It's a Little Book

It's a Book

by Lane Smith

Now in diapers! For the youngest of readers who still prefer to chew on a book rather than read it, It's a Little Book asks what a book is for--Is it for chewing? Is it for wearing?--and answers the question in a warm and charming way. As funny and captivating as the bestselling It's a Book , It's a Little Book promises to delight a new generation of readers.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Books About Books, Fiction, Animals, Juvenile

24 pages, Board Book

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Lane Smith was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but moved to Corona, California at a young age. He spent summers in Tulsa, however, and cites experiences there as inspirations for his work, saying that "[o]nce you've seen a 100-foot cement buffalo on top of a donut-stand (sic) in the middle of nowhere, you're never the same."

He studied art in college at the encouragement of his high school art teacher, helping to pay for it by working as a janitor at Disneyland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration, and moved to New York City, where he was hired to do illustrations for various publications including Time, Mother Jones, and Ms..

Smith is married to Molly Leach, who is a book designer and designed the Smith/Scieszka collaboration.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/lanesmith

Reviews

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love using this board book in comparison with the picture book version to get students thinking about how we might adjust the way we communicate our message depending on our intended audience.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25 stars - Dutch hardcover - I have dyslexia -
To take with you when you are going out. Little onces can "read" themselves, or papa read it to them. 🌺🌸🌹🦋🌷🍀😢🌼

[Kris Dersch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfectly delightful little book just right for the under 2 set.

[Kacey Lundgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

So simple! So clever! My three year old loved this book. We had to read it over and over, while re-enacting every page. I thought it would be too young for her but she just adored it.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the baby version of It’s a Book by Lane Smith. Shorter, sweeter, and with the characters in diapers, It’s a Little Book is one of those reads that’s fun for parents too. You’ll enjoy a chuckle (in the it’s-funny-because-it’s-true way) at the crazy uses the characters think up for the book in their hands. “Is it for riding?” “No!” “Is it for emailing?” “No!” Finally they arrive at the discovery that it’s a book and is, in fact, for reading.

My son would have nothing to do with this book for about a year. I think the colors are too simple and the illustrations too similar across each page to grab the attention of a young baby. However, now that he’s talking he loves back-and-forth games so he loves shouting “noooooooooo!” after we read each question. We also act out all the crazy suggestions to use a book, and it’s short enough that he can anticipate what action is coming next, which he also loves. So while I wouldn’t recommend this for a younger baby, I think it’s a really fun title for a baby 12 months and up.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a chance to read the display copy at ALA. Absolutely adorable! Made me wish I still had children who were tiny enough to enjoy a board book. I still might order a copy because it was that much fun! I think even my 4 and 6 year old (who are HUGE It’s A Book fans) would appreciate this version made for the youngest readers.

[Sandy L Jaguar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo primero que pensé fue en que no tengo idea de cuál es la edad para leerle a un bebé, luego pensé que no hay edad, que más bien me refería a la edad en la que los bebés empiezan a entender las historias. Terminé concluyendo que no importa tampoco, que lo que vayan entendiendo es bueno, es bonito y está bien. Que en todo caso el libro relata la manera que tienen los bebés de conocer el mundo, entonces pensé que a partir de estos libros les adultes podemos entender a les bebés. Y me pregunto quién disfruta más, ¿elles o nosotres? ¿Quién aprende más? Sin duda yo un montón porque no tengo idea de la literatura para primeras infancias.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

The repetition of “no” on every page is bad enough but to then be told “it’s a book, silly” on the last page, as if being imaginative in coming up with other ways to play is a bad thing, gets this a definite 1 star rating from me.

[Anoush · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and to be honest was a great set up for the picture book, It's a Book.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was so sweet!! I liked the repetitive call-and-response structure of the book. And the humor of the repeated “no” and the creativity of the baby donkey in making up ideas of what the book could be for. Definitely a fun one!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comment bien expliquer aux enfants ce qu'on fait avec un livre!

[Victoria Hanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toddlers like the no no no.

[Victoria Whipple]

Baby gorilla and baby donkey talk about what a book is and does.

[Cristine Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun interactive book because I actually did what the donkey was doing. “Do I wear this book my head?” “Can I nibble it?”

[Laetitia]

"C'est un petit livre" tr�s mignon et rigolo pour les enfants � partir de 10-12 mois. Il n'y a pas que les ordi et les t�l�phones dans la vie, il y a les livres aussi ,) !

[Liese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baby Donkey is curious about a little book that Baby Gorilla is reading. Baby Donkey asks all sorts of questions about what the little book is for...until Baby Gorilla tells her it's for reading!

