Little Children centers on a handful of individuals whose lives intersect on the playgrounds, town pools, and streets of their small community in surprising and potentially dangerous ways. While it is based on an acclaimed novel, Todd Field and Tom Perrotta wanted to create a film that stood on its own, independent of the book. Tom Perrotta says: "For me, as a novelist, the attraction of a film adaptation lies precisely in this opportunity to re-imagine my book with someone else, and explore new possibilities for the characters and the story."
Todd Field elaborates: "The struggle for identity is what these characters battle from the start; it leads to a hunger they are unable to satiate - violence and fear hold sway. The shame of how they see themselves when the fingers start pointing. It was with this idea in mind that Tom and I began our work together."