The new and unique diverse children’s book Sissy Goes Tiny by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. has given the AP Team an opportunity to learn what it’s like to live in a home that is under 399 square feet.
These revelations and lessons have come to us courtesy of co-author B.A. Norrgard has been living small for over five years.
It was her experiences, paired with the creative imagination and knowledge of the children\s book industry of co-author Becky Flansburg, that inspired these two long-time friends to pen a picture book about a family that chooses to shake up the traditional concept of “home” to live Tiny and do More with Less.
And…::drum roll::…Sissy Goes Tiny is now available on Amazon!
First, let’s clarify what *tiny house lifestyle* means.
The “tiny house movement,” also known as the small house movement, basically describes the architectural and social movement that advocates living simply in small homes. The typical Tiny House is less than 399 square feet and often as small as 100, a far cry from the national average in 2014 of 2,453 square feet. Tiny Houses can be placed on a permanent foundation like a regular home, or a trailer for a more mobile lifestyle.
Wanting to “live tiny?” Here’s what you need to know
B.A. shared that the Number One question people ask her is where she goes: “Number Two!”
We’ll spare you the earthy and organic details, but long story short, composting toilets are popular amongst Tiny Housers and have come a long way in the last few years.
Other questions posed to B.A. about Tiny House living has to do with managing severe weather, security, and storage.
“Many Tiny House communities have storm shelters on the property, and as far as security, I honestly have no concerns in that area. I just installed a tiny air conditioner in my Tiny House, so that will help with the Texas heat. I also have an Envi brand convection wall panel heater that also hangs on the wall for these cooler temps. I also wire my house in such a way that it would be very easy to convert to solar. As far as storage, those serious about living minimally and going tiny need to reevaluate everything in their life because storage is so limited in an under 300 square foot house. Many tiny house dwellers utilize their outdoor spaces so much that they consider it part of their daily living space.”
Being self-sufficient is a huge part of Tiny House living and B.A. admits being close to resources like shopping and supply stores is key.
“Because storage space is limited, you can’t load up on food like you can in a typical house,” she added. “My lifestyle demands that I shop more frequently and being close to larger towns with abundant resources is very important to your convenience.”
Is going tiny in the cards for you??
Looking for a beautiful and unconventional diverse picture book for kids? Check out Sissy Goes Tiny!
In Sissy Goes Tiny, eight-year-old Sissy and her parents make the bold choice to downsize their life and embark on a journey of living tiny and doing more with less. At first, Sissy struggles to get used to the idea of living in a tiny house on wheels and traveling around the U.S, but as she and her mommy and daddy learn about downsizing, repurposing, and how “stuff is just stuff,” she soon understands that a life of “living tiny” will be filled with the big adventures and learning.
This gorgeous, diverse picture book is available in hardcover on the AP website and on Amazon.
This book is also available in Kindle ebook form.
You can read the full story of this journey here.
“I believe that Sissy Goes Tiny is going to open so many minds for people! A tiny house is absolutely not for everyone, but we all like to dream and step into the shoes of another lifestyle in our minds. Learning about this lifestyle I think will help people be more supportive of people who do choose to live unconventionally. Sissy and her family are a great example of that.” Co-author, B.A. Norrgard
Join us in celebrating the idea of Tiny Living and BIG Adventures!
