Littluns: A Fantasy Novel That Helps Families Talk About Influence

Parents watching their children grow into independent thinkers face a delicate balancing act: how much guidance is enough, and when does it become control? That tension is at the heart of Littluns: And the Book of Darkness, an award-winning illustrated novel by the late Mark Glamack. Glamack was an animator, director, producer, and writer whose credits include work for Walt Disney Studios and an Emmy nomination for his contribution to Life with Louie; he also served six terms as a governor of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Written for readers ages 12 and older, Littluns operates on multiple levels. Younger readers encounter an adventure about light confronting darkness, while adults may recognize a deeper story about influence, responsibility, temptation, character, and the consequences of choices. Glamack believed there was room for a story that could appeal to young adults and grown readers without asking either audience to leave its values at the door. He was particularly concerned about messages young people encounter through popular culture and what happens when those messages are accepted without much thought or conversation. Rather than simply criticize what was already available, he wanted to create an alternative. In an interview, he explained: “For some time now, many parents, and others, have voiced their concerns about popular books that send the wrong messages to impressionable, unsuspecting minds.”

The novel does not suggest that darkness disappears simply because someone chooses what is good. Darkness remains present, challenging, tempting, and attempting to redirect. The question is whether it is allowed to win. One of the book’s central observations captures that responsibility: “If you surround yourself with good and righteous people, they can only raise you up. If you surround yourself with the others, they will drag you down into the doldrums of mediocrity, and they will keep you there, but only as long as you permit it.” The final words matter: only as long as you permit it. Because Littluns is ultimately not a story about helplessness; it is about choice. The light prevails despite darkness, and characters must recognize what they are confronting and decide what they will allow to influence them. This gives parents and younger readers two different entry points into the same story. As families head toward the holiday season, Littluns offers more than an escape into a fantasy world. It offers something to think about, something to discuss, and perhaps most importantly, something to carry forward after the book is closed. The book has earned Mom’s Choice Awards Gold honors and a Dove Award. More information is available at Littluns.net.