LITTLESTORY MAGIC

John & Julia's Family Days

John's Enormous Little Show

John and Julia peek around a small shadow-theatre screen showing a giant and a mouse.

One tiny stage. One giant who will not fit.

Listen3:17Pictures18 illustrated pagesEnjoy itRead or listen together
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Written by J. Ladis & Haley Dell

A little look inside.

Papou opens his Greek shadow-puppet box, and John decides to stage a mouse-and-giant play with Julia. The giant is enormous. The stage is small. A surprising shadow gives their show a new beginning.

Read the pictures and words together, or let the cast tell the story while you turn the pages.

From the book

Shall we turn the page?

Papou opens his puppet box while John and Julia plan a mouse and a giant.
Papou opened his puppet box. Out came Karagiozis, the cheeky fellow from his Greek shadow plays. John loved those plays. Tonight, he wanted to make one of his own. “It needs a mouse,” he said. “And a GIANT.”
Julia draws the mouse house while Papou helps cut the large cardboard giant.
Julia drew a little house for the mouse. Papou helped cut the puppets from cardboard. John's mouse was small. John's giant was enormous. “Will he fit?” asked Julia. “He's a giant,” said John. “He needs to be enormous.”

Keep reading

Good to know.

Can we read without narration?

Yes. Turn the pages and read the words together. Narration is optional and begins only when you press play.

What can we download?

Read, listen and keep the story. Find the PDF, EPUB and complete read-aloud under Downloads for grown-ups at the end of the reader.

How should we choose a story?

Try the pictures, the opening and the voices. Pointing, listening, joining a sound or talking about a picture are all ways to share it. Choose the pace and level of help that suit your child.

For parents: story notes & sources

A show to share

John’s mouse-and-giant play is an original family story inspired by Greek shadow theatre. Papou is the Greek word used here for grandfather. Karagiozis is the cheeky figure from his puppet box.

Big mouse, little mouse

Try the two squeaks together, or enjoy listening quietly. With a fixed light and sheet, moving a card towards the light makes its shadow bigger; moving it towards the sheet makes it smaller.

By J. Ladis and Haley Dell. Published by Little Story Magic. Copyright © 2026 J. Ladis and Haley Dell. All rights reserved.

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