A Little at a Time

by David A. Adler, Paul Tong (Illustrator)

The city is a big place for a small boy. He has many questions for Grandpa as they see skyscrapers, pass a construction site, and see dinosaur bones in a museum. The morning seems to end very quickly, but sometimes we don't notice when things happen just a little at a time. Grandparents and young readers alike will savor this heartwarming book. First published in 1976, the text for this new edition incorporates minor changes made by the author.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Spens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an insightful read about how things used to be and how things will be.

[AMY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story of a grandpa and his grandson who explore the world and learn how things go. Everything the grandson sees is new and interesting to him. He wants to know how it got that way and his grandpa explains...it got there a little at a time. A sweet story with lots of lessons to learn. Great painted illustrations throughout. Highly recommended for Grades K-2.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A conversation during a day out between a grandfather and his grandson offers a beautiful lesson in how things come to be due to the passage of time. It is a soft, relaxed story with wonderful illustrations.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehh. It is a good message and a good concept for a refrain ("a little at a time") but after a while, it begins to grate on you. Still, this could be a good one for teaching cumulative effect, consequences of actions, perspective, etc.

[Andrew Oh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story of a little boy who asks how things got so big or things done so quickly. His grandfather always has the same answer "a little at a time". Great for preschoolers.

[Annburnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

You learn everything a little at a time. That is what this book shows children.

[Launna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the moral of the story and the reminder that most things happen a little at a a time. :-)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute story.

[Romanaus Elangwe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy who happens to be enjoying a walk with his grandfather through the city sees many things and curiously asks a series of questions. Grandpa answers all the questions, most of the time with the same refrain, "a little at a time." The boy starts with a tree; "how did that tree get to be so tall, Grandpa?" Grandpa responds, "it started just as a seed, then it grew and grew, but it only grew a little at a time." As they walk, a series of other questions about how the buildings got so tall, how the street got so dirty, why cars, buses, trucks, chimneys all give smoke... Grandpa keeps the conversation going up to bedtime. The images in paint provided by the illustrator (Paul Tong) show exactly what the boy and his grandpa see.

This book will be used for grammar, social studies and science. In grammar for example, the present, past and future tense are use: I like ice cream because it tastes better and lasts to so much longer if I eat it a little at a time. I'm just like you. I asked many questions, and little by little I learned a lot. And as I keep asking, I'll keep learning a little at a time.
For social studies, students will learn how buildings got so tall and in science, they will learn the cycle of plant growth.

Finally, the students will be reminded how helpful it is to be attached to grandpa. They have a lot to share with little children.

[Lisa Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work of fiction is more geared towards the younger child. It is about a young boy and his Grandpa. They are walking around the city and the boy has nothing but questions. The Grandpa's answere is always "A little at a time." It was charming and I remember always asking tons of questions when I was little. The Grandpa is always very sweet and patient with the boy. Nothing exciting happened and the story was somewhat bland. The illustrations were blurry and didn't show too much detail. My son and I enjoyed reading it, but we wouldn't get it out from the library again.

[London Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

d with his enthusiasm and his pets.
David is also the author of the Picture Book Biography Series published by Holiday House, well researched, strictly non-fiction books for elementary school readers. In the series are biographies of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thurgood Marshall, Anne Frank, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and others.
This work of fiction is more geared towards the younger child. It is about a young boy and his Grandpa.

Sweet message...we grow, learn, and experience life...a little at a time.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reprint of Adler's first picture book with new illustrations. Originally published in 1976 by Random House.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet message...we grow, learn, and experience life...a little at a time.

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 139685 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 2.7 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy learns about the city around him from his Grandpa.