Review: Little Shrew

Little Shrew

By Akiko Miyakoshi

Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2024. Intermediate. 70 pages.

Little Shrew's life is simple and structured. Every day he eats the same meal for breakfast, he goes to work at the same time, and he goes to the same bakery on his way home. The three chapters explore Little Shrew's daily routine, how he acquires a TV for his home that makes him dream of faraway places, and a yearly visit with some of his friends. The numerous, soft illustrations show the little animal as he navigates a much larger human-sized world.

This endearing slice-of-life chapter book will appeal to readers that like slower stories. Little Shrew's life is not flashy or exciting, but he does show how to be satisfied with life's simple moments. Fans of animal books like Frog and Toad may find this a good transitional book if they aren't ready for longer books yet. A great choice for readers learning to love the quiet of the quotidian.