Ohh I absolutely loved this book! It was so beautiful and heart warming. My children (4, 6) both really enjoyed it as well and it's hard to find a book that they both love! Would definitely recommend!

This was an adorable picture book that my grandchildren and I loved. This is a story about Gertie, a small yak, who feels like she can't do anything because she is so small. Of course the lesson is that being small doesn't mean you can't do anything, in fact, there are things only little ones can do. I loved the illustrations in this book. Over the years, there have been a lot of stories about little guys doing great things, think The Littlest Engine. What I loved about this one was the choice of a yak as well as the snowy setting, perfect as we head into the winter. The rhyming text had a great cadence which made this one a great read aloud. My grandkids enjoyed the story and the eye catching, cartoonish illustrations. One they asked to be read again, that means it was a hit. We also had a short discussion after about Gertie and being small. One I definitely recommend to schools, families and public libraries

This is such a lovely read. We wanted to get a few wintery books, to really get us in the winter and Christmas feeling. It is a great way to enjoy the best season of the year, all snug together, having a cozy read of a great book. It has lovely illustrations and really is a wonderful read. Our daughter loved it and we highly recommend it!

Gertie, is fed up with being the littlest yak of all. Having curly wool and grippy hooves isn't as exciting as being big and tall. She tries everything she can think of to grow - from eating vegetables to reading books - but when disaster strikes, Gertie learns that there are plenty of things only a small yak can do.

The Littlest Yak is a sweet picture book which celebrates being young and enjoying childhood, without rushing to grow.

Lots of children will be able to relate to Gertie's quest to grow up as quickly as possible, but this story is a gentle reminder that there are lots of exciting, special things about being small too. The rhyme scheme makes it lots of fun to read aloud, and my three year old giggled at all of Gertie's antics.

Kate Hindley's illustrations are eye-catching and adorable. Gertie is incredibly cute and there are lovely snowy backdrops to all of the scenes. I especially liked the yak constellations in the sky and I would love to be able to buy a print of Gertie on her tower of books.

The Littlest Yak is absolutely delightful! Gertie the Great is the sweetest little yak with big dreams. She is tiny but capable of so much. Like many little ones, she longs to be grown-up and able to do grown-up things. “There isn’t any Bigness in me!” she sighs. Gertie even goes so far as to devise a growing-up plan. Stuck in her smallness, she needs reassurance that she doesn’t need to be in a rush to grow up. Then, one day, there is an emergency that only Gertie can help with. She discovers that everyone can find their bigness inside and help in their own special way.

This lovely story that will prompt so many discussions about what it means to be big and everything we are capable of. Children will love to talk about all the things they can do that grown-ups can’t as they realise that being small is pretty great and there is plenty of time to be grown-up later. I always tell my children that we’ll find our way to Neverland one of these days so they don’t have to grow up. This is a story that champions that point of view in an incredibly gorgeous way!

This is a book to share again and again. My own children would have adored this when they were small (and it still brings a smile to their “getting bigger” faces). It would find a very happy home in any primary school library or bedroom bookshelf. With wonderful use of rhyme, alliteration and superlatives, EYFS and Key Stage One teachers are sure to snap it up to use with their classes while Key Stage Two teachers will delight in the language play and clever use of hyphenated words. There is so much inside!

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon and Schuster Children’s Books for this sweet book! It will definitely be on my Christmas list for the little ones in my life!

The Littlest Yak is a showstopper stunner! I just adored little Gertie and her sheer amount of bravery and determination.

With bouncy and beautiful rhyme, a pacy and dramatic plot, captured in a spectacular wintry wonderland setting that's as captivating as it is charming, Lu's fresh and reassuring take on celebrating the uniqueness of YOU (no matter your size) is an instant heart warmer.

Gloriously brought to life by Kate Hindley, readers of all ages will delight at the snowy mountain top scenes, the striking starry skies and the charming family of yaks all wrapped up in their woolly hats.

A winning picture book destined to become a family favourite for many.

This is a beauty of a picture book. The rhyming text is fabulous and the gorgeous illustrations bring Gertie's story to life perfectly. The warm message at the heart of the book is lovely too.

Review to come September 25th (one of the first times I got nothing planned) on Blog/Goodreads.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I just couldn't resist this adorable little book when I spotted it on Netgalley. The cover was just too cute and then I saw that the art was done by the fantastic Kate Hindley! I adore her art so I immediately knew I had to get this book and read it.

Meet Gertie, a very tiny tiny yak, she is amazing at all there is about being a Yak. From fur to clip-clopping through the mountains, she is great at it... but as you can immediately see... she missing something BIG. :P I loved that Gertie's mom told her that she didn't need to be big to be a true Yak... but as we can all expect (at least I did), Gertie is not impressed.

After that a new regime started and I instantly got the theme song to Rocky and also The Eye of the Tiger in my mind. I loved how dedicated Gertie was!

Then something else happens, and no I won't tell you what, but I definitely liked that this part was added. It brought a smile to my face. 

The ending was just the best and I loved that final page, that was wonderfully done. 

A fun, motivational, happy book about a tiny yak named Gertie, I would recommend it!

Well, I think Gertie might just be the most loveable yak you're ever going to meet! Gertie is small but she wants to be BIG! She tries everything to help herself grow but when nothing works she drops a salty tear into the snow *sob!*. But just then the herd of Yaks come running, they need some help and only a small yak will do! Can Gertie help save the day?!
This is a gorgeous story about embracing who you are and knowing that whether you're big or small, you're perfect as you are.
Lu Fraser's rhyming text is lovely to read aloud together with little ones and there are some really poignant lines which Mummy Yak says to Gertie that make you want to sweep your own little ones into a massive hug!
We also adored the wintery setting with its hues of blue and drops of snow and Kate Hindley's illustrations of the yaks are wonderful with all their different hats and blankets. Of course, Gertie is the cutest of them all!

This is the story of Gertie; the littlest, grippiest yak and how she comes to appreciate her own qualities. The story rhymes throughout, has a lovely message and stunning illustrations. Fans of ‘The Lion Inside’ will love ‘The Littlest Yak’.

Absolutely loved this book and read it to my grandchildren who also loved it. Gertie is adorable. This will be on my Christmas list for my grandchildren.
Loved it 🙂

If there’s a sweeter and more loveable picture book character than Gertie in The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley then I can’t think of one!

Little Gertie is desperate to be BIG. She’s fed up of being the smallest, certain that when she’s grown up there won’t be a thing that she can’t do. So she begins a “growing up plan” in the desperate hope that all her training will make her bigger much quicker. But it isn’t too long until she finds out that being small has distinct advantages…

“But yaks,” Mummy smiled, “are all shapes and sizes

And BIGNESS can come in all sorts of disguises!

Maybe one day you’ll be huge, you’ll be tall,

So don’t rush to grow up when it’s GREAT being small””
There’s so much warmth and encouragement in this fantastic book about learning to love yourself, whatever shape or size you happen to be. Lu Fraser’s reassuring rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud, while Kate Hindley’s adorable illustrations imbue Gertie and friends with bags of character.

I am a big fan of the wintery setting (I’m already lining this one up as an excellent Christmas present!), and Wee Reader loves a bit of peril and adventure so this story ticks all of his boxes too.

This is Lu Fraser’s debut picture book but she has such a beautiful way with words that I’m already looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

With thanks to Simon and Schuster Kids for the gifted digital review copy.

The Littlest Yak is a beautiful book, both in terms of the illustrations and the messages in the story. It is a charming, rhyming book to share with all members of a family. It reminds us of the value of each member and 'being in the moment'. We should appreciate the unique skills we have now and see that we all have something big to contribute, no matter our physical size. I will definitely share this message with my class.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's UK for this ARC.

Gertie, OMGosh!
This is one of those very rare books where I instantly fell in love when I saw the illustrations & hoped with ALL my being, that I liked/loved the story!

I knew it used rhyme - which I will freely admit is not always my favourite type of book - so many use slightly boring & predictable words & ideas. Well, I'm glad to say nothing about this wonderful book is boring or predictable.

From the first moment we meet Gertie & learn she is little, we also learn she is GREAT at being a yak & her little yak hooves are 'splendidly grippy'. Maybe that's her superpower!

All the yaks around her are BIG but Gertie is 'the yak at the back, who is stuck with her smallness'.

Gertie comes up with her own special 'growing-up plan'. She tries to eat all the veggies she possibly can & reads LOTS of books to 'make her thoughts grow' but do you think anything worked? You'll have to read this gorgeous book to find out.

The message '... don't rush to grow up when it's GREAT being small' is there throughout the story & is so well-wrapped in beautiful words & the gift of skilled story-telling, it's a joy. Helping others is also there as a message & of course, being yourself. All valuable things to be explored after storytime, with children.

When most of the BIG yaks are slipping & sliding, or even just WAY TOO BIG, can Gertie manage to save the day? It's such an exciting adventure, I can imagine this book being read over & over again. It's very likely to become a reading MiniClub favourite, I'm sure.
Youngsters will love the idea of being able to do something BIG even when you're small.

The characters are visually presented so beautifully using a superb colour palette in illustrations by the VERY talented Kate Hindley. They'll warm your heart just as much as the story.

This could become a big, BIG favourite, maybe even the BEST storybook of 2020.

This children's picture book is a beautiful example of a rhyming story with a strong moral message.

The colourful illustrations also tell the story beautifully allowing visual learners the opportunity to engage more fully with this amazing text.

Celebrating the 'you right now' is a good message to send . Even though we all want to develop and grow, what we have right now is worthy and what better way to send this message to young children than in a captivating story with beautiful illustrations.

Stop press! The Yaks have arrived! This is yet another picture book which has been much anticipated in our house and the day my request to view it via @NetGalley was granted, our pre-ordered copy arrived. And, what a treat! For Gertie is every bit as adorable as we have been led to believe.

