BIG by Vashti Harrison

BIG is a children’s picture book with 3 major literary awards:  National Book Award Finalist, The Caldecott Medal for illustrations, and a Coretta Scott King Honor Award for peace, non-violent social change and brotherhood. Uniquely  illustrated by the author in soft shades of pink, purple, gray and brown, BIG has very few words; all of them important to the story and none, wasteful.  Some of the events in the story are related to the author’s life.

Image being a young girl, a black ballerina in world of many white children and also being “big”!  So big, that you once got stuck in a swing seat and had to be pulled out. You are teased by other children with “Whale” ,”Moo”, and other taunts. Adults have asked,  “Have you tried being smaller?” “Don’t you think you’re too big for that?” All the judgements from others, in the book BIG, makes the girl feel ever so small.

Read this inspirational picture book to see how the ballerina resolves the hurt she has been handed. What qualities does she have that are indeed good and impressive?

In Vashti Harrison’s words, the girl …”is deserving of all the care and joy in the world, no matter what.”

Enjoy!