The Tale of the Tiny Man is a classic story written by well-known Swedish author Barbro Lindgren. It was originally called The Story of the Little Old Man and was first published in 1992. The story focuses on a tiny man who longs for a friend. He is treated very badly by the local townspeople who thought he was too small and possibly a bit slow. They also thought his hat was ugly. The tiny man cried alone in his house and wondered why no one liked him as he was always kind to those he met. He decides to place a sign on a tree saying FRIEND WANTED. He waits and waits for ten days but no one responds. He is so despondent, but fortunately a stray dog makes a surprise visit and over the next few days the tiny man provides it with treats when it appears each day at his house. Eventually the dog moves into his home and shares the tiny man’s life. The dog is protective of the tiny man and stands up to the town bullies. When a happy child strikes up a friendship with the dog, the tiny man withdraws into himself and goes away leaving them both. He wanders sadly through the forest for days and eventually returns to find the dog and the girl waiting. This beautiful story is one in which many emotions are brought to the surface. Friendships need to be navigated and sharing this book with children as a read aloud will provide the perfect opportunity to discuss a range of friendship issues that can arise.

This strange moving tale is a poignant ode to fidelity and the simplicity of true friendship. Its appeal relies on powerfully defined characters, the main one being a tiny man in lieu of a child which means adults sharing this story with younger readers will enjoy its relatability as much as children. The tiny man is a petite loner who is unspeakably lonely. His solitude is treated with distain and intolerance by other people. Even mean-hearted dogs growl at him. He has no one and thus feels like no one. Others’ inexplicable acts of indifference and cruelty bewilder and sadden him; he is a kind man after all and wants nothing more than a friend. So one day, he advertises for one via a note pinned to a tree. Then he waits. And waits. And waits. Finally a friend arrives but they are not who he expects. This new companion has a cold nose and a delightful sense of play. His appetite is voracious and he is quick to take advantage of the tiny man’s hospitality and warm bedroom yet as the days lengthen and the seasons change, this new friend and the tiny man find great joy and satisfaction in each other’s presence. Their bond becomes such that former bullies no longer dare to hound or laugh at the tiny man for fear of his new ally’s fierce loyalty. Days trickle along into spring unrushed and relished until one day a child comes along and the delicate balance of friendship tilts ever so slightly. The tiny man is unable to reconcile this shift with his feelings of rejection and is once again filled with sorrow and hurt. Will he be able to rekindle the warmth of friendship and find room in his heart for more than one friend? This affecting English translation of Barbro Lindgren’s original 1979 tale reflects the author’s ability to convey intense emotion under the cover of gentle comedy. Feelings of alienation and wretched desolation affect many of us at some point in our lives. Even the very young know what rejection and unfriendliness feels like. Lindgren pins these emotions firmly down on every page then builds a tender fetching story around them. The Tale of the The Tiny Man is heartfelt without cloying sentimentality. Eva Eriksson’s subdue illustrations lift and support the narrative with earnest simplicity. I love their contribution to this gorgeous tale which passes as both an illustrated junior fiction for confident readers or a sumptuous picture book for older readers.