I Don't Want to be Small

by Laura Ellen Anderson

NO! I do NOT want to be so small!I wish I'd keep growing so I can be tall. This little boy is fed up with being so little. He wants to be as tall as his friends and his big brother. But when he loses his teddy bear up a tree, not even his new tall friend can get it back for him. Maybe with a little bit of help they can reach the bear together …A fun and inspiring tale about learning to love who we are, no matter what size. A perfect picture book for little people who don't want to be so little! From the brilliant Laura Ellen Anderson – the author/illustrator of the brilliantly fun I Don't Want Curly Hair and the bestselling Amelia Fang series

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2019

About the author

Laura Ellen Anderson is the illustrator of several books for children, as well as the author-illustrator of the graphic novel Evil Emperor Penguin. Laura Ellen Anderson lives in London.

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new book in the, as I would call it, I Don’t Want… series! For me it is new at least, haha.


I was so happy when I spotted this book in the library! I didn’t know that there were more books in the series, I read I Don’t Want Curly Hair back when it was released, and now I find out there are more books! Whoo! I don’t know if my library has them, but otherwise I will have to get them myself. I just love Laura Ellen Anderson’s works!

In this one we meet a little boy who just wants to be big. Out of his friends he is the smallest. The clothes his older brother gives him because they don’t fit him? Still too big! Everything the boy wants to do he can’t as he is too small. When in a tantrum he throws his beloved teddy in a tree (yes really, and sorry to the boy but I laughed) he is in a pickle! We see him try all sorts of things to get it out of the tree. I was cheering him on and hoping that he would find a solution!

And a solution he finds and one that made me aww! It is the power of friendship and I just loved and adored seeing the two cooperate and team up! And then there is a very sweet and happy ending and I was just so happy for him.

I also loved seeing the girl from the Curly Hair book again along with some others I recognised. So fun!

And of course the art is fabulous again!

All in all, a fun book about acceptance, friendship, growing up, and maybe not throwing your teddy in a tree. XD

Review first posted https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice story about it being okay to be different. The little child in the story doesn't want to be small, they want to grow and be as tall as all the other children. They try being a flower but that doesn't help. Then one day they make friends with a tall girl and realise that being different is good and together you can still be great friends. I think this book would not only help children who feel much smaller than their peers but also children who feel different in other ways. The story could start discussions about it being okay to be different and how we can make sure everyone is included. Cross-curricular links could also be made to science, discussing what flowers need to grow. I would use the book in year 1-year 3.

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

super fun super fresh read

[Jelka · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

A little boy wants to be taller. Being short makes him so angry, he throws his teddy into a tree. And now he can't get it out, no matter what he tries. He asks a tall girl for help ... but she can't reach teddy either. But together they can save teddy. In the end the boy isn't bothered by being short anymore. He has a friend he likes and both of their bodies are perfect the way they are.

[Juanita Abundio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book describes the experiences of a boy who often feels upset because his height doesn’t allow him to enjoy many things, such as riding roller coasters, wearing his favorite clothes, or even saving his bunny from being stuck in the tree. He later learns that his differences are what makes him unique and even gains a friend along the way.
The use of ABAB rhyming scheme creates this lyrical element to the story that drives its progression into the plot. Its performative nature and linguistic freedom as used in Lear’s poems create an element of emotion, such that readers can understand the complexity of emotions the boy is going through in relation to his heights. It doesn’t directly show that children should accept themselves for who they are, but rather shows the journey of self love the little boy takes on to finally understand that he doesn’t need to fit into the standards to be happy. Along the way, children can connect with the character and are motivated to apply the story's message to their own life. According to John Locke, children have a blank state of mind, but despite his young age, the protagonist already has pre-existing knowledge of how to help himself grow in height, such as watering and implanting himself in soil, or eating his veggies to grow strong. In relation to Bishop’s idea of books providing a mirror for children to reflect upon themselves, children can see that physical components of the self are meaningless when they should instead learn to love their attributes, just as the boy did.

[Angel Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story starts off with a little boy explaining how it isn't fair to be small. He wants to be tall. The boy can't see in crowds and his friends are taller than him so sometimes they forget that he's even there. The roller coaster has a height limit, and he can't ride it. Instead, he finds another ride and watches his friends. He has a brother who's tall and passes his clothes down, but he can't fit them because he's too small. The little boy expresses to his teddy bear how mad he is, but in doing so, he threw it, and now it's stuck in the 5 he's too small. He repeatedly jumped and made numerous efforts to get his teddy. He even tried eating greens to make him tall to teach his teddy bear. He tried to be a flower, but it was too dirty for him, and it didn't work. The next day, he ran into a taller girl who offered to get the bear, but she couldn't reach it. Suddenly, he had an idea to get on the girl’s shoulder. Now he is the tallest he's ever been and his folks with joy. As a teacher, I would use this book to teach kids to love themselves and their flaws. You can make the best of what you have, and u are perfect the way you were made.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story from Laura Ellen Anderson - the author/illustrator of the brilliantly fun I Don't Want Curly Hair and the bestselling Amelia Fang series. We love books that promote loving ourselves - flaws and all, particularly ones that show that boys also have body image issues. The hero of this story, although frustrated with being small, uses his imagination to come up with a variety of ways to be tall. None of them work and his irritations only increase. With his new friend they can work together to solve the problem ahead of him. Many children will relate to the frustrations expressed in this great read aloud book with rhyming text and bright illustrations.

