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A Big Surprise for Little Card
Fall in love with a disarming picture-book hero in this quirky ode to spirit, identity, and the joy of having (or being) a library card.
In the world of cards, each one has a special job to do. Big Card keeps important papers in order. Tiny Card can be exchanged for a prize in an arcade. Round Card hangs out in a glamorous boutique. But is any card as lucky as Little Card? He’s going to school to become a birthday card — in other words, to sing, play games, eat cake, and be happy all day long. But wait! On the day he’s supposed to take his talents into the world, Long Card tells him there’s been a mix-up and they need to trade jobs. How can Little Card bring his exuberance into a library, a quiet place of books and rules and hushing? Offbeat and utterly endearing, this tale of a little guy who gives it all he’s got is complete with a sweet twist and a surprise ending.
In the world of cards, each one has a special job to do. Big Card keeps important papers in order. Tiny Card can be exchanged for a prize in an arcade. Round Card hangs out in a glamorous boutique. But is any card as lucky as Little Card? He’s going to school to become a birthday card — in other words, to sing, play games, eat cake, and be happy all day long. But wait! On the day he’s supposed to take his talents into the world, Long Card tells him there’s been a mix-up and they need to trade jobs. How can Little Card bring his exuberance into a library, a quiet place of books and rules and hushing? Offbeat and utterly endearing, this tale of a little guy who gives it all he’s got is complete with a sweet twist and a surprise ending.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published February 9, 2016
2 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
April 9, 2016
Being a follower of Anna Raff, I have been seeing this book here and there on the internet and I finally dared to pick it up this afternoon. At its heart, it is an inoffensive celebration of libraries and librarians told through the experiences of the title character, an anthropomorphic library card. I guess I have to admit that no one has made a book with a library card as a character before, so it isn't unoriginal. But, ultimately, I felt compelled to put my thoughts down in a review because of a nagging question: why?
Using inanimate objects as endearing characters is not a new convention in the world of picture books. Little Red Writing, The Day The Crayons Quit, and The Jacket are a couple recent examples. There are legions of vehicles that are characters. The Giving Tree is not a bad sample either. Something about the way these characters were written really gave them enough personality to feel justifiable. Unfortunately, Little Card does not feel justifiable at all.
We enter the world of this book confusingly in a sort of apartment building where cards live, but they are not actually exclusively cards, more like a collection of random pieces of paper. Adding to this abstract scenario is the fact that each 'card' character essentially has two names. Wide Card is Postcard. Tall Card is Birthday Card. Round Card is Gift Tag. For some reason, even a manila folder is included in this gang. This two name setup is, I suppose, to preserve the "surprise" that Little Card is a library card and not a birthday card (as if there was any doubt with him standing in a library on the cover). Both having the initials L.C., Little Card and Long Card have a mail mix-up that leads to the former attending an unnecessary birthday card training session (what card needs training to be a birthday card anyway? All they really have to do is open up).
For a book that celebrates libraries, it takes ages to get there. Thankfully, when we finally do, the book becomes a bit more enjoyable. There is a really nice spread that features an array of quirky books assorted by color. Library stuff happens. Little Card sings a ditty and gets a gold star. As readers we are told that a visit to the library is like a birthday party every day (something I believe most children might disagree with). I actually do not remember if he is explicitly used to check out books, which should be an important and memorable moment in his life, but I guess he must have. And as I turn the last page, I again ask myself, why a walking, talking library card? Why?
In looks and actions, Little Card feels like the character in a low budget local commercial. He sings jingles. JINGLES. I picture a group of out-of-touch adults who want to promote library usage sitting around a long table. One fellow pulls his library card out of his wallet and draws a smiley face on it. Everyone present thinks, it's adorable--the kids will love it! They all congratulate each other and there is much clapping of hands on proud shoulders. Now, I am positive this is not how this book got written, but it feels that way. There are far better character options to sell us all on libraries: a mysterious librarian, a reluctant reader who finally comes around, or even an anthropomorphic book might have made a better choice! Instead, we get a library card, with his useless set of kind-of-card friends.
Why does it not work for me in the way the memorable characters I listed above do? Probably because I can identify with them for what they do, for their essential purpose, be it writing, coloring, telling stories, or giving. I can step into those roles. They are objects for which I already have emotion and a set of experiences. Little Card does not embody the wonders of the library, he is more like its doorstop. No kid plays with their library card like a cherished toy. In fact, their mom probably holds on to it for them.
