Review - The Little Guys

The Little Guys
by Vera Brosgol
Date: 2019
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

An adorable cautionary tale from Caldecott Honoree Vera Brosgol

We are the Little Guys.
Yes, we are small. But there are a lot of us.
Together we are strong, and we can get all we need.

The Little Guys might be small, but they aim to be mighty.

As they head off to find breakfast, they can conquer anything through teamwork―cross deep waters, dig through obstacles, and climb the tallest trees. Nothing can stop them!

But as they begin to amass more than they need, the creatures in the forest ponder―what happens when no one can stop the Little Guys?

This slyly funny and rambunctious read-aloud explores how strength in numbers only works when the whole community unites together.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Sorry, but I don't get it. The Little Guys are a bunch of greedy parasites who destroy the homes of the rest of the woodland creatures in their attempt to amass everything. When they go too far, the rest of the creatures help them. It makes no sense. It would be like someone treating their termites as pets and feeding them their prized rocking chair. When a bunch of tiny, unstoppable creatures threatens your own existence, you don't stop to help them; you call a freaking exterminator.

I don't even know what these Little Guys are supposed to be, anyway. The have the strength and cooperation of ants, but they look like acorns. It's just weird.

The story is so weak that I almost wonder if Brosgol was just doodling, came up with a cute acorn character, and then decided to write a whole book around the sketch. Unfortunately, there's not much here. What could've been a good story about greed and redemption ended up being a glorification of a nuisance. Just because something is small doesn't mean it's desirable. Ask anyone who's been the victim of a virus.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2 out of 5