Suitable for 4+

[Roben · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy is frustrated that he is the smallest. He can't ride the big-kid rides at the fair. His taller brothers hand-me-down clothes don't fit. He is so frustrated, he tosses his beloved Teddy up into the air - where it gets stuck in a tree. Which, of course, our not-so-tall boy cannot reach. He tries to think of ways to save his Teddy but nothing works. Until.. a taller girl asks if she can help. Sadly, she is not tall enough to reach Teddy. But what if they work together?

[Emma Falduto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a boy who is short. He talks about how much he does not like being small and how many struggles he goes through because of his height. He tries to do so many different things to be taller and none of them work. When he meets a girl that is taller than him and they become friends he realizes that he doesn't need to be tall he just needed a friend. They are both perfect the way they are. I would use this book in my classroom.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lively illustrations, good rhyming text, and an ending that includes sharing and friendship. It's not a favorite mostly because, in the edition we have at least, the illustrations are a bit low-res and washed out. Maybe it's just colored pencil, but it doesn't captivate like other picture books we have.

[Cristina Di Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non voglio essere piccolo è un’esilarante storia per bambini che sottolinea come sia meraviglioso essere così come siamo. Il piccolo protagonista, un bambino di bassa statura, è stanco di essere così piccolo. Proprio per questo motivo vuole crescere in fretta e diventare alto come i suoi amici. https://ilmondodichri.com/non-voglio-...

[Dannon Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book would be great for helping kids feel more comfortable in their own skin and displays good examples of what friendship looks like. Not sure if i would use this for read aloud but i would definitely keep it in my classroom library for kids to browse. Has really cute illustrations too!

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anak kecil yang merasa kecil ternyata gak suka menjadi kecil yaa. Selama ini dia merasa terkucil, bahkan saat teman2nya naik wahana yang besar, dia tidak boleh karena tingginya belum cukup.

Tapi perasaan 'kecil'nya berubah saat suatu hari dia bertemu dengan anak perempuan yang lebih tinggi dari dia.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rhyming, humorous picture book about being shorter or smaller than others. The boy unnamed finds a friend and together they solve his problem and become best friends. I love the meter and the theme in this book. Makes rhyming seem so easy to do as a writer, but it isn't.

[Sandra Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story about being yourself in a fun way. We are a family of small so this story really hit home with us. It's great having a story about acceptance and friendship, self worth and problem solving without being sad.

[Kiley Stewart]

If you are looking for a book to add to your classroom library for young kids to teach them more about confidence look no further! This book involves a kid who wishes to not be as small and how he finds a friend who is small like him and they work together to complete and task. Amazing read!

[Lupita Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un librito para aprender a querernos sin importar nuestra estatura

[Hend Adel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it .. so funny 💚
Great for younger children who wished they were the older ones

[watermelonreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

another one that rhymes :) the main character forges an unexpected friendship with someone and they learn about accepting them for who they are

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An okay read about a young boy who wishes to be taller, but finds acceptance of his height when he makes a new friend.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reminder to not focus on things that bug you, but to make friends and work together instead.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

These accurately depicts the real-life struggles of short people (I know from experience). Rhyming text makes this fun, and it's a great story for a feelings story time theme.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kid is frustrated about being small, until it helps him make a new friend and they can work together.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I liked when Teddy was stuck up in the tree and when he was smelly.”- Luke

This was super fun, one of my favorite kid books in awhile! - Mama

[Ella McManis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Don't Want to be Small is a cute story showing the challenges of not being tall. The book shows students that it's okay to be small or tall and gain confidence.

[Jan Nowak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opowieść jest w porządku ale brakło jej polotu.

[Pamela Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡Me encanto esta lectura! Me parece una opción excelente para aquellos padres que quieran ayudar a sus hijos a aceptarse y amarse tal como son: altos o bajitos, flacos o gorditos. realmente este libro te ayuda a comprender de manera muy dulce que hay cosas que no podemos cambiar, pero que podemos aprender a amar y aceptar, por que son esas cosas las que nos hacen especiales y nos ayudan a rodearnos de personas que pueden llegar a ser igual de especiales que nosotros.

Además, toda esta enseñanza se ve reforzada por las hermosas ilustraciones que acompañan la historia, ilustraciones que reflejan página a página el sentir del personaje y sus peculiares aventuras.

♦PUEDEN VER ALGUNAS DE LAS ILUSTRACIONES DE ESTE LIBRO EN MI BLOG: https://cronicasdeunalectoramx.blogsp... ♦

[Melainebooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il existe déjà des albums sur le thème de la petite taille et pourtant, moults enfants en souffrent à l'école. Cet album leur apprendra à dédramatiser la situation et à comprendre qu'avec un allié, la vie est plus facile.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un beau petit album sympathique et bien illustré. :)