Book Review ~ THE TINY THING written by Ellen Tarlow & illustrated by Lauren Stringer

The Tiny Thing
Written by: Ellen Tarlow
Illustrated by: Lauren Stringer
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Release Date: October 6, 2026
Publisher: Beach Lane Books

A mole stumbles upon a tiny thing and finds his life forever changed by the power of imagination and finding self-confidence in this tender and enchanting picture book.

When shy Mole is out walking one day, he sees a tiny thing. He brings it to his burrow and immediately sets out to make it feel at home. Mole, who had never been noticed by the squirrels or included by the birds, finds an imaginary friend in the tiny thing. Soon, he feels brave enough to share songs, secrets, and stories—and even bring the tiny thing out into the world!

Sometimes, even the tiniest of encouragement is all that’s needed to branch out and make new friends.

The Tiny Thing is a simple, undeniably sweet story featuring Mole, an adorable, gentle little guy. One autumn day, he finds a dandelion seed and quickly takes it home, dresses it up, and makes it his friend. Mole and his new little friend share in daily activities and adventures before eventually meeting other new friends.

Ellen Tarlow has written a charming story about friendship and imagination, while Lauren Stringer has brought the story to life with visually appealing illustrations that enhance the story. I found The Tiny Thing to be a perfect bedtime story. Its low word count makes for a great story to read to a toddler.

**Received a copy of the book courtesy of the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**

Rating: 5

Purchase The Tiny Thing from:

Amazon | Hardcover | BAM | Barnes & Noble | Google Books | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads

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Ellen Tarlow writes stories for children, including the picture books Looking for Smile, Becoming Blue, and The Tiny Thing. She has been a teacher and for many years worked as an editor of early childhood classroom materials. Ellen lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband, David, a painter.

Places to find Ellen Tarlow:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Lauren Stringer has illustrated many celebrated picture books, including The Tiny Thing by Ellen Tarlow; Deer Dancer by Mary Lyn Ray; The Princess and Her Panther by Wendy Orr; Scarecrow and Snow, both written by Cynthia Rylant; as well as her own Winter Is the Warmest Season, When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky, The Dark Was Done, and An Abundance of Light. She lives with her family in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Places to find Lauren Stringer:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page