Big Book Review

 



1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Harrison, V. (2023). Big. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780316566223


2.  PLOT SUMMARY

The picture book Big begins with others telling a black girl that she is too big both in size and age to do certain things. She is overwhelmed and constrained to the words said about her until she breaks free from the pages to be who she truly wants to be; not conforming to expectations. 


 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In Big the main character has a great rise and fall then rises again in the book. She begins as a positive and happy girl who loves life, especially ballet. She is told she is a big girl size wise and too big to do certain things. Her words of affirmation shift to words of doubt. She is able to shake these words and size that define her into a space of self-love and acceptance. 

The setting is not of importance as much as the story being told. She is at a ballet studio, a playground, then trapped within the pages of the book, then back to the stage. They are an anchor to her world but the emotions depicted outshine the setting. 

There are numerous references to the African American culture in Big. Beginning with her hair texture and skin tone they depict a black girl appropriately. When she is on Santa’s lap, he is black as are the other families standing in line. Judgement and prejudices against her size and age can be transferred to many prejudices against her race. The confidence she gains through ownership of positive words are also see in black girls empowerment and celebration of their diversity. Harrison’s representation of black girls is an inspiration to those of all shapes and sizes. 

The pictures in this book use colors to represent the emotions felt by the girl. She begins in pink ballet clothes and shoes. When she's upset, her costume turns gray as do the background colors. This makes the girls feelings jump off the page. The simplicity of the drawings mirror the simplicity of feelings of happiness and sadness. Giving back the words that hurt her is such an empowering picture and her saying, “These are yours. They hurt me.” can inspire others who are spoken to in unkind ways. Fading into the background on the stage as a mountain is likened to the quote “Be seen but not heard.” But as she embraces her body and finding joy her gray falls away to reveal the happy pink we see through most of the story. 



4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

  • Booklist starred, 04/15/23

  • Caldecott Medal, 2024

  • Coretta Scott King Author Honor, 2024

  • Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, 2024

  • Horn Book Magazine starred, 05/01/23

  • Kirkus Reviews starred, 06/15/23

  • New York Times, 08/20/23

  • Publishers Weekly starred, 04/03/23

  • School Library Journal Xpress starred, 06/02/23


Full-Text Reviews
Booklist starred (April 15, 2023 (Vol. 119, No. 16))

Preschool-Grade 3. Award-winning author-illustrator Harrison paints a striking portrait of a Black girl standing tall and standing up to the biased judgments of a world that tries to cut her down in size. As an infant, adults praise the main character, remarking, “What a big girl you are!” As she grows, these same words are used to make her feel small. When she gets stuck in a swing, a teacher admonishes, “Don’t you think you’re too big for that?!” The child’s pain and sadness are palpable in the nuanced chalk pastel and digital illustrations. When she stands self-consciously in front of a mirror, the stinging words of playground jeers are printed on her body. At ballet class, her radiant pink leotard and tutu are muted in a shade of “husky gray,” and she becomes background scenery. With mounting anxiety, the young girl grows bigger and more constrained on each page as she internalizes unsolicited advice and negative comments (“Aren’t you too big to be crying?” “Why can’t you just fit in?”). Through self-love and self-acceptance, she is able to push out and hold space for herself. In an intimate author’s note, Harrison shares personal reflections and her own childhood experiences of sitting “in the crosshairs of adultification bias and anti-fat bias.” This emotionally and socially resonant picture book stands out with its exceptional strength, beauty, and grace.


  • 5. CONNECTIONS

Related Books:

Yoon, H.. (202). I’m a Unicorn. Candlewick Press. ISBN: 978-1-53621-976-0

Robinson, C. (2020). You Matter. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-1-53442-169-1

Noor, N. (2021). Beautifully Me. Simon and Schuster Book for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-1-53448-587-7

Activities:

Wordle created by classmates for each student in the class


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