Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Yes, that double take you just did WAS warranted as the “director” of the project is a famous actor (aka RegularJOE)…and yes, I said director. You see this unique little creation is a group effort in which stories submitted on their website are worked, tweaked and finalized to reveal the true splendor within. In other words, YOU can contribute, possibly be included in a future volume, and help other creative souls like yourself reach their full potential despite the miles between show more you.

From the wondrous packaging of the words to the illustrations lighting up each page with even more imagination, this is not merely a book but a work of art. Each page has some profound or amusing tale relayed in as few words as possible but always getting to the heart of the matter. My favorite? Hard pressed to narrow it down to merely one as so many will speak to you as you page your way through this one, however being the book fan that I am page 68 and 69 expressed the joy of a trip to the bookstore rather well. If I may quote….“His hands were weak and shaking from carrying far too many books from the bookshop. It was the best feeling.”

See? Add to that the included illustration of a young lad peering over same said stack and it’s irresistible. There’s hardly a page turned where a smile, thoughtful pause, or tear can’t be found. The mini-versions of the interior images included within the front and back covers add to the overall whimsy of the book and give readers something else to explore as they prepare to take a tiny trip to the land of the written word.

Recommended read for all ages. Little ones will enjoy the illustrations, older children the humor, adults the combination of both as well as the tiny details included within each. It’s truly a remarkable work and plainly shows that it’s not the length of a book that matters so much as the content....or as their parting phrase states..."The universe is not made of atoms; it's made of tiny stories." show less

I opted to pre-order the set - which included the limited edition record you see next to the book - sometime in the summer. I all but nearly forgot about it until it arrived at my doorstep this morning - hand delivered by the wonderful postal worker himself - Note to self: Bake this man some cookies.

I couldn't wait to rip the package open and devour it entirely. Of course, I was just starting my day of jobless anticipation - I've been answering every phone call in hopes it's an opportunity, show more but only get bill collectors (which I have half the mind to ask if their hiring). I put it on hold. Snapped the above photo and started off with the DVD which features short films, tiny stories, music videos - my favorite was "They Can't Turn the Lights Off" - and live records. I followed this by reading the book in one sitting - it wasn't that hard, but to digest the magnificent beauty of the images presented upon the pages, mixed in with the words was an overwhelming sensation that I do not think I can fully describe. My personal favorites, oddly, are the first and last features in the book.

The book itself, actually, reminds of me the children's stories I used to read when I was a kid. The way they were written. It's as if the book is for adults who never stopped being children, as well as, those who forgot how to play.

Sadly, however, I cannot review - if that's what I'm doing, anyway - the CD that includes 17 original songs because I haven't gotten that far. But the book is amazing. It's more than amazing. It's probably the best collaborative work I've seen in a long time. show less

I'll admit, I didn't like this one quite as much as the first volume of Tiny Stories, but it's still got plenty to recommend it. The stories are, at most, a sentence long but can make you contemplate for much longer. Some I related to, some I laughed at, others just confused me. The illustrations that accompany each story are whimsical, bizarre, clever, most well-suited to the story they represent. It's a book that can easily be read in a sitting, but one that you might find yourself wanting show more to spend more time on. I think, perhaps, that I didn't love this one quite as much as the first because I didn't find so many stories that I felt spoke directly to me, but I'd still recommend grabbing both volumes. Chances are you'll find at least a little of yourself in each. show less

A book of tiny stories needs a tiny review, I say. Here goes: Pithy. And wise.

Here’s one, so you can get a taste:
“The doctor’s wife ate two
apples a day, just to be safe.

But her husband kept
coming home.”

See what I mean? Yes, you will like these. Good as an appetizer or an after-dinner dessert or even an entree.