The Tale of the Tiny Man

A tiny man lives alone, and try as he might, he doesn’t seem able to make any friends. Being so lonely really wears on him, and, in a moment of desperation, the tiny man posts a note on a tree that says, “Friends Wanted,” along with his address. He waits on his front steps day after day and night after night. On the tenth night, a stray dog comes and sits with the tiny man. Over several days, they become great friends. Then a cute little girl comes by, and the dog likes to snuggle with her. The tiny man thinks he has lost his one friend and goes off alone. Has he lost his friend forever?

This is a classic Swedish story by Barbro Lindgren that has been reissued in English with lovely new illustrations by Eva Eriksson. It is a sweet story that will help youngsters understand that friendship takes work, but by putting in the work of building a friendship, the rewards can be great. The writing is excellent and the story is quite compelling. The illustrations are done in soft, muted colors, and have wonderful details to keep youngsters interested. This is a winner.