The Little Island

by Smriti Prasadam-Halls, Robert Starling (Illustrator)

Overview

There was once a farm where all the animals were friends. Together they looked after the farm and each other. It wasn’t perfect and they didn’t always agree (animals almost never do).

But the Geese have hatched a plan to leave the farm . . . will life be perfect for them now? A powerful modern-day fable for our times told with humor, warmth, and most importantly, hope.

A story of building bridges, not barriers, respect, not resentment, and of finding friendship, not fear.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728467757
Publisher:	Andersen Press USA
Publication date:	10/04/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	40 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	7 - 8 Years

About the Author

Smriti Prasadam-Halls is an award-winning, internationally best-selling British author whose books have been published in more than 30 languages. Smriti worked for the BBC and in children’s publishing and television for twelve years. Smriti lives and works in London, UK, with her family.
Robert Starling began doodling creatures and characters at school and hasn't stopped since. He lives and works in Wiltshire, England, and when he's not sketching up new characters or writing down stories, he can be found sculpting, brewing coffee, or teaching kids.

Editorial Reviews

"The lesson that the geese learn is both important and impactful, and will definitely resonate with young audiences."—Children's Literature

From the Publisher

2022-09-14
If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

A group of animals—ducks, geese, sheep, pigs, and others—work on a farm together. The geese and ducks live on an island in a nearby pond. One day, the geese decide that they do not like having the other farm animals traipsing through their island. The ducks don’t agree, but they are outnumbered by the geese, who get rid of the bridge to the island. Now, the geese and ducks must do their chores on their own, and they quickly realize how difficult that is, but the stubborn geese refuse to admit their mistake. Without the protection of the other animals, the ducks and geese are vulnerable when the foxes invade; when the others find a way to save the day, the geese realize just how desperately they want their old lives back and how wrong they were to take their friends for granted. A repeating parenthetical phrase—“animals almost never do”—will make readers laugh. Kids will also enjoy chanting along with the wonderfully alliterative phrases as the foxes invade (“Silently, stealthily…”). Art with a naïve flavor depicts the four-legged animals standing on two legs like humans, though the images may be slightly difficult to see at a distance in a large-group storytime. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A cozy reminder to appreciate those around us. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews