The Sad Little Fact

Book review by Angela Zimmerman, Common Sense Media
The Sad Little Fact Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 3+

Wry, whimsical story of "facts" and their fake counterparts.

Jonah Winter Picture Book 2019
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 4 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Sad Little Fact is by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Pete Oswald, the same duo who delivered The Good Egg, the bestselling tale that emphasizes the importance of self-care in today's modern world. This parable about the rise of fake news and "alternative facts" and the destruction they can wreak on the truth is also a reflection of our times. It follows a sad little "fact" who faces adversity from the "authorities" and other proponents of fake news who try to silence him. Those authorities bury him deep underground in a box with a collection of other real "facts." Kids who are too young to understand how this relates to the current media landscape will still appreciate and enjoy the story about cute little colorful creatures called "facts." And The Sad Little Fact could provide an early introduction to media and news literacy.

Community Reviews

abmoizu
abmoizu Adult
November 3, 2021
age 3+

Perfect book for kids in USA today

The sad little fact is that "A fact is a fact," whether you want it to be true or not. If some of the facts listed in this book make you angry, then you yourself have buried the sad little fact alongside the others. Critical thinking has never been more important or under greater threat than it is today, and that is why I was very happy to see my daughter bring this book home from her school library!

This title has:

Great messages
Courtney W.
Courtney W. Adult
May 21, 2020
age 5+

The Sad Little Fact

This is a book that can be enjoyed by young readers, but the real point being made is one that will resonate with older readers. The idea is that there are some people who try to ignore facts that are not convenient to them. In this era of people claiming “fake news” all the time, it is refreshing to find a book that accepts all facts as facts. As a school librarian, I try to teach children that they must do research from a number of sources before they can trust information. Not all information is reliable, and it is our responsibility to educate children to reference sources that are credible, reliable, and written by somebody with knowledge of the topic they speak on. This story supports the notion that the truth must be set free.
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE SAD LITTLE FACT is just trying to do his job -- reinforce truths and uphold facts. He's sad, though, because the "authorities" are trying to silence facts by sealing them in a box and burying them deep underground. The authorities and their minions churn fake facts out of a factory, labeling them as "real" facts. Some people believe them to be the truth... and so the world turns dark. The real facts (such as "two plus two equals four" and "a refrigerator is not a moose") can't escape the box they're buried in -- until some brave fact finders, determined to uncover the truth, dig deep enough to discover the box of hidden facts. When they are released back into the world, the truth shines again, and the lies are carted off to a recycling facility.

Is It Any Good?

This wry, wise story about the importance of upholding the truth is more relevant now than ever,. Even young kids who don't understand the cultural context of how this serves as an allegory to falsehoods in the media will appreciate and enjoy A Sad Little Fact. Writer Jonah Winter and illustrator Pete Oswald have great chemistry, and here they deliver another precious (and astute and cynical) story that kids (and adults!) of all ages will get a kick out of.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how facts are shown in The Sad Little Fact. What's the definition of a fake? What other facts do you know?

  • Why would the authorities try to bury the facts? Why does the world grow dark when fake facts begin taking over?

  • How do you like the art in The Sad Little Fact? Which picture is your favorite? How does the artist show when a character is sad?

Book Details

  • Author: Jonah Winter
  • Illustrator: Pete Oswald
  • Genre: Picture Book
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Schwartz & Wade
  • Publication date: May 7, 2019
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 3 - 7
  • Number of pages: 40
  • Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
  • Last updated: June 20, 2019

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