Little by Little: A Writer's Education / Jean Little

Little by Little is an extraordinary autobiography by one of Canada's most beloved writers. Jean Little painstakingly provides readers with an insightful--and equally delightful--look into her past, appraising her childhood in Guelph, Ontario, and taking readers up to the publication of her first novel for children, Mine for Keeps, in 1962. While first and foremost the story of a writer's life, Little by Little also powerfully and poignantly explores the author's struggle as a blind child in a sighted world. She openly shares with readers the devastating cruelties of the classroom and playground and her overwhelming need to find a way to belong. It's also the story of a warm and loving family (her portrait of her parents is especially memorable) as well as the great teachers and loyal friends who little by little helped Jean discover her inner strengths and find the courage to follow her dreams of becoming a writer. In her exploration of being blind, Little is never maudlin or self-pitying; instead she focuses on how her not being a sighted person helped make her a writer. It's Little's honesty and gentle good humour that most touch readers as she plots the path that led her to writing books for children. A sequel, Stars Come Out Within, follows her career as a writer, teacher, and role model.