If you are still reading, yes, this is a lot of griping about a harmless, cute picture book, but I hold Candlewick to a higher standard than this offering. The art is fine. The writing is serviceable. But the title character (no pun intended) falls flat.
Using inanimate objects as endearing characters is not a new convention in the world of picture books. Little Red Writing, The Day The Crayons Quit, and The Jacket are a couple recent examples. There are legions of vehicles that are characters. The Giving Tree is not a bad sample either. Something about the way these characters were written really gave them enough personality to feel justifiable. Unfortunately, Little Card does not feel justifiable at all.
We enter the world of this book confusingly in a sort of apartment building where cards live, but they are not actually exclusively cards, more like a collection of random pieces of paper. Adding to this abstract scenario is the fact that each 'card' character essentially has two names. Wide Card is Postcard. Tall Card is Birthday Card. Round Card is Gift Tag. For some reason, even a manila folder is included in this gang. This two name setup is, I suppose, to preserve the "surprise" that Little Card is a library card and not a birthday card (as if there was any doubt with him standing in a library on the cover). Both having the initials L.C., Little Card and Long Card have a mail mix-up that leads to the former attending an unnecessary birthday card training session (what card needs training to be a birthday card anyway? All they really have to do is open up).
For a book that celebrates libraries, it takes ages to get there. Thankfully, when we finally do, the book becomes a bit more enjoyable. There is a really nice spread that features an array of quirky books assorted by color. Library stuff happens. Little Card sings a ditty and gets a gold star. As readers we are told that a visit to the library is like a birthday party every day (something I believe most children might disagree with). I actually do not remember if he is explicitly used to check out books, which should be an important and memorable moment in his life, but I guess he must have. And as I turn the last page, I again ask myself, why a walking, talking library card? Why?
In looks and actions, Little Card feels like the character in a low budget local commercial. He sings jingles. JINGLES. I picture a group of out-of-touch adults who want to promote library usage sitting around a long table. One fellow pulls his library card out of his wallet and draws a smiley face on it. Everyone present thinks, it's adorable--the kids will love it! They all congratulate each other and there is much clapping of hands on proud shoulders. Now, I am positive this is not how this book got written, but it feels that way. There are far better character options to sell us all on libraries: a mysterious librarian, a reluctant reader who finally comes around, or even an anthropomorphic book might have made a better choice! Instead, we get a library card, with his useless set of kind-of-card friends.
Why does it not work for me in the way the memorable characters I listed above do? Probably because I can identify with them for what they do, for their essential purpose, be it writing, coloring, telling stories, or giving. I can step into those roles. They are objects for which I already have emotion and a set of experiences. Little Card does not embody the wonders of the library, he is more like its doorstop. No kid plays with their library card like a cherished toy. In fact, their mom probably holds on to it for them.
If you are still reading, yes, this is a lot of griping about a harmless, cute picture book, but I hold Candlewick to a higher standard than this offering. The art is fine. The writing is serviceable. But the title character (no pun intended) falls flat.
April 14, 2017
A Big Surprise for Little Card-By Charise Mericle Harper & Illustrated by Anna Raff
What a great for kids book who will be getting their first library card! We are such book lovers and readers and we love using our "little card" at our local Rebecca Baine Rigby Library (Madison County Library System). My kids theme saying is: "Yay, Library"! when it's time to go visit.
The easy-to-read font and awesome illustrations will appeal to young readers.
Librarians will find this picture book to be a nice addition to their collection focusing on library topics. Use it to introduce young readers to the library.
What a great for kids book who will be getting their first library card! We are such book lovers and readers and we love using our "little card" at our local Rebecca Baine Rigby Library (Madison County Library System). My kids theme saying is: "Yay, Library"! when it's time to go visit.
The easy-to-read font and awesome illustrations will appeal to young readers.
Librarians will find this picture book to be a nice addition to their collection focusing on library topics. Use it to introduce young readers to the library.
March 5, 2016
This is definitely a keeper, even if it's a bit too long to use in a storytime.
But it was so cute! Little Card was sooooo excited to be a birthday card, and I was afraid that - when he found out about the mix-up - the story was going to be about learning to live with not being meant for something, or making the best of a bad situation. And don't get me wrong, those are both great lessons! It's important for kids to know that sometimes things don't work out, and you just have to deal with it.
But in this case, it was so awesome to see Little Card be able to embrace his "real" job with such enthusiasm, and keep getting wonderful surprise after wonderful surprise. Because, sometimes, things that seem like they're going to be not fun at all are actually SO MUCH BETTER than what you wanted to do in the first place.
