Big

by Vashti Harrison

Winner of the Caldecott Medal! A Coretta Scott King Award Author and Illustrator Honor book, a National Book Award finalist, and a New York Times bestseller! This deeply moving story shares valuable lessons about fitting in, standing out, and the beauty of joyful acceptance, from an award-winning creator.

The first picture book written and illustrated by award-winning creator Vashti Harrison traces a child’s journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. With spare text and exquisite illustrations, this emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small is a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time.

66 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2023

About the author

Vashti Harrison, author and illustrator of the bestselling Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, is an artist, author, and filmmaker with a passion for storytelling. She earned her MFA in film and video from California Institute of the Arts, where she snuck into animation and illustration classes to learn from Disney and DreamWorks legends. There she rekindled a love for drawing and painting. Now she uses her love for both film and illustration to craft beautiful stories for children.

Reviews

[Brenta Agard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is tender and powerful at the same time. Vashti Harrison tells the story of a girl who feels judged for her size, but slowly learns to see her own strength and beauty. The words are simple but emotional, and the illustrations carry a lot of feeling. It’s an honest story that speaks to anyone who has ever felt different. Uplifting and beautifully done.

[Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustration 4.5
Story- 3
I was expecting more of the story. Didn’t quite deliver

[Kamryn Amich]

Big by Vashti Harrison is about a young girl who is told she is “big,” which at first feels good, but then some people’s words start to make her feel small and hurt inside. She learns how words can both hurt and heal and decides to make space for herself and believe in who she is.

It’s a good book because it shows how important it is to love yourself, how words affect how we feel, and how standing up for yourself can make you stronger.