The Sad Little Fact by Jonah Winter

The Sad Little Fact Reviews

• 
  Stephanie

  This author apparently does not understand the difference between “fact” and “theory.” There are actually very few scientific “facts,” and putting “two plus two equals four” and “a refrigerator is not a moose” on the same level as “dinosaurs became extinct 66 million years ago” completely misrepresents what a “fact” is. I’m perfectly fine presenting global warming causes and evolution to children as theories like they actually are, but claiming them as fact makes this seem like cute propaganda. This could have been a great concept if he’d simply stuck with “idea” or “theory.”
• 
  Jon Nakapalau

  Should be on the reading list of every politician!
• 
  La Coccinelle

  This one of those picture books that's bound to be appreciated by adults, but is also straightforward enough to be understood by kids.
  
  In this story, there's a sad little fact. I guess he's sad because people laugh at him and call him a lie. One day, the Authorities come looking for him and try to get him to admit he's a lie. But he can't and won't, so he gets stuffed in a box with all the other facts and buried underground, all while the Authorities churn out their own "facts" that run amok through the world. Eventually, those in search of the truth find the facts and let them out, and while not everybody is happy about it, those with the ability to think are glad to have the facts out in the open again.
  
  The whole book is pretty much a metaphor. It's pretty clear who the good guys and bad guys are, too. The authorities are tall and faceless, with boots and red gloves. The alternative facts all look angry, even when they clearly have most of the power. (Sound familiar?)
  
  Of course, there are going to be some who hate this book. That's fine. But for those with open minds, this is a great reminder of why the truth is important.
  
  A fact is a fact.
  
  Quotable moment:
  
  

  
• 
  Rod Brown

  An admirable attempt to explain the fake news B.S. to little kids. A little too weird for this adult and possibly a little too bleak and dystopian for children.
• 
  Kelly Hall

  Teaching children is a serious thing. I would never recommend this book, because some of the things it touts as “facts” are not.
• 
  Marathon County Public Library

  This book allows its readers to meet the Sad Little Fact and many other little facts along the way. The Sad Little Fact lives in a world in which facts are dismissed and ultimately deemed "fake," then thrown away. The authorities of the world declare that lies are facts, and the world grows dark and dreary. However, hope is on the horizon as a band of fact-finders discover all of the lost facts and show them to the rest of the world. The facts return triumphantly, spreading truth as it was meant to be.  
  
  This is a wonderfully smart book for kids, especially in the world we live in today, and is a great way to teach children about facts, information, and falsehoods. I felt sad, but also proud, that there was a book like this to read to my kids. The story is simply told, entertaining, and very important!
  
  Ashley C. / Marathon County Public Library
• 
  Ashley

  With this current political climate of fact denying and fake news, I think this is important and good way to introduce that to kids. The wording is nicely put and clever (like having to dig up the facts that were hidden away) and the art style is really charming.
  
• 
  Maggie Tokuda-Hall

  Cute, but is predicated on the notion that there's such a thing as objectivity, and as such feels like it could be misused by people both well meaning and malicious.
• 
  Jessica

  The adult me LOVES this book. The Kindergarten teacher me thinks it is too dark for my kids. I will get to know my new class and see if they are ready. Recommended.
• 
  Jillian Heise

  Well, it's not subtle. It's clearly making a commentary on our current situation.
  It would pair well with The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet.
• 
  Melle

  It's sort of weird to see the growing body of children's books for the revolution, but, well, here we are. I like that this book exists, and I am depressed AF that it has to, but it's important to start early talking about facts and truth, because information literacy has to start young and has to be nurtured and cultivated if we're going to survive as a democratic society.
• 
  Shaye Miller

  While this is a picture book and intended for children, I think it would work better in the hands of tweens, teens, and adults. Because it would be a great way to introduce the study of information literacy as we peel back layers of “facts” to understand their origins and why some points are harder to believe than others. And yes, facts are not always facts. There are so many variables, which is a concept that is very difficult for a young child to comprehend. I also worry that a few things mentioned in this story were deliberate jabs at political and religious groups. They will not likely be well received by some parents. Otherwise, the artwork is really adorable and the book can open the floor for more detailed conversation. Why did the “Authorities” not believe certain facts? Why did they work so hard to bury them? On very thick paper, the illustrations were rendered digitally using gouache watercolor textures.
  
  For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at
  The Miller Memo!
• 
  Ashley

  A book for our times. This one will be most satisfying to adults who are worried about the current political climate, but it does have a lot of appeal for children whose parents have picked it out for them. It's a great conversation opener about how to tell what is a fact and what is just pretending. It's bright and engaging, and it introduces the idea of a menacing "authority," which is great stuff for kids to ponder. Loved that it included examples of facts that actually are still quite controversial, like climate change, evolution, and the "discovery" of the Americas. It was great to have clarity about what a true fact was; otherwise it would be easy to use this book to disseminate falsehoods just as easily. I do think it could still be twisted to promote falsehoods to kids afterwards (there is no room for critical thinking or complicated truths, which can lead to essentialism), but that's just because I'm an adult worried about the current political climate.
  