But it was so cute! Little Card was sooooo excited to be a birthday card, and I was afraid that - when he found out about the mix-up - the story was going to be about learning to live with not being meant for something, or making the best of a bad situation. And don't get me wrong, those are both great lessons! It's important for kids to know that sometimes things don't work out, and you just have to deal with it.
But in this case, it was so awesome to see Little Card be able to embrace his "real" job with such enthusiasm, and keep getting wonderful surprise after wonderful surprise. Because, sometimes, things that seem like they're going to be not fun at all are actually SO MUCH BETTER than what you wanted to do in the first place.
April 20, 2017
Reading this book made me nostalgic for my elementary school library, and the days I would spend at the public libraries surrounding me. Now I work for the public libraries, and this is a cute story for kids that can't wait to get their library cards!
July 10, 2017
Cute book about the importance of a library card.
July 8, 2017
Very cute!
March 29, 2016
A BIG SURPRISE FOR LITTLE CARD by Charise Mericle Harper tells the sweet story of a young card who is destined to become a library card.
When Little Card opens the wrong letter, he thinks he’ll going to be trained as a birthday card. However he soon realizes that his destiny lies with a librarian named Miss Penny and a young library user called Alex.
The easy-to-read font and whimsical illustrations will appeal to young readers.
Librarians will find this picture book to be a nice addition to their collection focusing on library topics. Use it to introduce young readers to the library.
To learn more about the author, go to http://www.chariseharper.com/.
Published by Candlewick Press on February 9, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
When Little Card opens the wrong letter, he thinks he’ll going to be trained as a birthday card. However he soon realizes that his destiny lies with a librarian named Miss Penny and a young library user called Alex.
The easy-to-read font and whimsical illustrations will appeal to young readers.
Librarians will find this picture book to be a nice addition to their collection focusing on library topics. Use it to introduce young readers to the library.
To learn more about the author, go to http://www.chariseharper.com/.
Published by Candlewick Press on February 9, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
September 19, 2016
This was a great picture book about a library card, and is the perfect book to read in September for National Library Card Sign-up Month. I highly recommend that everyone should read this book to there kids when they get their first library card.
This book explains that every card has a job to do such: prize tickets, price tickets, post cards, folders, birthday cards, and library cards. They all have to learn a special job depending on their size. When some of their job letters get mixed in the mail, some of the cards get different jobs than what they are meant to do, including library card.
When Library card finds out that he is not a birthday card, he is a little disappointed. He soon realizes that he enjoys being a Library card even more. -April
This book explains that every card has a job to do such: prize tickets, price tickets, post cards, folders, birthday cards, and library cards. They all have to learn a special job depending on their size. When some of their job letters get mixed in the mail, some of the cards get different jobs than what they are meant to do, including library card.
When Library card finds out that he is not a birthday card, he is a little disappointed. He soon realizes that he enjoys being a Library card even more. -April
September 18, 2016
I'm going to be honest, I read this book because the cover and the pictures are so CUTE! I also really liked the font used :) Anyway, the story was about a card who tries out different card jobs. He is a library card one day and a birthday card the next. What card is the best card? Is one card better than the other? You'll have to read the book to find out.
January 23, 2017
Guess what? He's a library card!
May 15, 2018
A Big Surprise for Little Card is a children's picture book written by Charise Mericle Harper and illustrated by Anna Raff. It is a book about several anthropomorphic cards living together – each has their own jobs except for two – Little Card and Long Card.
Harper's text is rather straightforward and adorable – that is if you think anthropomorphic cards are adorable, which strangely I do. Raff's illustration is simplistic – the cards seem realistic in a cartoonish manner, while everything else seemed slightly as diluted watercolor paintings.
The premise of the book is rather simplistic and it centers on Little Card and his family. Wide Card is a postcard and he couldn't wait to travel; Round Card is a price tag for something important; Tiny Card was a prize ticket at an arcade and Giant Card was a folder for important office work. However, Long Card and Little Card have yet to wait for their jobs to come. Eventually, Little Card was proclaimed a Library Card, but not before going to Birthday Card school for a day.
This book celebrates libraries and how wonderful they are. As a child, I don't remember libraries to be that much fun – all I remember is that I had to be quiet, which was also addressed in this book. However, libraries today have been transformed since I was a child – there are games, computers, a children section, activities for the community, and yes books to borrow. However, there is a scene where Library Card was eating a cookie, which I don't think eating is permitted in a library.
All in all, A Big Surprise for Little Card is a wonderful children's book that celebrates libraries and what they do for the community told from the perspective of an anthropomorphic library card.
