?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781990252112
Publisher:	Milky Way Picture Books
Publication date:	03/07/2023
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	4 - 6 Years

About the Author

Internationally renowned author Davide Cali is a Swiss-born Italian writer of picture books and graphic novels primarily for children and young adults. His work has been published in 25 countries and translated into many languages. Cali is a recipient of numerous awards, including the BolognaRagazzi Award in the special category, Switzerland’s Prix Enfantaisie, and Belgium’s Libbylit Award. He lives in Italy.

Sébastien Mourrain is the illustrator of over 40 picture books and documentaries published by Éditions Gallimard, Éditions du Seuil, and Bayard & Milan, among others. He lives in Lyon, France.

Editorial Reviews

"Whimsy rules in Davide Cali’s picture book about a boy so small he can ride on the back of a grasshopper. Little Pea can bed down in a matchbox, quench his thirst with a single drop of dew and use a stack of Legos for climbing practice."—Wall Street Journal

“Little Pea is an entirely charming book that invites readers to find joy in every part of life, whether it is playing with toys, encouraging plants to grow, or exploring art because it’s impossible to know where these passions will lead.” Highly Recommended —Canadian Review of Materials

From the Publisher

“Little Pea is an entirely charming book that invites readers to find joy in every part of life, whether it is playing with toys, encouraging plants to grow, or exploring art because it’s impossible to know where these passions will lead.” Highly Recommended

Canadian Review of Materials

"Whimsy rules in Davide Cali’s picture book about a boy so small he can ride on the back of a grasshopper. Little Pea can bed down in a matchbox, quench his thirst with a single drop of dew and use a stack of Legos for climbing practice."

Wall Street Journal

12/22/2023

PreS-Gr 2—This fanciful tale of a tiny boy whose entire life must be modified to accommodate his diminutive stature sends an affirming message about embracing one's unique qualities. Little Pea is so small, he sleeps in a matchbox and learns to swim in the bathroom sink. He is blissfully unaware that his size might ever present a problem until he goes to school and can't participate in activities like the other students. Despite loneliness, he finds solace in art and ultimately carves out a fulfilling life for himself illustrating postage stamps. The text and illustrations frequently demonstrate a playful juxtaposition: "As he got older, he wrestled bears" (the bears are teddy bears) "and raced his own car" (the car is a toy car). Illustrations rendered in a soft pastel color palette complement the gentle tone of the narrative. As in William Joyce's George Shrinks, the story never lingers on conflict or sadness, which may be reassuring to sensitive readers. Little Pea and all other characters are white-presenting. VERDICT This sweetly quirky story with uplifting themes is a cozy read-aloud and will be a welcome purchase for larger collections.—Allison Tran

School Library Journal