Fraser’s book, "The Littlest Yak", is a sweet children’s book about being happy with who you are and proud of what you can do, no matter your age or size. Gertie the yak is the smallest of her herd, yet she is a great yak. She has grippy hooves and is able to fit on the tight ledges. Mummy yak is very wise and encourages Gertie not to hurry growing up because “BIGNESS can come in all sorts of disguises” (Fraser, 2021, p. 7). The artwork by Hindley was adorable. I highly recommend this encouraging and lovely book for all children. Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Publishing for providing me with an ARC. This is one I will be purchasing!

This is such a cute book! My kids were so keen to read this - my son (5yo) LOVED the illustrations - I think my personal favourite was the page with Gertie on top of the pile of books!

I loved the story and could really see us reading this alongside other favourites on a regular basis.

I'd say this is likely to be a hit with ages 3 - 6 and it was just the right amount of text to images ratio, with a good challenge on the rhyming for mom!

I can't really find a flaw, it's got a lovely message and would be a great gifting book for kids of many ages.

The Littlest Yak is a great picture book, from its plot to amazing illustrations to instructional applicability. I can't wait to share this text with students this coming winter. Gertie is the littlest yak, everyone can relate to her frustration with being the smallest. Despite the well-thought-out plan, she doesn't grow as quickly as she would like. Nonetheless, Gertie's perspective changes once she is called on a life-saving mission fit only for the smallest yak. This picture book is a must-have and a definite re-read.

This story was cute and short. I especially loved the illustrations and the cohesion of colors throughout the book. Some of the poetic rhymes were trying too hard, and I’m not sure I love the idea of “bigness” being the main character’s desirable goal. I get it, but it seemed a little silly. But it was cute and Gertie is an adorable yak name.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher Spotlight for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book for an honest review.*
This book is about a small yak named Gertie, who wants to be big. She does everything she possibly can to grow bigger, but no such luck. But then when a crisis comes, could her smallness be the only thing that makes her able to help?
I LOVED this book! Fabulous illustrations, a great theme and message, and Gertie was just the cutest ever! And isn’t this the story of every child - always wishing to be bigger and older? I really loved her “growing-up plan”…it was so humourous and adorable. And such determination! And as a teacher, I loved that included in her plan was reading books to make her thoughts grow too. This book was so heartfelt and genuine, I adored it.

Myself and my three kids absolutely loved this book. It had a wonderful flow that makes it a perfect read-aloud. The story was sweet, humorous and engaging. We loved the illustrations.

"The Littlest Yak" was such a joy to read. The rhythm, nearly perfect, sings off the page and the illustrations are delightful. This is a fun book to grab for young readers who need a reminder that being small isn't a bad thing.

We especially loved the illustration in The Littlest Yak, but overall my opinion is that this is a cute but generic kid's story. It's the underdog trope that's been done in just about every setting and animal species. It's not the sort of moral I'm drawn to for my kids, but for someone who wants to have snowy kids books or a different animal like yaks on their shelves, this is a cute choice.

Thank you NetGalley and PeachTree Publishing for an ecopy to read and review.

Amusingly and colorfully illustrated by Kate Hindley, this little picture book, told in rhyme by Lu Fraser, is an amusing and entertaining journey through the eyes of Gertie, the littlest yak in the herd. She so wants to grow up and be big like her family, but she learns there are some things that only a little yak can do. The focus of this cute little book is only on growing up and not being in a huge hurry to do so, but it would have been nice to learn a little more about yaks! Technically speaking, Yak (from Tibetan 'yag') refers only to the male of the species, the female being a 'nag' so I can see how that wouldn't fly! They're closely related to your everyday cow you might see out when you're driving in the country, or on TV, but yaks have a dense fur that keeps them warm in some of the harsher climes where they're found. Other than that, I commend this book as a fun and worthy read.

An adorable junior picture book that will be a story hour favourite or a family classic on your own bookshelf. The Littlest Yak by Lu Fraser and illustrated by Kate Hindley is the story of a little yak who wishes to be grown up, but discovers being little is its own super power! Beautifully illustrated and fun rhyming text with a heart warming message. The illustrations I predict will be a hit among the many fans of the latest animated "Grinch" movie. The wish to grow up is universal and this picture book puts a new spin on a classic tale that will delight little yaks and their families! .