Harper's text is rather straightforward and adorable – that is if you think anthropomorphic cards are adorable, which strangely I do. Raff's illustration is simplistic – the cards seem realistic in a cartoonish manner, while everything else seemed slightly as diluted watercolor paintings.
The premise of the book is rather simplistic and it centers on Little Card and his family. Wide Card is a postcard and he couldn't wait to travel; Round Card is a price tag for something important; Tiny Card was a prize ticket at an arcade and Giant Card was a folder for important office work. However, Long Card and Little Card have yet to wait for their jobs to come. Eventually, Little Card was proclaimed a Library Card, but not before going to Birthday Card school for a day.
This book celebrates libraries and how wonderful they are. As a child, I don't remember libraries to be that much fun – all I remember is that I had to be quiet, which was also addressed in this book. However, libraries today have been transformed since I was a child – there are games, computers, a children section, activities for the community, and yes books to borrow. However, there is a scene where Library Card was eating a cookie, which I don't think eating is permitted in a library.
All in all, A Big Surprise for Little Card is a wonderful children's book that celebrates libraries and what they do for the community told from the perspective of an anthropomorphic library card.
November 12, 2017
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Today’s book is A Big Surprise For Little Card, written by Charise Mericle Harper and illustrated by Anna Raff, a wonderfully fun story about a little card with a big destiny.
Little Card lives in an apartment building with many other cards, like price tags, prize tickets, and office folders. The only ones who do not know their job yet are Little Card and his friend, Long Card. That is, until the day their job letters arrive, and Little Card finds out that he is to be a birthday card! He eagerly attends birthday card school, learning all that he can about birthdays and surprises. But when he returns home, he finds that there was a mix-up: his friend Long Card was meant to be the birthday card. As for Little Card, he has a different destiny in store – one where he just may be able to put his skills at bringing people joy to good use.
This was so cute! Spoiler alert: Little Card actually becomes a little girl’s library card, and they spend the whole day celebrating “Happy Library Day!” and learning about all the fun that the library has to offer. It was a great story, and did a great job of showing little ones how wonderful the library can be. The illustrations are very cute, joyful and colorful and full of energy. The length was fine, and JJ and I both loved it. If you’re looking for a fun story to get children excited about getting a library card, this one is a fantastic choice. Baby Bookworm approved!
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
November 19, 2019
So cute! Everyone has a purpose, and sometimes it takes longer to find out than others. You also don't have to be good at just one thing, the things you're good at can help make the things you're great at even greater! Little Card thinks he'll make a great birthday card, but his letter got mixed up with Long Card. He's a Library Card for a special girl named Alex who shows him not only how great the library is, but how great he is as a Library Card.
Activities-
-would work really well in the public library setting, especially for the first time a child gets their own library card. It introduces some of the things you can and can't do at the library.
-make cards! Design your own library card, birthday card, or a new kind of card you invent. What kind of card would you most want to be if you were one?
-so many songs! (his library song would make a great bulletin board) ("We promise to read, respect, return, and enjoy these books).
-great for an introduction to the library
-make a rainbow of books! (probably best to pull a certain amount rather than letting them pull whatever!) Could make it a scavenger hunt too so they have to visit each area of the library
Activities-
-would work really well in the public library setting, especially for the first time a child gets their own library card. It introduces some of the things you can and can't do at the library.
-make cards! Design your own library card, birthday card, or a new kind of card you invent. What kind of card would you most want to be if you were one?
-so many songs! (his library song would make a great bulletin board) ("We promise to read, respect, return, and enjoy these books).
-great for an introduction to the library
-make a rainbow of books! (probably best to pull a certain amount rather than letting them pull whatever!) Could make it a scavenger hunt too so they have to visit each area of the library
September 3, 2024
In this book we meet a bunch of different cards; wide card, round card, tiny card, giant card, little card and long card. They are each to have a special letter assigning them to their grown up job. When L.C. (long card) and L.C. (little card) bump into each other their assignments are mixed up. They head off and train for the wrong job. They realize they need to switch the same day that training is over and they are sent off to their real jobs. Can little card adjust to his new job assignment?
*We read this with kinder to intro them to the library and to make their very own library cards. The concept of the two cards with initials LC went right over their head, plus they were very confused of the Happy Birthday vs Happy Library concept. Definitely needs to be a 1st or 2nd read aloud. I would have preferred for there not to be a mix up and just a general I am training for my job here are all the cool things I get to do story line.
