Big and Small, Room for All, by Jo Ellen Bogart, ill. Gillian Newland
There are plenty of books about big and small for kids – it’s something they are interested in, being surrounded by bigger people and things, yet fascinated by the tiny.
This gorgeously illustrated picture book is a little different from the norm, though, seeking to put big and small into perspective for young children, showing them how big and small are relative. It begins with the universe, narrowing in to the sun, the earth, a mountain, a tree, a man, a child, a cat, a mouse, and a flea before mentioning “things to small to see,” after which it quickly refers back to the big “never-ever-ending sky.”
This zoom in is a nice approach, and reminds me a bit of my favourite book about putting your known neighbourhood in perspective (This is Me and Where I Am, by J. Fitzgerald), but I do think that starting out with something beyond a child’s scope means it doesn’t draw a kid in by being understandable to them right off. Perhaps working at their scale and working up, then back down would make it easier for a child to grasp. I would have liked to see the book zoom back out in stages instead of jumping right back to the sky, as well.
Despite that, I think this is a really interesting book. It addresses something kids wrestle with and are curious about, so if you have had THOSE questions at bedtime, it’s worth a look. The illustrations are, as I say, beautiful, and the choices of objects to compare are within a child’s knowledge of things. Unless you happen to have a video of the Eames movie Powers of Ten, try flipping back and forth in this book to get the effect of zooming in and out.
A career Children’s Librarian, the Book Fairy (a.k.a. kittenpie) has worked in library systems in both New York and Toronto, and delights in sharing favourite books with kids of all ages. Since she can’t help but force books on people, she’s thrilled to have another place to do it without creeping people out the way she does at the bookstore.