A Very Small Something

A Very Small Something by David Hickey

The author has been testing his kids' poems in schools across Canada for close to seven years, and hands down, A Very Small Something has been his most successful. Why? As more-than-one young listener has told him: I LOVE bubblegum. All kids love bubblegum. And blowing your first bubble is one of those early childhood challenges, that divides the world into bubblegum blowers and those who can't blow bubbles at all. You are one or you are the other, and there is no fairness in it. This poetic tale playfully explores the anxiety of those who've yet been initiated into the world of bubble blowers, touching on themes of family and belonging and community, in a beautifully illustrated book. It's a story all kids -- and any tuned in parent -- will be able to relate to. Blowing bubbles may indeed be a very small something ... but when you are a small child and it's the thing you most want to do, it can mean the world.

I like this book mainly because it's about gum, and gum is one of my favourite snacks ... My favourite kind of gum flavour is raspberry. I don't know how to blow bubbles yet, but my sister can. She's nine. In the back of the book, there is a guide to blowing bubbles (it's pretty funny actually). There are 10 easy steps. I'm going to follow it - but hopefully I don't get lifted up to the clouds! -Myles, aged 7, Papertrails Family Book Blog This whimsical tale, told in lilting poetic form, harkens back to stories written a generation or more ago. The poetry itself is beautiful, trumped only by the fantastic tale it tells. The corresponding illustrations, brightly colored and quirkily drawn, enhance the story's magical feel. For readers who'd like to expand on the story, the author offers a website that includes coloring sheets based on illustrations from the book, as well as a read-aloud version of the poem by John Leonard. A lovely story for both preschoolers and early elementary children-and parents looking for stories filled with wonder. -Parent Wise The story of Olive Bezzlebee's fantastic struggle to blow bubbles will be sure to appeal to any child who's tried that very thing. -Calgary's Child Magazine [Hickey] has put together a wonderful book that both children and parents alike will enjoy and the illustrations within the book are also ones that will just jump off the page! I highly recommend this to all! -Dad of Divas A Very Small Something captures simple longing with levity and will appeal to many aspiring bubble blowers. -CM Magazine I like this book mainly because it's about gum, and gum is one of my favourite snacks ... My favourite kind of gum flavour is raspberry. I don't know how to blow bubbles yet, but my sister can. She's nine. In the back of the book, there is a guide to blowing bubbles (it's pretty funny actually). There are 10 easy steps. I'm going to follow it ? but hopefully I don't get lifted up to the clouds! ? Myles, aged 7, Papertrails Family Book Blog This whimsical tale, told in lilting poetic form, harkens back to stories written a generation or more ago. The poetry itself is beautiful, trumped only by the fantastic tale it tells. The corresponding illustrations, brightly colored and quirkily drawn, enhance the story's magical feel. For readers who'd like to expand on the story, the author offers a website that includes coloring sheets based on illustrations from the book, as well as a read-aloud version of the poem by John Leonard. A lovely story for both preschoolers and early elementary children? and parents looking for stories filled with wonder. ? Parent Wise The story of Olive Bezzlebee's fantastic struggle to blow bubbles will be sure to appeal to any child who's tried that very thing. ? Calgary's Child Magazine [Hickey] has put together a wonderful book that both children and parents alike will enjoy and the illustrations within the book are also ones that will just jump off the page! I highly recommend this to all! ? Dad of Divas A Very Small Something captures simple longing with levity and will appeal to many aspiring bubble blowers. ? CM Magazine

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