The Littles Go Exploring

Somehow, this was a series that I had never heard of until I was in my 20’s, when my 8-year-old sister handed it to me and said, “You’ve got to read this!” Well, I still didn’t sit down to read it until my 5-year-old sister begged me to read it to her, and we got to enjoy it together.

This is a children’s book, no doubt about that. But, even as an adult, I can appreciate the amount of imagination and sheer delight in a crazy idea that went into the formation of these books. My sister was spellbound as I read it to her, and I admit, I was rooting for the Littles just as much as she was. The premise behind this series is way too much fun! We enjoyed sharing this story together. I’m sure this won’t be the last Littles book show more my sister and I read together. show less

I remember ordering this from the Scholastic catalog back in the early grades of school, and going through a phase of being quite obsessed with toy boats. I recall getting a bunch of little plastic ones from the spinning toy stand at the local corner store.

The nostalgia definitely helped, but this was a charming read, with efficient world building and a spirit of adventure. Perhaps a little too fast paced and light on character, but the Littles themselves come across as quite plucky, if a little indistinct.

Obviously intended for very young readers, and it had certainly caught my imagination back then, so I'd say job done.

The Littles have discovered lots of different types of Tinies. As they go exploring in search of their missing grandpa they have a great adventure on a boat.

RGG: A slightly updated and easier version of The Borrowers series. Perhaps a more difficult read: context knowledge, fantasy, vocabulary than the F-P level suggests. Reading Level: M.

RGG: A slightly updated and easier version of The Borrowers series. Perhaps a more difficult read: context knowledge, fantasy, vocabulary than the F-P level suggests. Reading Level: M.

The Littles venture into the land beyond the Dark Woods, an area unknown to small people.

The Littles venture into the land beyond the Dark Woods, an area unknown to small people.