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The Small Things
Anna’s anxious when she’s picked to befriend the new girl in her class. For a start, Ellie is ill and can’t come to school herself. So Anna has to communicate with her through a new kind of robot. But Anna is also worried that her life’s too small and boring to be of interest to her new friend. Compared to the other girls, she doesn’t have anything exciting to talk about and so when Ellie asks her a question, a little white lie pops out. Then another and another. When Ellie finds out the truth, can their friendship survive ...?
Inspired by a true story, a groundbreaking robot helps friendship blossom in this poignant and uplifting novella from bestseller Lisa Thompson.
Inspired by a true story, a groundbreaking robot helps friendship blossom in this poignant and uplifting novella from bestseller Lisa Thompson.
104 pages, Paperback
Published June 3, 2021
4 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
November 10, 2025
A short middle grade story about the friendship between Ellie, a new joiner who due to illness can’t attend school (but still participates in class through a robot that shows her live what is happening in class), and Anna, who didn’t really felt accepted by her ‘friends’ at school. Through her interactions with Ellie, Anna starts her journey to accept herself and appreciate the small things.
This was my first book by Lisa Thompson, I’m now curious to read more!
I’ve heard this as an audiobook made available to me in BorrowBox from my local library (and there are a few more from this author!)
This was my first book by Lisa Thompson, I’m now curious to read more!
I’ve heard this as an audiobook made available to me in BorrowBox from my local library (and there are a few more from this author!)
May 13, 2021
Anna is happy at school. She has a close-knit group of friends who are kind and well-meaning and a lovely class teacher. Yet she always felt like an outsider because whilst her friends have busy, extra-curricular lives, her family cannot afford such luxuries. When Ellie arrives at the school, she too is an outsider but in a different way. Too poorly to physically come to school, she attends through the use of a small robot who communicates through lights, Ellie’s voice and digital facial gestures. Could Ellie have found someone with whom she feels a true connection with or will she continue to change and hide her true self in order to fit in?
Many of us will remember those moments of trying to be accepted, valued and recognised as part of a social group at school. It takes real strength, courage and insight to find the peace within and be happy with who you are. ‘The Small Things’ is Anna’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance and it is her own immediate family and Ellie who guide her down this path. A short story this may be but it is overflowing with tender wisdom and kindness.
Lisa Thompson has always had a magic touch when it comes to empathy and compassion in her stories. She is gifted with a remarkable insight into children’s feelings as well as the adults who love and care for them. ‘The Small Things’ is no exception. It is a story that invites each reader to look inward and be content with exactly who they are – a hopeful message that you would want any child to embrace.
Many of us will remember those moments of trying to be accepted, valued and recognised as part of a social group at school. It takes real strength, courage and insight to find the peace within and be happy with who you are. ‘The Small Things’ is Anna’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance and it is her own immediate family and Ellie who guide her down this path. A short story this may be but it is overflowing with tender wisdom and kindness.
Lisa Thompson has always had a magic touch when it comes to empathy and compassion in her stories. She is gifted with a remarkable insight into children’s feelings as well as the adults who love and care for them. ‘The Small Things’ is no exception. It is a story that invites each reader to look inward and be content with exactly who they are – a hopeful message that you would want any child to embrace.
February 14, 2022
This was one of those stories that seemed to be about the consequences of lying... except there wasn't actually a consequence.
It's not an emotional rollercoaster like a lot of Lisa Thompson's other works, but I can see it being good for a young reader just moving into chapter books. It's got big text, yellow pages, a few pictures in there and simple language and chapter structure.
It's not an emotional rollercoaster like a lot of Lisa Thompson's other works, but I can see it being good for a young reader just moving into chapter books. It's got big text, yellow pages, a few pictures in there and simple language and chapter structure.
April 4, 2021
This is a gorgeous story about being yourself, the importance of appreciating the small things and the fact that we shouldn’t lie to impress people. I loved the messages in this and the way it was written. We impress people by just being ourselves! Really liked this! Lisa Thompson is one of those authors who just continues to shine!
October 13, 2022
its was a really good book with lies and making up and learning that you dont have have everything
and just the smallest things are the best things.
and just the smallest things are the best things.
July 10, 2023
This book took me back to being a kid. When you tell a lie and then lie again to cover the lie. I think that's why I liked it so much. It was easy to feel the embarrassment our main character, Anna, felt. I love the way the author described Anna's feelings and how her friends were able to teach her a lesson in what makes a person interesting.
April 3, 2024
A very short read, which I read for research purposes. A very simple but effective story about feeling like you're not as good as everyone else, recognising your own worth and learning that it's not worth lying just to make friends.
February 21, 2022
"I think that some of the most important things are small," she said ... A small thing could be watching a blackbird bathing in a puddle, or the delicious smell you get when you mix up the ingredients for a cake, or reading something in a book that is so interesting it makes you smile. That's what I mean about the small things."
June 22, 2021
I love Lisa Thompson’s heartfelt writing and so I was unbelievably excited to receive an early proof copy of her latest read for which she has partnered once again with the brilliant Barrington Stoke. Taking inspiration from a real encounter with a robot on a school visit, Thompson delivers a wonderful story of friendship, of groundbreaking technology and of learning to appreciate ‘the small things’ in life.
Anna is a bit different to the other girls in her class at school. She does not have the busy life that they do. Whilst her friends are busy attending after-school clubs and learning how to dance, play musical instruments, speak other languages and ride horses, she and her brother often find themselves at the supermarket searching out bargains in the reduced section.
When a new student arrives at Anna’s school, Anna is asked to partner up with her. But new girl Ellie is too unwell to come to school in person and instead ‘Ellie-bot’ is her eyes, ears and voice within the classroom. Anxious Anna is worried that her life isn’t interesting enough to share with Ellie so she tells a little white lie. But one lie rolls into another into another into another and soon a whole web of lies is forming around her. When Ellie discovers the truth will she accept Anna for who she really or will the friendship fall apart…
So much love for this book. Thompson has a wonderful skill of writing about young characters who are dealing with real issues. The story is narrated by Anna and her voice will be easily relatable to readers. She is genuine, honest and really just wants to fit in with her peers. Worrying about not having the exciting life that her peers do is only natural. Luckily for Anna, she has a mum who reminds her that it is important to not judge herself against others and to be happy with who she is. Friendship isn’t about the number of clubs you go to or how much money you have, it is about who you are as a person. And in Ellie she finds a friend who helps her understand how wonderful it is to be kind, honest and to appreciate the small things in life. A ray of sunshine, a bird taking a bath, baking a cake, reading a book - some of the best pleasures in life are free and are worth much more than a fabricated life full of false pleasures. Thompson has packed so many important messages into ninety-four pages.
NoIsolation - you can check out their robots at noisolation.com - are the tech company that create robots like Ellie-bot that allow children unable to attend school in person to experience school-life through their robot counterpart. This is the first time I had heard of such a robot and they sound fantastic for so many reasons; reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness, giving a child a school experience, allowing a child to take an active part in lessons and enabling the child to make friends and engage with peers.
When this book is published, true to Barrington Stoke form, it will be printed in dyslexia friendly font and on tinted paper ensuring the book can be accessed by every child. Hannah Coulson will provide the illustrations and I very much look forward to seeing them.
Huge thanks to the lovely peeps at Barrington Stoke for this important book.
Recommended for 8+.
Anna is a bit different to the other girls in her class at school. She does not have the busy life that they do. Whilst her friends are busy attending after-school clubs and learning how to dance, play musical instruments, speak other languages and ride horses, she and her brother often find themselves at the supermarket searching out bargains in the reduced section.
When a new student arrives at Anna’s school, Anna is asked to partner up with her. But new girl Ellie is too unwell to come to school in person and instead ‘Ellie-bot’ is her eyes, ears and voice within the classroom. Anxious Anna is worried that her life isn’t interesting enough to share with Ellie so she tells a little white lie. But one lie rolls into another into another into another and soon a whole web of lies is forming around her. When Ellie discovers the truth will she accept Anna for who she really or will the friendship fall apart…
So much love for this book. Thompson has a wonderful skill of writing about young characters who are dealing with real issues. The story is narrated by Anna and her voice will be easily relatable to readers. She is genuine, honest and really just wants to fit in with her peers. Worrying about not having the exciting life that her peers do is only natural. Luckily for Anna, she has a mum who reminds her that it is important to not judge herself against others and to be happy with who she is. Friendship isn’t about the number of clubs you go to or how much money you have, it is about who you are as a person. And in Ellie she finds a friend who helps her understand how wonderful it is to be kind, honest and to appreciate the small things in life. A ray of sunshine, a bird taking a bath, baking a cake, reading a book - some of the best pleasures in life are free and are worth much more than a fabricated life full of false pleasures. Thompson has packed so many important messages into ninety-four pages.
NoIsolation - you can check out their robots at noisolation.com - are the tech company that create robots like Ellie-bot that allow children unable to attend school in person to experience school-life through their robot counterpart. This is the first time I had heard of such a robot and they sound fantastic for so many reasons; reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness, giving a child a school experience, allowing a child to take an active part in lessons and enabling the child to make friends and engage with peers.
When this book is published, true to Barrington Stoke form, it will be printed in dyslexia friendly font and on tinted paper ensuring the book can be accessed by every child. Hannah Coulson will provide the illustrations and I very much look forward to seeing them.
Huge thanks to the lovely peeps at Barrington Stoke for this important book.
Recommended for 8+.
May 30, 2021
Beautifully simple story that so many children will identify with. Gorgeous!
July 4, 2021
There are several themes in this book. You might think that the main theme would be about Ellie and her illness or the robot that allows her to access school. However the real deep message comes from Anna and the feelings of not being good enough which stem from her family not having as much money to spend on the luxuries that her friends do.
This is an eye opening story for children from all backgrounds about how appearances of happiness can be deceiving and the importance of being yourself. Money can’t buy happiness.
Anna learns some valuable lessons throughout the story and I feel this will be a great addition to a PSE curriculum.
Throughout the book you feel for Anna and Ellie- their emotions show through the text and you find yourself feeling their sadness and their joy.
I think we can all relate to Anna - who hasn’t told a little white lie to seem more interesting or wished that their lives were more like someone else’s. We all have a little bit of Anna in us.
It is Ellie who brings us back to the title although this seems a bit of a tenuous link it is an important message. It just seems a bit of an add on.
This book is a great independent or whole class read. Make sure you share the acknowledgments with children as it is interesting to know that this book is inspired by a real life situation and not just made up.
I like that this book is easy to read. The tinted paper large spacing and text mean that this book is accessible. There are occasional half page illustrations dotted through the books these are enough to break up the text for a reluctant or newly confident reader but are not over used to make the book seem babyish.
The cover illustrations are also simple. I would say the cover makes it look like it is aimed at a higher age group. I’m not sure it would jump of the shelf for children who tend to pick books by their covers so might need so recommendations.
I would recommend this book to year 4 and will be passing it on to our year 4 teachers.
This is an eye opening story for children from all backgrounds about how appearances of happiness can be deceiving and the importance of being yourself. Money can’t buy happiness.
Anna learns some valuable lessons throughout the story and I feel this will be a great addition to a PSE curriculum.
Throughout the book you feel for Anna and Ellie- their emotions show through the text and you find yourself feeling their sadness and their joy.
I think we can all relate to Anna - who hasn’t told a little white lie to seem more interesting or wished that their lives were more like someone else’s. We all have a little bit of Anna in us.
It is Ellie who brings us back to the title although this seems a bit of a tenuous link it is an important message. It just seems a bit of an add on.
This book is a great independent or whole class read. Make sure you share the acknowledgments with children as it is interesting to know that this book is inspired by a real life situation and not just made up.
I like that this book is easy to read. The tinted paper large spacing and text mean that this book is accessible. There are occasional half page illustrations dotted through the books these are enough to break up the text for a reluctant or newly confident reader but are not over used to make the book seem babyish.
The cover illustrations are also simple. I would say the cover makes it look like it is aimed at a higher age group. I’m not sure it would jump of the shelf for children who tend to pick books by their covers so might need so recommendations.
I would recommend this book to year 4 and will be passing it on to our year 4 teachers.
October 8, 2022
The Small Things is published by Barrington Stoke and is made to be dyslexia- friendly with features such as purposely selected font, additional spacing and page coloring. All of which make the book highly accessibly for all, whilst having the feel of progression by its chapter book structure.
The Small Things is based of a real story and follows the life of a young girl called Anna, whose family don't have much money and cant afford to send her to clubs outside of school. Anna isn't fully happy at school but doesn't seem to know why. One day a new girl joins Anna's class, she is called Ellie and cannot attend school due to illness, so attends in the form of a robot. Anna and Ellie soon become friends but in an attempt to impress her new friend, Ellie lies about what she gets up to outside of school, telling Ellie that she attends many clubs as well as going out for meals and ice-cream. In time Anna's secret comes out and she fears she will loose her new friend as a result of lying.
The book touches on some real world issues such as financial worries. Talking about how they make Anna feel and how these differentiate her from others. The story transpires to show Anna how the little things in life can bring us so much joy and promote the value of life beyond money. The story also follows Ellies illness, making children aware of the topic but without details that may lead to feelings of distress or sadness. The story therefore also carries without it the message of hope and how gratitude is the key to happiness.
As an adult I thoroughly enjoyed reading the small things and will be sure to keep a copy in my classroom once completing my PGCE. The book is full of beautifully worded with quotes such as 'Ellie had been through a great deal and I guess she now looked at the world in a different way to the rest of us'. That provide wonderful opportunity for children to develop both their empathy skills and their comprehension skills by reading through the lines.
The Small Things is based of a real story and follows the life of a young girl called Anna, whose family don't have much money and cant afford to send her to clubs outside of school. Anna isn't fully happy at school but doesn't seem to know why. One day a new girl joins Anna's class, she is called Ellie and cannot attend school due to illness, so attends in the form of a robot. Anna and Ellie soon become friends but in an attempt to impress her new friend, Ellie lies about what she gets up to outside of school, telling Ellie that she attends many clubs as well as going out for meals and ice-cream. In time Anna's secret comes out and she fears she will loose her new friend as a result of lying.
The book touches on some real world issues such as financial worries. Talking about how they make Anna feel and how these differentiate her from others. The story transpires to show Anna how the little things in life can bring us so much joy and promote the value of life beyond money. The story also follows Ellies illness, making children aware of the topic but without details that may lead to feelings of distress or sadness. The story therefore also carries without it the message of hope and how gratitude is the key to happiness.
As an adult I thoroughly enjoyed reading the small things and will be sure to keep a copy in my classroom once completing my PGCE. The book is full of beautifully worded with quotes such as 'Ellie had been through a great deal and I guess she now looked at the world in a different way to the rest of us'. That provide wonderful opportunity for children to develop both their empathy skills and their comprehension skills by reading through the lines.
July 26, 2023
Thank you, Barrington Stoke!
This book is dyslexia friendly, and the print layout is very soothing to the eye.
Lisa Thompson`s The Small Things is simple, gentle and beautifully written. This valuable book has delightful illustrations by Hannah Coulson, and is basically meant for children, but will also be a good read for adults. It teaches the importance of being yourself, appreciating what you already have, and that the small things in life are always the best. We will also realise that true friendships are built on truth and trust.
Anna has a loving family and few friends at school, but she continues to feel very anxious and badly conscious when thinking about her friends, as she feels their lives are more interesting and active. When she is asked to buddy Ellie, a new arrival in the class, Anna starts making up a new life with harmless lies as she is worried that her real life is too normal and small to share about.
This book is the result of the experience of Lisa Thompson with a robot that facilitates those children who are not able to physically attend school, to join classes from their home.
[AV1 – the robot for children with long-term illness - designed by No Isolation]
“Sometimes it`s those small things that are the best, we forget to enjoy them.â€
This book is dyslexia friendly, and the print layout is very soothing to the eye.
Lisa Thompson`s The Small Things is simple, gentle and beautifully written. This valuable book has delightful illustrations by Hannah Coulson, and is basically meant for children, but will also be a good read for adults. It teaches the importance of being yourself, appreciating what you already have, and that the small things in life are always the best. We will also realise that true friendships are built on truth and trust.
Anna has a loving family and few friends at school, but she continues to feel very anxious and badly conscious when thinking about her friends, as she feels their lives are more interesting and active. When she is asked to buddy Ellie, a new arrival in the class, Anna starts making up a new life with harmless lies as she is worried that her real life is too normal and small to share about.
This book is the result of the experience of Lisa Thompson with a robot that facilitates those children who are not able to physically attend school, to join classes from their home.
[AV1 – the robot for children with long-term illness - designed by No Isolation]
“Sometimes it`s those small things that are the best, we forget to enjoy them.â€
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January 19, 2022Anna enjoys school and has three friends who do so many interesting and exciting activities that Anna feels dull and invisible in comparison. When Anna is asked to befriend the new girl in class, Ellie, Anna can't help but think one of the more outgoing students would have been a better choice. To top it off, Ellie doesn't attend school in person because she is too unwell. She sends her robot instead. When Ellie-robot asks Anna what kinds of things she gets up to, Anna tells a little white lie.... then another and another, and soon enough the story spirals. What will happen with Ellie finds out?
This book explores themes of friendship, empathy and fitting in. I would recommended it for mid-upper primary. It would be a great book to share as a whole-class read-aloud or as a class novel, with plenty of opportunities to talk about friendships and the importance of being yourself, as well as building empathy for other students.
