I've seen this book get so many positive glowing reviews, that I'm starting to wonder if i'm somehow cold hearted! While there is a simple yet beautiful story at its heart of a mother's unconditional love for her child, and how as times pass their roles change and in many ways reverse, I just found it unremarkable in its predictability, and therefore ultimately a little unsatisfactory.

First of all, do not expect a whole written story from the book. This is one of those illustrated sequential art kind of short depictions which dwell on making the ones who are flipping the pages think of life in general.

Yes, expect a short book which when you flip the pages fast will tell you how the two characters change from parent to child and then child to the parent. Meaning the child growing up and the parent getting older and finally going through life's inevitable process.

Love the art.
Love the concept.
Kudos to the team.
Hats off to the artist!

Thanks NetGalley for the copy.

I think I understand the intent of the author and illustrator on this book, but it really could have been fleshed out a bit more. I appreciated the spare drawings, but it was a little bare for me.

"My Little One" by Germano Zullo is a cute, quick read about a mother and son and their shared stories. The overall message conveyed through the visuals of the book was stunning while the captions were short. The succinct story and the simplicity of the images left a profound impact on the overall meaning of the story and how a mother's story can live on within her son. A really quick read that would make a perfect gift.

I originally requested this book because I thought it was a children's book. However, upon reading this I feel that it is more likely to be appreciated and enjoyed by adults. The illustrations are simple black and white line drawings which exquisitely depict the changing relationship between mother and son. The message is deep and heart-felt and I can imagine this being something that I might give as a gift to friends as their children grow up and move away. I think this story would not be appreciated by children.

The drawings are glorious in their simplicity and childlike in their depiction of the characters but I think most children would just see a baby growing up and a mother shrinking and be puzzled by what they represent. However, any parent would totally understand and appreciate the deeper meaning contained within the images.

This is a beautiful book, but for a niche market, I feel on reflection.

This was probably one of the weirdest books I've ever read. I like the fact that it cycles through birth to adulthood and the moral of the story is that your parents are always with you even when they're gone. The illustrations were unique and simple, but I felt the words were somewhat lacking and didn't go anywhere.

Oh such simple but beautiful little book about a love of a mother and her child.How mother start their journey with children and tell the story of their lives together,how time shrinks the mothers and children just grow up and then mothers just vanish.I am not crying.

This book tells the very simple story of a mother sharing their story with her son as he grows. I liked the simple illustrations and the way that they developed on each page. I think this book perfectly demonstrates that just because a book is a picture book, doesn't automatically mean it's a children's book, which I would say this is not.

What an emotional, lovely little book. Will be happy to gift this to new parents and recommend it to existing parents in the library.

This is a beautiful book illustrated with the simplest line drawings. Very limited text, a heartbreaker of a read, especially for parents, but also for adult children. It’s so simple in its premise, yet delivers so much. The mother loves her child as he grows older and bigger, until she is the small one and he is the man-sized adult.
thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review

Oh, My, what a beautiful story! Would make a wonderful book for a new parent. They could share it with the little until it was old enough for it's own stories and then pass it over to them when they become parents. Where, oh, where was this book when me and my friends were having our children? I loved the simplicity of the text. It's left open like most welcome to the new baby moments in real life (it's complicated... and simple!) The illustrations were breath-taking in their simplicity! Just lovely! I suppose I will have to buy a few copies of this book to pass out to grandchildren as they begin the next generation...

Simple, beautiful, effective.

A powerful story told in a few words with beautiful illustrations. I wish I had a hard copy of this book so I could truly appreciate it's beauty.

NetGalley gave me a copy of this in exchange for a review.

My heart just exploded into 10,000 pieces!

Sweetest circle of life story ever, told mostly through illustrations.

Short, sweet, moving!

My heart!

Thank you to Germano Zullo, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a wonderful book, and I am so glad that it has now been translated into English! It is very simple, but still extremely powerful to read. It really illustrates the way our lives go in circles from birth to death. I did not expect to be so moved by this book, but the simple text together with the illustrations just really moved me nearly to tears! I would recommend this wholeheartedly to everyone!

My Little One by Germano Zullo is a moving story that is striking in its simplicity. Told through a series of pencil sketches, the journey of a mother and son relationship unfolds over a number of years. As the child grows, the mother's physical stature diminishes, a visual enactment of the circle of life.

I found that this book resonated quite strongly with me, and it will certainly strike a chord with anyone who has experienced the role reversal that comes about as a parent ages. I believe that this story will hold more meaning for adults than children, providing food for thought about the circle of life of which we are inevitably a part.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Steerforth Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book - a very short read with few words, but a very deep meaning about the circle of life. I also really liked the simplicity of the drawings.

I probably wouldn’t read this again, but I would potentially buy as a gift. I’m not sure that I agree with the genre being children’s fiction - I think it is more suited for adults.