Sheeta's Little Big World 1

 

Rating: 3 for cuteness and nostalgia

My Thoughts: 

In the 1950s and 60s, there was a children's book series called The Borrowers about a family of tiny people who secretly live in the walls and floors of an English house and "borrow" from the big people in order to survive. The book was by Mary Norton and it included some little drawings in the book. That book series became a movie in the 1997 with John Goodman as the big father and owner of the house. I still liked the book better than the movie, but I think that was the trend in the kinds of movies made for kids at that time.

But this book in tone reminds me more of the Ghibli animated film The Secret World of Arrietty (2010). I believe this is Japan's homage to the original Borrowers books because the family is the Clock family, which is the family from the original series. Arrietty is the young teen daughter of the Clock family, and like Sheeta and Nala in this book, they are a bit adventurous and reckless for their own good. 

In this first book in the series, Sheeta and Nala are wandering beyond their tree and quickly get into trouble, but the two boys have set up traps to help them. Unlike the Borrowers, the boys live in a forest so most of their run ins are from predators like rats and weasels. They do get separated, and at the end, while looking for Nala with another little person looking for Sheeta's father, there are large footprints in the mud, so that is for another story. 

Nothing gets settled or found except other groups of little people and lots of problems to conquer so this will keep children entertained. 

From the Publisher:

A charming new adventure manga for readers young and old! The very little Sheeta lives in a town inside a hollowed-out log. His neighbors are friendly, supportive, and above all, careful. But soon, Sheeta's longing to explore is going to bring him face to face with dangers he never imagined…

Taking inspiration from The Borrowers, Studio Ghibli, and children's classics like Treasure Island, Sheeta's Little Big World is a beautifully-illustrated, three-volume story perfect to read alone or with your own little companion.

Sheeta and Nala live happily inside a hollowed-out log with their fellow "littlefolk," who stand no taller than a blade of grass. When Nala runs off one day to investigate a mysterious smoke signal, Sheeta must summon all his courage and wits as he sets off in pursuit. Rats, ants, weasels, giants... The wide world is full of dangers, but the plucky Sheeta will stop at nothing to find his friend.

Publication Information:

Author, illustrator: Yuki Kamba

Publisher: Kodansha Comics (September 22, 2025)

Print length: 192 pages