  Good luck, little book!
• 
  Mrs Heidrich

  3.5 stars!
  
  I think picture books that start conversations about facts and information are good, but I also wonder if some of the content of this book will be lost. I think it's a great book for opening discussion and love the idea of using this with older kids as well. I think things like "The Authorities" may be lost on smaller children as there isn't an explanation of who they are or why they're there. I think this is a timely book and could generate a lot of discussion, but has the potential to possibly confuse and even scare some younger kids... I'll be interested to see.
• 
  Lorie Barber

  #mockcaldecott
  #classroombookaday
• 
  Megan Wagner

  This book is very heavy, and would probably be too much so for children to get.
• 
  Azamat

  Очень важная детская книга о том, что факт есть факт. От него нельзя отказаться и нужно следить, чтобы его не скрывали. Косяк только в редакторской работе, потому что некоторые факты на самом деле теории — это факт. Если переиздать и заменить теории на факты будет хорошо, потому что в целом посыл правильный и оформлена и издана она классно.
• 
  Sandy Brehl

  This feels quite a bit as if it is meant to appeal to adults more than kids.
  The underlying truth about lying, fake news, verifiable facts are pretty directly depicted, with very clear good/bad, right/wrong implications.
  I can envisions many uses for this, but more so for older readers and discussions than for youngers.
• 
  April

  Three and a half stars rounded to three. I think this book is for an older child, otherwise some facts cannot be appreciated.
  
  I do not necessarily think all the facts stated as facts are in fact facts. The thought that some facts are debatable is what led to rounding the rating down.
  
  Adults may enjoy this one a bit as they read this to younger minds.
• 
  Aliza Werner

  So. On. The. Nose. In an era of post-truth, fake news, and propaganda, this will definitely be a conversation starter.
• 
  Adele

  Interesting concept, but extremely dark.
• 
  Sherry

  Well, if that doesn’t just sum up 2020...
• 
  Jennifer Worrell

  Fantastic (and adorable) book that comes in the wake of destruction, focusing on the importance of information literacy. So glad I stumbled on this one. Adults will probably enjoy it as much as kids.
• 
  Jennifer McBurnie

  It’s just so true and what kid doesn’t want to know the truth about the facts.
• 
  Peacegal

  Facts are stubborn things.
  
  We are currently suffering a crisis relating to facts, and it makes complete sense to give even young children the tools to differentiate between a fact and an opinion, and how to look critically at the barrage of information they're getting everyday from everything from peers to advertisements.
  
  In short, everyone is welcome to their own opinions, but not their own facts.
  
  This timely story stars a cute, personified fact who is locked away by those who would rather create their own faux facts. However, there are enough people who care about the truth that these facts are eventually freed. At the end, although we see some people stubbornly hanging on to their own faux facts, but many others are welcoming the actual facts into their lives.
  
  Yes, this is a heavy topic for the picture book set, but it addresses a serious subject in a playful way, like THE BUTTER BATTLE BOOK or THE SNEETCHES. It can open up an avenue for some good, age-appropriate discussions.
• 
  Dave

  I like that this book encourages digging for the truth and not just accepting what you’re told. It intrigues me that the first two facts it went after are controversial, anti-SOME-Christian ones. (The earth is millions of years old, and humans are related to monkeys.). Whether or not I agree with those is not the point. I was merely pointing them out-before anyone decides to start an argument about them being facts. The other facts are very minor in comparison. 2+2 is 4, and so on.
  
  To me, those would be the equivalent of starting the book with, “The moon landing was real, and 9/11 was not a government conspiracy.” See what I’m saying? Facts, but much more controversial ones.
  
  Here’s my point. There are millions of facts in the world. It just seems to me that the author could have used ones that wouldn’t necessarily attack any certain groups of people for their beliefs. Before anyone replies back with religious debate: please note: I DID NOT SAY THESE ARE OR AREN’T FACTS. I just observed the author’s choice.
• 
  Ember Air

  This was too perfect. Every single person on the planet needs to read this. I am currently trying to find sly ways to gift it to truth/fact-denying family members. A Fact is a Fact, whether you like it or not. The Truth can be beaten down, hidden away, and lost for a time, but it is still THE TRUTH and will come back to the light. This story made me weirdly emotional and I can't wait to see the groundbreaking work I am sure this is author is going to continue to create. (I wouldn't be surprised to find this one on a Challenged list next year, but really hope that it faces no such struggles!)