This book is so cute and so is the main character. The illustrations are fun and the story is too. I find that stories written in rhyme go over so well with kids and I am a fan as well. While reading I thought of so many activities for this book that would just enrich story time even more.

"The Littlest Yak" introduces the reader to an irresistable protagonist, Gertie, the smallest yak in her herd. Lu Fraser's rhyming text reveals that Gertie longs to be big. Although her Mummy cautions her not to be in a rush to grow up, Gertie enacts a Growing Plan, which proveds to be unsucessful. In a satisfying twist Gertie learns that her smallness can also be an asset for helping others. In the words of her loving Mummy, "you've found you've got bigness inside, after all." The illustrations of the yaks in their winter scarves and hats are whimsically drawn by Kate Hindley. I highly recommend this book for homes and classrooms, both for its positive message of self acceptance, and its overall wonderful storytelling.

This cover it’s so cute!!

Gertie is the smallest yak of her herd and she’s tired of it, she wants to grow up and don’t want to wait for it.

I’m sure a lot of children are going to relate to that, when we are young all we ever want it’s to be a grownup already.
This book has a really sensitive way of making children see the importance of embracing ourselves and not rush to grow up too fast.

It was a very important lesson in a really cute book.

Perfect for bedtime story!


“Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review”

Thank you to Peachtree Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of the Littlest Yak in exchange for an honest review.

The Little Yak is the sweetest story of a tiny yak named Gertie who is in a hurry to grow up and be big like all the other yaks. She learns an important lesson about celebrating the gifts she has in the current moment. The message of the story is great for little ones who are in a rush to be big. The cadence and rhyming in the text make this a really enjoyable read. The illustrations are so vivid and bright, and they complement the story nicely. I can't wait to look at the illustrations in print with my little one when it comes out in October!

This is a delightful read with a great cadence for read-aloud preschool story time. The littlest yak stands in for all children who have wanted to grow up too fast. And Gertie’s methods for growing up are great and examples to young readers of general good habits. This is a nice book with a good message.

No child likes to be different. The Littlest Yak tells about Gertie in rhyme. She’s not happy because she’s so little. She does all she can to hurry and grow up.

A problem happens in the Yak world; Gertie solves the issue. At the end, she says “I’m perfectly me.”

The cover picture made me smile. I know a child who will enjoy this book because he’s small for his age, even though he’s energetic.

Thanks to Netgalley!

Thanks to Peachtree Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.
How can you not like Gertie the Yak!! Yes this is a book that is all about being small and Gertie is the tiniest of all the Yaks. No matter what Gertie does she just cannot seem to grow. She eats properly, exercises and does everything the other Yaks do but is just not growing. Of course Gertie is a baby or younger yak and patience is a virtue, one that Gertie does not have. She wants to be big like everyone else. Then one day an emergency arises and the only one who can save the day is Gertie due to her small size. She becomes a hero and actually realizes that she has saved an even tinier yak! She is not longer the smallest one of the herd but she also realizes that size does not always matter.
Great book by Lu Fraser and a wonderful job by Kate Hindley with the illustrations that are simple and playful in nature. A great book to read to children and provides a lot to discuss with kids. Loved this book!

Love the message of this story! By the end of the book, children of all shapes and sizes will know that they matter and have BIG things to do for others. The rhyme and rhythm of the text are exciting, and the color palette and style of the illustrations are delightful. All in all, this book makes me smile! It would be a wonderful addition to any school or home library.

Have you thought “if I was just a little bit bigger I could do everything?”

Meet Gertie the littlest yak who wishes she was bigger instead of being the littlest.
If Gertie wants to be big she has to think big! Lets not forget she also needs to eat ALL her veggies, exercise every day and of course read LOTS of book.
Her mother lets her know that BIGNESS isn’t always about size.
Could Gertie be any more perfect?
While she is on her quest for growing the yaks ask her to do a task.. a dangerous one!
But why her? She is so little. Is it something only the littlest yak can do?
A story of being happy with who you are no matter your size.
Grab a blanket and cuddle up with this cozy ready on October 5.

A very sweet book. The illustrations are amazing! I know the kids will love this book! It will also be a perfect storytime fit. Can't wait! It's already in my B&T Oct cart.