This tale is perfect as we head into seasonal change and the colder, darker half of the year. The Yaks in their warm woolly get-up makes for a superbly eye-catching front cover, with Gertie stealing the show in the centre. However, she isn't too happy about being the smallest of the herd...

Although Gertie is great at being small, she dreams of being all-grown up and as big as the others. But despite doing everything in her power to grow, it just isn't happening fast enough and Gertie is down in the dumps. Everything changes, though, when she is asked to do something that no other Yak can do - something VERY important. Can Gertie manage to do a BIG thing, despite her smallness.

Over the years we have read other stories about animals who wish they were bigger, braver, smarter or faster but NEVER about a yak. And who would have thought that yaks would make such brilliant picture book characters. Credit for this must be shared between debut author, Lu Fraser, for choosing such an unusual, stand-out creature and for making Gertie's story completely adorable, and Kate Hindley for bringing them to life in such a bold and unique way. The colour palette alone is as enticing as it is dreamy and, well, Gertie speaks for herself.

The plot is pacy and dramatic, with mountains of tension mixed with light-hearted fun. The scenery may be icy cold but it's sets the scene for a tale bursting with hearty warmth. The rhyming language is a delight and full of onomatopeia; pattering, clattering, plopping, springing. We particularly loved the opening line, "On the tip of the top of a mountain..."

The message, clear all the way through, is a classic but crucial one for little readers, most of who will have wished away their childhood at one time or another. You don't have to be big to do BIG things and while you're at it, don't wish the time away. Gertie's bravery and determination comes from within and that's what makes her special.

This is definitely a book to share together with a blanket, fire and a huge jug of hot chocolate and marshmallows. It evokes that wonderful cosy, satisfying feeling which is exactly what you need from a bedtime story.

The Littlest Yak published tomorrow, Thursday 3rd September and is available to pre-order.

A massive thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review.

"As sure as the stars in the glittering sky, You'll be all grown-up in the blink of an eye."

A fantastic new picture book is clip-clopping its way to a bookshop near you in the form of Gertie...the littlest yak of all. This rhyming tale of heartwarming Himalayan hijinx is captured in beautifully illustrated snow scenes and breathtaking constellations.

Gertie is a yak feeling stuck in her smallness and she wants to grow UP and have greatness and tallness. Like all young children, Gertie just wants to be bigger and do all the things that grown-ups do. She comes up with a special 'growing-up plan' but no matter how many veggies she eats, books she reads or hills she clatters down, she just can't seem to get the 'bigness' she dreams of.

But then...a yak even teenier and weenier that Gertie gets into dire straits on a craggy cliff edge and it's up to our Gertie to gallop to the rescue. She realise that her smallness can do big things after all and saves the tiny trembling yak, making the herd extremely proud of her.

Yaks are an unusual choice for a character and reading Gertie was like a breath of fresh (mountain) air! She presents an excellent learning opportunity to discover more about real-life yaks: where they live, what they eat, how they keep warm - not all yaks are as fortunate as Gertie and her friends to have such a fabulous range of knitwear! The stunning starry night scenes are a wonderful talking point and could be used as a stimulus for some beautiful artwork.

'The Littlest Yak' has a lovely message for young children - that no matter how small you are, there is 'bigness' inside you. It would work well as part of a 'Marvellous Me' theme in the Early Years Foundation Stage and/or complement the Key Stage 1 Programme of Study for PSHCE when exploring the theme of 'ourselves' and what makes each of us special. After reading, children could be encouraged to think about what Gertie was good at and their own personal skills and strengths.

Our children really do seem to grow-up in the blink of an eye but we need to help them discover what makes them great like Gertie in the here and now and enjoy childhood to the full.

"Maybe one day you'll be huge, you'll be tall, Don't rush to grow-up when it's great being small"

With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Uk for providing me with a digital copy of the book to review in advance of publication.

Small creatures can achieve big things.

For any child, growing up and getting bigger seems like the thing they want most (my littlest has been saying this recently about climbing on equipment in the park). There are lots of titles that show children how being small can have its advantages, how there may be things you can do that other people can't, that you don't need to wish your years away.

Here is an adorable example. with a yak called Gertrude, who thinks "there isn't any BIGNESS in me", but learns that big is more than just a size. She tries hopping and skipping, eating lots of veggies and reading lots of books (yay!!!) to make her thoughts grow... but remains small. It is only when the herd require a yak able to squeeze on a narrow ledge when trouble occurs that Gertrude realises her own 'bigness'.

The rhyme is very Seuss-ian, well-constructed and easy to read aloud, it flows well. Gertrude is particularly cute, the snowy scenery a nice change (hats, dark nights, some lovely constellations that adults might want to mention). The point it put across very well, the simple concept of 'bigness' one that toddlers will grasp.

Lovely story, fun to read aloud, small children will love the yaks and take the point.

For ages 3-6.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

A little yak can’t wait to be big, just like most kids.
A great uplifting rhyming story, which is also lovely and colourful.
Had a smile on my face after reading as it’s just a feel good kids book.
Definitely a story I will read again with my 4 year old, especially as just like yak he wants to be big.

Thank you For this advanced copy.