Sale price
$759
Book #1 · Board Book · Ages 4–8 · 1962
Pierre
A boy's indifference leads to unexpected consequences in this classic tale.
38 pages
5.0/7 Bookroo
$7.95Save 5%
Board Book
Book Series · 4 Books
The Nutshell Library Books
In order from Pierre to One Was Johnny.
Maurice Sendak's four tiny classics turn the alphabet, counting, the months, and one spectacularly stubborn child into rhythmic read-aloud fun.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Nutshell Library
All four mini-books were published together in 1962, so there is no required reading order. Choose by interest: Alligators All Around for letters, One Was Johnny for counting, Chicken Soup with Rice for months, or Pierre for a comic story.
Sources: Maurice Sendak Foundation bibliography.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The pocket-size books use rhyme, repetition, and memorable pictures, making them well suited to repeat read-alouds and playful practice with early concepts.
Pierre is a deliberately exaggerated cautionary tale: a lion swallows the rude child, and a doctor later gets him out unharmed. The scene is comic rather than graphic, but very sensitive young children may appreciate advance reassurance.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
In reading order
The Nutshell Library Series
4 books · Published 1962
#1
Sale price
$759
Pierre
Board Book · Ages 4–8 · 1962
A boy's indifference leads to unexpected consequences in this classic tale.
#2
Sale price
$958
Chicken Soup with Rice
Board Book · Ages 2–4 · 1962
Discover the joy of every month with whimsical rhymes and charming art.
#3
Sale price
$759
Alligators All Around
Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 1962
Join playful alligators on an alphabet adventure full of fun and giggles.
#4
Sale price
$759
One Was Johnny
Board Book · Ages 4–8 · 1962
A boy counts his quirky visitors from one to ten and back again.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Nutshell Library series?
There are 4 books in the Nutshell Library series. It began with Pierre in 1962, and the newest book, One Was Johnny, was published in 1962.
What order should you read the Nutshell Library books in?
Start with Pierre and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #4.
What ages are the Nutshell Library books best for?
The series is best for ages 2–8, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring The Nutshell Library to life.
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