Big Bug

by Henry Cole

Size is relative, but everything is worth seeing in this concept book from the illustrator of And Tango Makes Three—now available in a brand-new format with spiral binding and cardstock pages for an engaging read-aloud experience.Beginning with a beautiful close-up of a “big” ladybug, this adorable book artfully depicts the concept of scale as it zooms out from the bug and moves to a flower, a cow, and all the way to an expansive spread of sky. Young readers will love the simple text and lush illustrations of the animals, objects, and scenery of a farm, and they’ll delight in seeing how something can be “big” then seem very “little” when they turn the page! This beloved sweet story about size and scale is now available in a Storytime Together edition, which is designed so the book can be folded in half and easily read aloud to an audience. The text will face the reader and the illustrations will face the audience. The spiral-bound book also comes with a cardstock jacket for convenient shelving and storage. This innovative format is sure to bring a rollickingly fun storytime experience to classrooms, libraries, living rooms, and video calls with family and friends!

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Animals, Childrens, Nature, Mathematics, Fiction

28 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2014

About the author

Henry Cole was a celebrated science teacher for many years before turning his talents to children's books. He has worked on nearly one hundred and fifty books for children, including Nesting, Unspoken, Big Bug, A Nest for Celeste, Jack's Garden, and On Meadowview Street. Henry loves being outside where he can sketch and write.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many things may look BIG . . . until you compare them with other BIGGER things.

This is a lovely book with beautiful illustrations for the youngest readers/listeners.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know all of my recent picture book reviews are going to make it sound like I'm obsessed with endpapers...well, it's true. I am. First I look at the cover, then I look at the endpapers. And this book does them nicely - the cover shows a ladybug just too big to fit, the front endpapers show dozens of tiny ladybugs, and the back endpapers are a mega-closeup of one, which is perfect for a book about scale. The text is simple enough to be an easy reader, the pictures are lovely - not too soft, not too crisp, and the changing scale keeps the pace going nicely. What will be 'big' on the next page? The story escapes predictability by going backwards again, but with some new objects this time, all in the same realm of a farm.

[Mr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very simple two words per page but good for learning big and small

[Luann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever book that uses a few words paired with some great illustrations to teach the big concept of comparisons and relative size.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This clever book about size uses comparisons to show that an object can be both big and small compared to something else. It starts with a ladybug, with comparisons getting bigger and bigger, and then smaller and smaller again. Objects are sized not just by placing them next to each other, but also by using distance to show how an object that is big can seem to be small compared to an object close up. The illustrations are colorful and clearly and effectively demonstrate the concepts. I like all the ladybugs crawling all over the front endpapers, and the one huge one on the back endpapers. Cole uses the same format of comparing big and small to describe himself on the dust jacket flap. Clever indeed! Highly recommended!

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's a great book for teaching the concept of perception and comparison. Readers first encounter a big bug, but then, when they turn the page, the bug is little compared to the big leaf it is sitting on. This sequence is carried out until it encompasses the big, big sky. What happens next is rather confusing. It seems it should stop there, but the author backs up and begins illustrations of depth perception. The first picture in this sequence is a big tree in the foreground and a little barn in the background. From there the pictures seem to move forward.

It's a bit confusing, but still enjoyable.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at perspective as readers move from close-ups on different images to larger images moving ever bigger and bigger before bringing it all back home.

Very cool book for sharing with the PreK-2 crowd. The author/illustrator takes a difficult concept and breaks it down in a creative way.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry Cole cleverly weaves perspective into this farm yard concept book. Each double page spread shows one large one small object, but objects change according to perspective. The house is "small house" compared to the 'big barn' when it' off in the distance, but as the reader approaches the house the house becomes large compared to house's window wherein resides a sleepy (big) dog taking a small nap. Bright colorful engaging illustrations deliver an excellent concept book for preschool and toddlers for learning BIG and LITTLE.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sort of 2 books in one.

In the first half of the book, we start by viewing something up close (BIG) and then zoom out and see it next to something else that is BIG.

Once we reach the middle of the story, we start going back down in size, but now we see things at a distance and they're small and then once we come closer to them they're BIG.

So, it's about actual size comparisons and also about perspective in art.

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous pictures. A simple and quick read or read aloud. It'd work great for comparisons. I also love that what is big on one page, is little on the next page. The repetition in "big" and "little" on each page makes it easy to have crown participation as well as build the confidence in a new reader.

Family Storytime or Toddler Storytime. Could possibly do B2B- a dancing storytime if you had movement with each page. Possibly, Big- make yourself big and Little- scrunch down little.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big and small as relative, but also as something based on perspective! In the first part of the book, we slowly zoom out, seeing things that seemed big as small compared to other things. In the second part, we change locations and sometimes zoom in, seeing how things that seemed small were big from a different perspective

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars (I really liked it).

This was a pretty simple book but it really shows scale in a easy to understand way. The book starts with items getting bigger and bigger and then midway switches to things getting smaller. It shows that the bug is big until you look at a leaf that is bigger so now the bug seems small. Good idea for a concept book!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depending on how you look at things, so many things can be both big and small. Comparing different things in the world will help introduce different perspectives and get kids thinking. Go on an adventure around a farm to learn about how things can be both big and small at the same time! Recommended for storytimes for older kids.

[Marian Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

04/29/25 Absolutely perfect for a bug-themed family storytime! It's a simple, yet very effective book on perspective/scale and it takes the reader on a journey from a tiny bug to the big, big sky and back down to a dog taking a small nap. Using a louder, deeper voice for the "big" pages and a higher, squeakier voice for the "small" pages kept them interested.

[Aleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute introduction to perspective (without using such vocabulary). The big bug becomes a little bug on the next page when you see it on a big leaf. The comparisons continue from there. I read it for Storytime, and a mom specifically wanted to get the reference to read again later.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each spread shows a comparison between two objects big and small, but when you turn the page, you realize size is relative. A good picture book to teach size and comparison. Really good for toddler storytime, especially alongside Jim Gill's "My Ups and Downs."

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book with bright pictures. Children will enjoy learning about big and little with this fun book

[Donna Mork · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaches perspective. Up close, far away, Something is big, but if it is sitting on something larger, it is then small. Very cute.

[Molly Springer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite for sure. It was a book elijah and I could read together!

[Judi Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book about scale.

[Tiziana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book portraying various sizes and perspectives with such nice and colourful illustrations

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opposites - Big - little.

Would be a fun mentor text for a writing project.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book that teaches about perspective to older children, yet has beautiful illustrations which captivate even the tiniest reader. Definitely worth reading!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book teaches the difference between big and little by comparing different things. Not a lot of story, but the illustrations are nice.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big and small perspectives.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun book, and an interesting way to play with perspective.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures that translate the concept of large and small very well to little people. Not gonna lie, it's a bit dull for the grownups, but the pictures are riveting for the toddlers!

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comparisons, perspective, and relative size.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

decent toddler book

not a lot of meat

short and sweet

decent illustrations

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The image on the cover doesn't do the illustrations inside justice. Really lovely images. Text is kept to a minimum. Good toddler book.