[Amanda Schwind · Rating 2 out of 5]

To realistic of a conversation to really enjoy.
Also, I recognize the play on words, but for the sake of a children's book, please just say "donkey."

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Board book companion to It's a Book.
Simple two-panel questions about what it is. Finally, no it's for reading.
Cute.

[Mj · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s A Little Book is a Board Picture Book geared to very young children.

The author seems to be piggybacking on his success of It’s A Book published one year earlier. This book features the same two characters – a donkey and a gorilla. This time both are wearing diapers. The donkey starts the book with nothing in his hands while the gorilla is holding a book. Once again, the donkey does not know what a book is and asks the gorilla a number of questions about it.

The first questions are very age appropriate. Do you chew it? Do you wear it? I think the illustrations accompanying the story are very creative by demonstrating a number of ways that a book can be used – as a hat on your head, as a roof on building blocks, as duck bills for quacking, as a saddle on a pet. I thought these were all very creative and I think young children would like the line drawings filled in with earth colours and brighter though muted more vivid colours. I did think the questions about a laptop and calling on a cell phone were a bit over the top for children in diapers.

I think the author was smart to try to piggyback on his It’s A Book’s success. This time I think he was more successful with regards to age appropriateness and appealing to his targeted age group. That being said, I’m not sure that this is an award winning Board Picture Book either. 3 stars.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read It's a Book by Lane Smith about two years ago and we really liked it. I was perusing our local library's collection of board books and saw this version of the tale. It's a little kid version, and I thought it was very cute.

The storyline is pretty much the same; the main difference is that the characters are younger and are wearing diapers and the narrative is very simple. With lots of repetition and adorable illustrations, I think this would be great for toddlers.

As it's missing the biting sarcasm of the original story, I didn't find it nearly as humorous, but it was still a fun little book.

[Leigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yikes! Sometimes board book adaptations just don't work. I get what Lane Smith is trying to do here... Of course we want children to learn what a book is, how to hold it, and *yes* eventually read books. BUT this is a board book for babies. And a board book IS for chewing (that is how infants explore and learn). A board book IS for building (I use them all the time as blocks in my story play programs). One of the things that youth librarians try to impress upon parents is that board books should essentially be "toys". That is why they are made as "tough" board books. I love the illustrations in this book, so it saddens me that I have to give it one star....

[Dianne Casas · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of you who want milder fare for your bookshelves, Lane Smith created It’s a Little Book. Donkey and Ape are back, but in diapers! Donkey asks, “Is it for wearing? Is it for chewing? Is it for quacking? Is it for building?” Of course, Ape answers, “No, it’s a book.” The ending is not edgy like the first book but very cute and appropriate for all ages. Still, I like the original but this board book is like drinking chocolate milk when you can’t have the chocolate bar. They still taste good but nothing is like the original.
Watch the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGrkAC...

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the story, It's a Book first and while I felt that was a clever book, I liked this book better because it was written for its intended audience. The diaper-clad donkey and gorilla are discussing what they found. Each page contains a repetitive "Is it a ..." question from donkey who is trying to determine how to use this new object. Donkey is very creative on how to use this object -- e-mailing, flying, building, etc. Gorilla patiently says no to each of donkey's ideas and finally explains that the object is a book and it is for reading. This is a cute book to introduce repetitive language to babies or toddlers and at the same time show them what to do with a book.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this together with my husband in a bookstore while we were shopping for a pair of newborns, and we thought it was terrible! What small child understands "email" and "typing"? It makes no sense. It's point is cute - one animal doesn't know what to do with a book, and guesses silly things like putting it on his head. But some of the suggestions are way beyond the comprehension of small children. Also why was the monkey ginormous compared to the donkey? My husband found the illustrations creepy.

[Angelica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This board book is simple. Simple words and simple phrases tell the story of two friends, one who knows what the object he has is. The other one a donkey who keeps asking questions like is it something to chew, it is something to wear. And each time the answer from his friend is no. But when the friend clearly states its for reading and it's a book both friends sit down to read.


This book is great for parents who are looking to read a great board book with their baby or toddler.

Simple words and pictures help bring the story to life.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much more young child-friendly version of the original. Meaning the odd joke at the end was changed and the references were more to what a young child would understand. This was in Board Book format, which I wonder about since I use Board Books for the very, very young and I don't think under preschool-age would get this book. Then again, maybe it's a great way to teach babies and toddlers how to treat books!

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable board book that can be used to show young children what a book is. I believe this book could be used as an introduction to remind even the older kiddos how to respect books. This is a very simple book with a repeating phrase, which means it could also be used with 1st and 2nd graders, to identify repeating words.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

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