*We read this with kinder to intro them to the library and to make their very own library cards. The concept of the two cards with initials LC went right over their head, plus they were very confused of the Happy Birthday vs Happy Library concept. Definitely needs to be a 1st or 2nd read aloud. I would have preferred for there not to be a mix up and just a general I am training for my job here are all the cool things I get to do story line.
September 23, 2017
Harper, Charise Mericle A Big Surprise for Little Card, illustrated by Ann Raff. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2016. $16.99. Content: G.
Little Card grew up with all sorts of other cards, including folders, price tags, and postcards. He's thrilled when his assignment finally comes, and he gets to become a birthday card! Only, it turns out there was a mistake, and this very loud card is going to a library instead.
This was a cute introduction to library cards, especially in public libraries, but it somehow didn't hold together quite as well for me as I would have liked. The plot seemed a bit convoluted, and the ending lacked the punch that makes a book truly stand out.
EL (K-3) -- OPTIONAL. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
Little Card grew up with all sorts of other cards, including folders, price tags, and postcards. He's thrilled when his assignment finally comes, and he gets to become a birthday card! Only, it turns out there was a mistake, and this very loud card is going to a library instead.
This was a cute introduction to library cards, especially in public libraries, but it somehow didn't hold together quite as well for me as I would have liked. The plot seemed a bit convoluted, and the ending lacked the punch that makes a book truly stand out.
EL (K-3) -- OPTIONAL. Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
November 21, 2019
Little Card lives in the same building with cards of all shapes, heights and sizes. Some are postcards, others raffle tickets and shopping tags. He can’t wait for the day he finds out what he’s supposed to be when he grows up. One day his special letter comes, addressing him as L.C. and he moves to birthday party school where he believed he’d be taught how to sing happy birthday, decorate rooms and host games. He was the best student in his class. Just when he thought he knew himself pretty well, fate intervened. An old friend pays Little Card a visit, explaining they had mixed up their identities. A whole new door opens up to a world where belongingness, books, and being happy reveals the true meaning of L.C. and what it means to be at the public library.
December 7, 2016
In a world were every card gets assigned a job, little card and long card are the only two that don't know what their jobs will be. Little card gets a letter saying he is a birthday card and he goes to school to become one. But the day before the job starts he and long card receive letters saying Long card is the birthday card and little card has a different job, but there is no time for school. Little card ends up being a... library card. He learns that library day is six six days a week instead of one day a year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2018
This was such an adorable book. There are all types of cards and each has their own special duty. Little Card was excited to find out he was a birthday card. However, he got his letter switched up with Long Card, and he is not a Birthday card. He is a library card. A fun read, even if you don’t have a library nearby.
August 29, 2017
That was such a cute book. I feel that older children would like it because they could read it themselves; and little children can have their parents read it, to them.
I like how Little Card was so happy about being in the library; he acted like a little kid. This is why I feel this book will appeal to all ages.
I like how Little Card was so happy about being in the library; he acted like a little kid. This is why I feel this book will appeal to all ages.
September 19, 2018
I really wanted to like this, but it fell flat. The beginning with the cards living in an apartment was strange. I did enjoy some of the actual library part, but wouldn't use it at school because 1. the kids can't come every day, 2. they can't bring snacks, and 3. I don't care if they're quiet or loud.
January 18, 2018
I loved that this book promotes library cards and will get a professional copy for story time use. However, it still made libraries out to be a very quiet and drab place. This stereotype is why a lot of children still doesn't want to come to the library or think it's a cool place to hang out.
April 18, 2019
Great fun story for books/library themed storytime. We did it during national library week. It was pushing too long for toddler time (my toddler time was REALLY young that week), but would work great for preschool storytime.
November 8, 2016
The sweetest. A celebration of the magic of reading, and of libraries. A sweet story, with great illustrations.
August 19, 2017
A recommendations from a fellow LA, this was a cute book about a everyone having their own job and Little Card having one of the most important ones of all. He is a library card!
Read
December 9, 20177-year-old daughter: 🃏🃏🃏
5-year-old daughter: 🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏
5-year-old daughter: 🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏
January 22, 2018
Just adorable! :)
April 19, 2018
A very cute book sure to delight librarians and those who love libraries! I especially liked the surprise ending and the colorful illustrations.
July 3, 2018
A very cute story about a card who learns how to become a library card. And how you can have the excitement of a birthday every day.
March 9, 2019
Adorable book! I am going to read it to my students next week as I give them their new library cards!
July 9, 2019
This was a fun idea for a book. Every card has a purpose. But Little Card's purpose gets a little mixed up. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews