THE LITTLEST YAK by Lu Fraser

Review by Kelly Carey

​With Nordic phrases and a herd of expressive yaks, author Lu Fraser and illustrator Kate Hindley deliver a wonderful rhyming story in The Littlest Yak (Peachtree, 2020). While the theme of someone small wanting to be big is universal, Fraser injects fresh humor into the story using a plucky yak named Gertie and a snowy mountain setting. Gertie concocts a “growing-up plan” that includes eating veggies, exercise, and reading books (“because grown-ups have big things to think and to know”). When her plan doesn’t work and a tear from a frustrated Gertie plops “from her cheek to the snow” readers will sympathize with the sad little yak. Sadness will turn to cheers when a rescue mission is perfect for the grippy little Gertie. She'll learn she's just the right size and readers will agree that The Littlest Yak is just the right book to convey an age-old message in a unique way. 

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On Writing:
Universal childhood themes make books relatable, but how do you choose a topic that has been written about before and make it special? Fraser does not shy away from selecting the common topic of a small character wishing to be big, but what pops her book out of the its-been-done-before pile is the choice of a distinctive main character, an unusual setting, humorous word choices, and a rollicking rhyme.

​Fraser introduces readers to a yak (just that word alone is reading fun!) named Gertie who she describes as having “the curliest, whirliest wool on her back” and “splendidly grippy” hooves. By injecting fun and whimsy and heart into her main character both in the descriptive words she uses and the silly actions she assigns to her main character, Fraser elevates her story from universal to distinct. Going the extra mile, Fraser employs a rhyme that gives her story a melodic quality. The final dose of magic comes courtesy of Hindley’s charming illustrations. If you have a manuscript that centers on a well-worn topic, use The Littlest Yak as a mentor text to guide you in finding its singular spark. 

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To learn more about Lu Fraser visit her here. 
To find out more about Kate Hindley visit her here. 
To get your own copy of The Littlest Yak click here.