When You Were Small

by Sara O'Leary, Julie Morstad (Illustrator)

When father puts young Henry to bed he always says "Dad, tell me about when I was small." His father complies, telling Henry how, when he was little, he used to be so tiny that he could take his pet ant out for a walk on a leash! What's more, he got his hair combed with a toothbrush and was such a little boy that he could even fit in his father's shirt pocket. Henry was so small that his father's original name for him, Hieronymous, wouldn't fit.

An enchanting, comic bedtime story that can make even the smallest child feel big, When You Were Small is the perfect book for children in a hurry to grow up.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Art, Fiction, Canada, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2006

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture book about a father asked to tell stories of when his son was small. The artwork is sweet, endearing, colorful, but not flashy. Intimate. Humorous. Each page is a different answer to the question, all of them inventive and cute and clever. There's no development to the story, no arc to the story, but each answer with the art is so great it overcomes that shortcoming for me.

[María Greene F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jajaja, muy divertido y original, perfecto para echar a volar la imaginación e ilustrado con dibujos preciosos. Me encantó.

Creo eso sí que los escenarios descritos son más para adultos que para niños, porque de chicos no se dan cuenta todavía de los límites reales del mundo y también porque pueden ser un tanto rebuscados para esa edad. Pero creo que igual es un punto perfecto para abrir una discusión sobre cómo fue cuando cada quien era también pequeño y es subir asi nuevas historias.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love....

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A father and son sit down together in this clever picture-book from Canadian author/illustrator team Sara O'Leary and Julie Morstad, as the father shares a number of stories about the time when Henry, the son, was small. From sleeping in one of his mother's shoes to using a ruler as a toboggan, a number of unexpected things happened to him when he small. When Henry asks whether these stories are true, his father replies: "Well... don't you remember...?"

When You Were Small is one of a number of titles that O'Leary and Morstad have produced together, including the similarly designed When I Was Small and Where You Came From , as well as the more recent This Is Sadie . It ably captures the imaginative game played by one father and son, as the former treats the word "small' in its literal sense, imagining his son as a tiny boy, rather than an infant. The accompanying artwork is appealing, although not Morstad's best (which can be very good indeed). Recommended to picture-book readers looking for engaging father-son stories.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but not memorable. I have a feeling kids would lose interest after a few "when you were smalls," although the scenarios do get more outrageous as they go along.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is When You Were Small, written by Sara O’Leary and illustrated by Julie Morstad, a whimsical tale of Henry, and what life was like when he was very, very small.

Each night, Henry and his father play a sort of game, and it always begins with Henry’s request: “Tell me about when I was small.” His father then relates (possibly made-up) stories of when Henry was small. Very small. About six inches tall or so. He would sleep in a slipper with a washcloth for a blanket and a teabag for a pillow. He used a ruler as a toboggan. His parents would take the toy castle out of the aquarium, and Henry would be king of it. When Henry questions if all these stories are true, his father simply smiles and replies, “Don’t you remember?”

Simple and sweet. The story explores a popular children’s book theme, miniaturized life, with fun, playful scenarios and examples of little Henry in the big world. The illustrations are key here, and Morstad’s timeless pen-and-ink art style creates Henry’s tiny world with delicate detail that makes everything feel as small as described by the text. It’s earnest, slightly silly, and inspires the imagination of little readers to look at things from a different perspective. The length is fine, and JJ enjoyed it, so we can definitely recommend this one. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great bedtime story. D and I talked about if he was small like Henry, compared Henry to Arietty, and laughed about having a bath in a teapot. Deacon knows that he was a baby like his cousin, and not just a smaller version of himself, but for some reason he thinks I was small like this. It was interesting to get him talking about how people grow up.

The illustrations were sweet and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read nonsensical but fun stories to their children.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What child hasn't asked about "what was I like when I was small?" Henry's father makes up some adorable little stories about when his son, Henry, was small. This book would be great to share with preschool age children who are developing their feel/skill of knowing what is real and what is made-up. Walking a pet ant, being used as a chess piece, bathing in a tea pot! What fun and funny little stories.

[T Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a magical book. The premise is a lot of fun. The wording is delightful and great for reading aloud and the pictures are just perfect. There are several I'd happily frame and put on my wall.

This was a big hit with the 3-4 year old set. At first I wasn't sure if they got the premise, but about 1/2 way through it became clear they were in on the joke. Lots of requests to read and reread this one.

[Pat Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet book with charming old-fashioned illustrations. A father tells his son about what life was like when he was small. But not small as being a baby or a toddler. Small as in being a fully functioning boy but just the size of Stuart Little. Very nice. I hope this book gets the audience it deserves.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

A picture book that captures the playful interaction between a father and son remembering—imagining—the things he did when he was small. The tongue-in-cheek text with its inventive scenarios is perfectly offset by the spare, whimsical illustrations, leaving the book with the perfect balance of credibility and surprise. Reviewed for www.GoodReadingGuide.com

[Jade Ralston]

This is a lovely story about a father and son bonding at bedtime. It shows how the father remembers his son. The son enjoys hearing about it. I like how it shows the father being there for him and putting him to bed. I read books where the mother always does that. The father can too. I liked seeing that. The pictures were colorful and and just right for the story.

[Snowman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I'm not sure. A kid asks his dad what he did when he was small, and his dad makes many lies about ridiculous things that could never happen. And guess what? The kid believes him! I didn't like this book.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute book about a father describing to his son what the son was like when he was "small." It includes things like taking an ant out for a walk on a leash and bathing in a tea kettle.

Lovely illustrations.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would read this to my children. Were I to have children. And were they not to be little jerks.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

dreamy...

[raul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mainly read classic children's books to the kids but this is a new one I (and the kids) really enjoy.

[Laura Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet. Reminded me just a little bit of A A Milne's poetry from When We Were Six, which is a high compliment indeed.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

What is the point? It's kind of like Stuart Little without the plot.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and funny little book about a dad's tall tale for his small son.

[LaLa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy's fav. the preschooler is unimpressed.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and charming.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imaginative play on being "small." Simple, fun illustrations. Adventurous, but low key and sparse. Kind of anti-climactic.

[Kristen McBee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not whimsical enough to understand this book.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dad," says Henry. "Tell me about when I was small."
A sweet story about a little boy and his dad. It took me back to childhood and the times my dad would tell me stories and I would sometimes wonder if they were true. I think that's the point. :)
Illustrations are adorable and really well done, too.

(I miss you, Dad.)

[Ian McHugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little story to fire the imagination of youngsters. The Dad in the story tells fibs about his son when he was small. I could see the cogs going around in my daughter's head as we read - did I wear a thimble for a hat? Etc. Etc. Beautifully illustrated by Julie Morstad in the edition I had too.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

More lullabies, legends, lies, and tall small tales, this time told by dad to his inquiring son. The sweet illustrations by Julie Morstad are the real star here.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story (and whimsical!) of a father telling his son of when the son was small.

[Kasandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original, inventive, fun, sweet, this is a perfect book to read aloud to a child!! I love the charming illustrations and the delightful story. A keeper for sure.

[Melissa Swistek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three year old got a kick out of this one.