Examples of “big,” “little,” and “tiny” produce unexpected juxtapositions.
Opening with “Big Bear / little chair,” the lean text introduces a series of seemingly unrelated pairings of “big” and “little,” such as a big plant and a little cocoon, a big bird and a little umbrella, a big zebra and a little broom. A second series of “big” and “little” pairings begins with “Big Chair / little bear” and includes a big owl on a little branch, a big meadow with a little salamander, a big lion with a little wagon. Both big and little bear return for the final series, where a “tiny” element’s added to the “big” and “little” combinations: a big mouse, a little bus, and a tiny driver; a big ladder, a little turtle, and a tiny book. Font changes, trim, and illustrations reinforce the textual focus on size. The tall, skinny format alerts readers to expect the unexpected, while large, small, and tiny font sizes mirror the text. Stylized illustrations rely on subdued blacks, grays, and whites with pops of bright red, along with flat patterns, repetitive lines, and lots of whimsy, to illuminate each distinctive visual vignette. The absence of any obvious rationale (other than size) linking these vignettes invites readers (big, little, and tiny) to imagine their own connections.
A beautiful and creative exploration of size and relativity.
(Picture book. 3-7)