The Littles, a family of tiny people living in a world made for much larger beings, must constantly adapt to their surroundings to survive. With Mr. Little representing the tallest Little at six inches, the Littles’ size forces them to navigate challenges that bigger people do not face.

The Littles’ secretive, cozy home that they have built inside the walls of the Biggs’ house demonstrates their adaptability and ingenuity. Despite encountering a harsh environment, they have made a livable, safe space for the entire family. They also take every precaution to safeguard their home and family, such as having a “secret look-out place behind the light switch in the hall of the Biggs’ house” (15). This vantage point, which is nearly invisible to the big people, allows the Littles to discreetly keep an eye on the arrivals and departures in the Biggs’ home. The corresponding illustration on pages 16 and 17 shows what this setting looks like to the Littles: They have fashioned a ladder so they can reach the small missing screw hole, “which was large enough for a Little to look and listen through” (15). This adaptation of their environment is one example of how the Littles have turned an ordinary feature of the Biggs’ home into a tool for their safety and survival.