Little Pea

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.