This book is published by Barrington-Stoke in dyslexic-friendly font.
This book explores themes of friendship, empathy and fitting in. I would recommended it for mid-upper primary. It would be a great book to share as a whole-class read-aloud or as a class novel, with plenty of opportunities to talk about friendships and the importance of being yourself, as well as building empathy for other students.
This book is published by Barrington-Stoke in dyslexic-friendly font.
November 15, 2021
This wonderfully written story is a great read for young children to make sure they do not compare themselves to others in a negative way. The way in which this story is written carefully explores how young children view their friends and the activities they do out of school, as well as touching on the delicate subject of illness and the importance of being their for others.
Only after reading this book did I know that AV1 Robots where a real thing produced by a company called No Isolation. They allow children who can not go to school in person for any reason, attend their school.
A truly excellent read, accessible for a wide range of children and adults alike!
Only after reading this book did I know that AV1 Robots where a real thing produced by a company called No Isolation. They allow children who can not go to school in person for any reason, attend their school.
A truly excellent read, accessible for a wide range of children and adults alike!
September 4, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
A short story that I did enjoy on the whole but did feel it lacked some more depth. It’s definitely more suited to a children’s audience and for this I think it’s very good. We follow Anna who’s asked to help the new girl Ellie but it’s a little different as Ellie’s too ill to attend classes in person so uses a robot instead. Whilst the two girls gets to know each other, their similar struggles or how to fit in are highlighted with Anna ‘lacking’ the income of some of her classmates to do lots of ‘fun’ things after school and Ellie due to her physical barriers separating her from the other children. I think as a book that tilts on the consequences of lying it’s maybe sewn up a bit too easy but I can see why given the age range and overall the messages Thompson’s shares are positive ones. The robot was inspired but one the author saw implemented in a classroom herself and I really like the idea of how she expanded on this and made a story about it.
Overall, I’d recommend but not necessary to those interested in the more nuanced aspects of children’s literature. The best parts were probably how Thompson captured the despite to fit in with a group that you seem removed from and to this j could relate.
A short story that I did enjoy on the whole but did feel it lacked some more depth. It’s definitely more suited to a children’s audience and for this I think it’s very good. We follow Anna who’s asked to help the new girl Ellie but it’s a little different as Ellie’s too ill to attend classes in person so uses a robot instead. Whilst the two girls gets to know each other, their similar struggles or how to fit in are highlighted with Anna ‘lacking’ the income of some of her classmates to do lots of ‘fun’ things after school and Ellie due to her physical barriers separating her from the other children. I think as a book that tilts on the consequences of lying it’s maybe sewn up a bit too easy but I can see why given the age range and overall the messages Thompson’s shares are positive ones. The robot was inspired but one the author saw implemented in a classroom herself and I really like the idea of how she expanded on this and made a story about it.
Overall, I’d recommend but not necessary to those interested in the more nuanced aspects of children’s literature. The best parts were probably how Thompson captured the despite to fit in with a group that you seem removed from and to this j could relate.
January 12, 2022
A great book for middle to upper primary aged students about self-worth. This would be a great reader for a pastoral program. I can see how lots of activities and reflections could stem from this short read.
July 4, 2021
Only one word to describe this book….AMAZING!!! Such an easy read with a lovely message behind it!
July 19, 2021
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September 24, 2021Heartwarming story of friendship and of feeling inadequate.
October 24, 2021
A short, sweet story about friendship and staying true to yourself. As a Barrington Stoke publication, this would make a good Book Club read for Year 3-4 as a high interest, low literacy read.
January 25, 2022
Warm story with a simple but effective message.. be true to yourself. Enjoy the simple things in life.
February 19, 2022
What a refreshingly uplifting story. Anna and Ellie become friends and learn to appreciate the small things in life. A nice, easy read for children aged 8 and above.
May 24, 2022
Fantastic short story about being yourself and how everyone is different. Should be in all schools
June 11, 2022
Haven't read anything this beautiful in a while.
January 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this one. I had never heard of these robots, so was fascinating to learn about them. What a heartwarming story about being yourself ❤️
March 5, 2024
Touching little book on what really matters. Another great Barrington Stoke title for children.
July 15, 2024
Differences within a class
Long-term treatments
Lies to meet expactations
True beauty in the small things
Long-term treatments
Lies to meet expactations
True beauty in the small things
November 23, 2025
This book is one of my favourite books! It’s based on how you can communicate to people through different ways. Such as a phone,laptop,iPad and ROBOT!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews