Every Little Letter - by Deborah Underwood (Hardcover)

About the Book

In a world where all the letters of the alphabet live in separate cities surrounded by walls, little h and small i's newfound friendship inspires all the divided communities to connect and form such words as courage, cooperate, and kindness.

Book Synopsis

For fans of The Word Collector and Be Kind comes a story of words, walls, and widening your world, by New York Times bestselling author Deborah Underwood

Small h has always lived with the other H's in a city surrounded by walls that keep them safe. At least, that's what the big H's say. But one day, a hole in the wall reveals someone new on the other side. When little h and little i meet, they make a small word with big meaning: "hi!" The other H's find out, though. They fill the hole. But it won't be enough to keep these little letters apart--or twenty-four of their newest friends. Every Little Letter shows how even the smallest among us can make a big impact, and how a single act of friendship can inspire whole communities to come together. How do you tear down walls? With words, at first. Then brick by brick.

"Rich for exploration . . . Adorable." --SLJ (starred review)
"This message of friendship . . . bears repeating, especially for the youngest readers." --Kirkus
"Smartly executed . . . Underlines how diversity leads to strength." --Publishers Weekly
"This [book] goes beyond to incorporate the alphabet and word-learning, as well as the importance of listening to young people." --Shelf Awareness

Review Quotes

An Indie Next List Selection

★ "Unity and division are themes rich for exploration in this story of alphabet letters separated by fear and complacency. It will grow upon children and adults with each reading. [And] the letter characters are adorable." --SLJ (starred review)

"Expressive . . . Bright . . . Even pre-readers will recognize letters set in bold, big shapes, enabling caregivers to incorporate early-literacy lessons into the read-aloud experience. This message of friendship . . . bears repeating, especially for the youngest readers. " --Kirkus

"This [is a] smartly executed fable about embracing difference, [offering] a neutral, easy setting to underline how diversity leads to strength." --Publishers Weekly

"With so many books out there about coming together, this one goes beyond to incorporate the alphabet and word-learning, as well as the importance of listening to young people. [The] cuteness helps deliver the empathetic message for our youngest readers." --Shelf Awareness

About the Author

Deborah Underwood believes that every letter is important and that even the littlest letter can make pig changes--oops, big changes. (See?) Deborah's picture books include The Panda Problem, Walrus in the Bathtub, Finding Kindness, Interstellar Cinderella, and New York Times bestsellers Here Comes the Easter Cat and The Quiet Book.

Joy Hwang Ruiz is an illustrator and artist who started @momisdrawing on Instagram to capture the magic of new parenthood. Her illustrations are inspired by the love and fleeting, funny moments families share, and celebrate Joy's passion for diversity. As an immigrant to the U.S. whose family was separated when she was a young woman, Joy knows first-hand the importance of tearing down walls. She lives with her family in Southern California. Every Little Letter is her first picture book.