This Is My Town

Little Critter

by Mercer Mayer

Join Mercer Mayer’s classic and beloved character, Little Critter as he shows young readers around his hometown.

Welcome to Critterville!

Little Critter shares what he knows about his neighbors and the places to go in Critterville. Who delivers the mail? Where does Little Critter go to see a movie? Who keeps everyone safe? Come explore the town with Little Critter and discover where everyone works and plays!

Mercer Mayer's Little Critter stories, which address all the major issues of growing up, are perennial favorites to generations of readers of all ages.

Little Critter: This Is My Town is a My First I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with a child.

Edition MSRP: US $3⁹⁹ / $4²⁵ CAN (ISBN 978-0-06-083549-1)

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

About the author

Mercer Mayer is an American children's author and illustrator. He has published over 300 books, using a wide range of illustrative styles. Mayer is best known for his Little Critter and Little Monster series of books.

Reviews

[Miss Pippi the Librarian]

Welcome to Critterville!
Walk around the town with Little Critter and familiar sights - post office, firehouse, police station, diner, town hall, library, movie theater, store, school, park, bakery, and newspaper.
It was a touch too long for my little listeners at storytime, but it was closest I could find to an easy nonfiction book in my prep time timeframe.

2026 storytime theme: City

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Ezra]

A doe-eyed paean to a small-town America that no longer exists, if it ever did.

[kim]

i want to live here!

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams]

I love how this books shows children many of the different parts of a town.

[Alicia Steagall]

Cute story to read to a little one. Enjoyable.

[Flynn]

I LOVE the part where he buys cupcakes at the bakery. Also I love the cute kitty in one of the pictures. It's so adorable!

[Meagan]

Cute small town vibe

[Lizzie]

Really cute book. Easy read for my 6yr old for reading practice.

[Sydney Beth]

Little Critter is proud of where he lives and shows it off.

[Addie]

Cute. 12 month old picked this out at Costco. She likes it too.

[Robert Drake]

This book would be great for a child who is starting to read.

[TJE]

Liked reading, paired well with If I Built A Town

[Jenn]

I remember really liking Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter as a child and enjoyed the chance to see this reader and wax nostalgic. In this “Shared Reading” book from the “I Can Read!” series, Little Critter is showing off his town. He shares the people and places he knows in Critterville. He knows the post office, the fire station, town hall, the bakery, and many more familiar places. This is a great concept book for emergent readers to learn place names around their own towns. The illustrations are bright watercolours with plenty of fun and funny details to talk about and explore with readers. Maybe they will see the Dalmatian fireman ruining the rhino’s barbecue and Little Critter’s tiny frog friend wearing a tiny frog football helmet. The text is simple and understandable. “This is our school. My friend and I are in Miss Kitty’s class. School is fun!” The text is easily visible at a large 30pt font and well integrated in the bold illustrations.

[Angie]

Synopsis: "Welcome to Critterville!

Little Critter® shares what he knows about his neighbors and the places to go in Critterville. Who delivers the mail? Where does Little Critter go to see a movie? Who keeps everyone safe? Come explore the town with Little Critter and discover where everyone works and plays!

This Is My Town is a simple story, ideal for emergent readers who are eager to know about who does what and where everything happens in their own towns."


My Review: This is a perfect first level reader. The familiar characters from Little Critter books take you on a tour of the town. The simple sentences and familiar places little ones visit with their family make the words easy to identify. This is great for those emerging readers and give them confidence.

[J9]

Another Mercer Mayer book that all my kids enjoyed. My 6 yr old just adores Mayer and requests her books constantly. I read them at the breakfast or lunch table and even my 3 yr old twins get into them. We love trying to find the mouse and spider that seems to follow the main character around, they’re always doing silly things. Fun engaging themes that any child can relate to, a great addition to any children's library.

[J9]

Another Mercer Mayer book that all my kids enjoyed. My 6 yr old just adores Mayer and requests her books constantly. I read them at the breakfast or lunch table and even my 3 yr old twins get into them. We love trying to find the mouse and spider that seems to follow the main character around, they’re always doing silly things. Fun engaging themes that any child can relate to, a great addition to any children's library.

[J9]

Another Mercer Mayer book that all my kids enjoyed. My 6 yr old just adores Mayer and requests her books constantly. I read them at the breakfast or lunch table and even my 3 yr old twins get into them. We love trying to find the mouse and spider that seems to follow the main character around, they’re always doing silly things. Fun engaging themes that any child can relate to, a great addition to any children's library.

[Naomi]

I have to say that this book brought back fond memories for both my 25 year old son, who couldn't get enough of this series and myself. The books, while simple, are warm and inviting to the young reader/read to child. This one was no different. I love the illustrations that go along with the fun stories.

[Karen]

It's hard not to love Mercer Mayer and his books. This one I especially liked because my son, who just started Kindergarten, was able to read about half of it by himself. And even with that beginning reading, the story was strong enough to keep him engaged. OF course, the magnificently adorable artwork definitely helps.

[Christian Padgett]

Great choice to use when beginning to discuss with children about what community is. This book can talks about some of the things we see within towns and can be used with children to make text to text connections.

[Rochelle Sondae]

My First Shared Reading Series. There are a lot of things to look at in this Little Critter book. The residents of "Critterville" remind me of the costumes on Little House on the Prairie even though they live in a "modern" world of cars and houses sprouting from trees.

[Molly]

This would make a great community helpers read aloud for a small group of kids. Big print and for a truly beginning reader. Not intemidating though the illustrations are a little busy. Ages 4+

[Tricia]

Deemed a "shared reader" (one step below level 1 reading), this Mayer title is appealing in the content and illustrations to preschool/prek.

[Teri]

good beginning reader because it builds vocabulary--

[Molly]

Detailed illustrations add to the appeal of this easy reader. This title would be great for a community helpers study.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S.]

Little Critter introduces to his town, showing readers his favorite places. Simple text and wonderfully detailed illustrations to support beginning readers.

[Pinky]

Little Critter shows you around Critterville and his favorite spots like the library, bakery, and movie theater.

[Jenny Zimmerman]

A great little picture book for ages 0-3 to listen to with the wonderful wording and the awesome illustrations.

[Dmills]

I really think this book could be used in some pretty cool lesson plans and could start some really good discussions about the town the students live in.

[Heather Jo]

megan fall reading 2016, children's book, leveled reader, easy reader, i can read my first shared reading, series, little critter, exploration, first grade, second grade