What's Smaller Than a Pygmy Shrew?

Wells of Knowledge Science

by Robert E. Wells

A pygmy shrew is small―it's among the littlest mammals! A ladybug is even smaller, but it hardly seems tiny when you compare it to a protozoa! And there are many things smaller still―so small that we can see them only with a microscope. Would you believe there are particles that are so tiny that we can't measure their exact size? Explore the huge world of the very small!

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Mathematics, Pre K, 1st Grade

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

About Robert Wells
Robert E. Wells is the author and illustrator of many intriguing and award-winning science books for children. He lives with his wife in Wenatchee, Washington.


Welcome Robert E. Wells’s books into your classroom, and you’ll find most of
your science curriculum covered. The twelve volumes – engaging and informative,
educational and inviting – provide second through fifth graders with lessons in
science and math from astronomy to weather; from biology to measurement.
Beyond the solid information that is the core of each book, Wells also introduces
concepts that offer students deeper understanding of the subjects at hand. His
conversational tone and thought-provoking questions will lead children to questions
of their own. And that is the beginning of all scientific learning.

Reviews

[Shinae Wyckoff]

This book was a great way to work down from things they know (small animals, ladybugs), to things they have heard of vaguely (bacteria), to things that are so small they are difficult for us to conceptualize (atomic particle level). All done in a very fun and engaging way. Loved this for my 6- and 8-year olds.

[Sarah]

A beautiful reminder that God not only created the colossal and majestic, but the tiny and microscopic, as well.

[Laura (Book Scrounger)]

This book introduces children to small things -- it begins with a pygmy shrew compared to an elephant, moves on to a ladybug, then moves on to single-celled organisms, and all the way down to atoms and their components. It is certainly an interesting book, but I think it doesn't hold my children's attention quite as well as some of the others in the Wells of Knowledge series -- which is understandable. At least in Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is? the comparisons involve big things children have at least seen -- the sun, stars, etc., but that's not generally the case with microscopic organisms. So it's a good introduction, but might be more successful with those beyond the pre-kindergarten level.

[Renee Taylor]

This book takes readers on a fascinating journey into the world of small things, starting with the pygmy shrew and revealing that it doesn’t actually hold the record for being the tiniest. Wells uses clever comparisons to help readers visualize scale, making science both fun and accessible.

It’s an engaging way to introduce concepts of size and perspective, especially for curious young minds who enjoy exploring “what’s smaller than what.”

[Sandy]

This is a very clever book to describe the smallest of small things on the planet. Dissecting living things down to the Atom and beyond, children begin to gain an appreciation of how complex living things truly are.

[Keg Good]

What looks like an easy reader, this book delves deep into the science of the smallest things. I found it went too deep for the level of reader.

But then again, I’m 60 years past that level of reading.

[Megan B.]

A fun book introducing concepts like bacteria, molecules, and atoms!

[Sydney Beth]

Our kids have loved this science series. This book had a big fat typo, which particularly annoys me when my children are learning to read, but other than that it was good.

[Elizabeth Edwards]

i enjoyed the learning, well done, i have now read 3 books from this author, they are stocked full of info. well done. great illustrations.

[Elizabeth]

Great book for science facts. The pictures are great. A little over some of my younger kids' heads, but sometimes my older ones have picked it up again.

[Annie]

Very cute and funny intro to just how tiny things are that we can see with microscopes - cells, bacteria, molecules, atoms, quarks, electrons.

[Trish Gross]

very cool children’s book on cells and life

I read this with my 6 year old daughter and we loved learning how small things are that make up all things.

[Stacy Atherton Johnson]

This is really cute! It got a bit lengthy for a 5-year-old, but would likely be perfect for a little bit older of a child to read on his or her own.

[Chappyfamily]

Simple enough for little kids but enough information to teach an adult simple information about atoms, molecules, neutrons, protons and electrons. Not bad and an easy read.

[John Jones]

I like the author Robert E Wells because he makes the reader think and compare those things that may seem one way but can also mean the total opposite. The literature connects with comparing measurmnets and the use of probability. It really focused on the size or measurment of the shrew and hiw he compared his size to other animals or things. However, he realized that compared to certain things he could either be giant, or tiny. I could use this book to teach decimals, or even number line. It can also be used to teach measurements and can be used to introduce graphs as the students collect data. Which is also a part of data and analysis.

[Jacob]

I like this book because when the Pygmy shrew looked at a elephant and thought he was the smallest thing in
the universe but then a lady bug looks at the pygmy shrew and thinks he is the smallest thing in the universe
but then the lady bug flies onto a leaf and the leaf has a bubble and in the bubble are little cells and the cells look and the lady bug and think they are the smallest thing in the universe and then it tells me about atoms and what are in atoms and stuff like that.

[Amy]

This book starts off talking about how a pygmy shrew is smaller than an elephant. But what's smaller than a pygmy shrew? A ladybug. What's smaller than a ladybug? An amoeba. What's smaller than amoeba? Bacteria. And so on, down to electrons and quarks.

The colorful pictures can interest smaller children, but the subject matter is appropriate for elementary and junior high school kids.

The illustrations are not that exciting when it gets down to the really small particles. But I guess it is not that easy to draw a quark!

[Ebookwormy1]

Can you explain particle physics to a preschooler? Robert E. Wells can. Simple text and engaging illustrations will have you and your children discussing atoms, bacteria, protons and protozoa. A learning experience for parents and children that can start in preschool and continue many years in the future. Smaller seems harder to understand than larger, and we were a bit intimidated at first. We focused on "What is Larger than a Blue Whale?" and then worked this one in. Now it is a natural counterpart. Home school library essential.

[Heather]

We read this when we were studying chemistry a year ago. We all loved it. Cute illustrations that really add to comprehension and very clear explanations of difficult concepts like protons and quarks.

Very highly recommended. I think you could use it in the middle school, possibly junior high level too as either a review or introduction.

[Stephanie]

Robert Wells' books are great ways to expose children to complex science ideas in a very simple manner. Most children may not get them right away, but they are written simply and if read several times the scientific terms will not seem so foreign or difficult to understand when studied in school. My boys are very much entertained by these books.

[Japonika Finch]

Awesome book for an introduction into the concept of an atom. This books compares things to other things that are small, unti they get to the smallest thng there is; an atom. This book could be used in a elementary science class.

[Rebecca]

A great simple introduction into the 'small' things of our world. Useful for gentle introduction to science for preschoolers.
Will pull this out again next time we talk about atoms or molecules. :)

My 4 yr old is walking around telling people about pygmy shrews.

[Alicia]

Another great scientific book by Robert E. Wells, this book has a similar format like the others that gets your attention and keeps you hooked on science.

[Kristen Scott]

Ask what is smaller than a small animal. The book goes through and find micro tiny objects to how the difference in very small objects

[Vanessa Grubbs]

Great book that compares sizes of animals down to protozoa. I think it's good for everything to teaching nonstandard measurement, fractions, decimals.

[Cali]

OMG I LOVE THAT BOOK! I used to read everyday with my friend emily! We made up a secret theme song for it lol. *spoiler alert* a ladybug is smaller than a pygmy shrew

[Shunta]

This book involves greater, larger, smaller, bigger, opposites, measurements, and science. Good for teaching a range of math and science.

[Thomas]

Introduction into molecules, atoms, protons and neutrons. Great fun.

[Sticky Note Book Recs Melissa]

Another great science book for the pre-school/Kindergarten/Elementary ages. My son is still talking about this book a week later!

[Mckinley]

Size, gets smaller and smaller.