The Tiny Tale of Little Pea — Davide Cali

"When he was born, Little Pea was tiny. Teeny-tiny." His clothes were hand sewn by his mother and his shoes were hand-me-down doll shoes. As he grew older, Little Pea enjoyed climbing tomato plants, driving around in his wind-up car and riding on the backs of grasshoppers. But then Little Pea started school. And he suddenly realized just how small he was. Too small for his chair. Too small to play the flute. Too small for gym class. What would become of wee Little Pea?

This picture book story by internationally renowned children's author Davide Cali is a graceful and beautifully told contemporary fable about an unconventional hero. As Little Pea finds a place for himself in the world despite his perceived disadvantage, he becomes a champion for younger siblings, small children and all those who are differently abled. By using ingenuity to overcome challenges, Little Pea empowers children to do the same, which makes this book a terrific choice for a character education lesson focusing on perseverance or resilience. It also works for conversations on self-acceptance and individuality or on creativity (Little Pea is an artist). The idea of tiny worlds is enormously appealing to young children, and Sébastien Mourrain's imaginative scenes depicting Little Pea's miniature life will draw readers in with their funny, clever details.