"The words stung
and were hard to shake off.
She began to feel
not herself
out of place
exposed
judged
yet invisible."
When she was young, this little girl knew it was good to be 'big'. It meant she knew her letters and numbers, used her manners, and always helped with cleaning up. She ate her food, and that was good. She grew and grew some more; it was all the way it should be.
Suddenly, it was not! Everyone noticed that she was big, and that didn't seem to be a good thing anymore. While playing on the playground one day, she got stuck in the baby swing. The teasing and negative observations began.
"Don't you think you're too big for that!?"
Those words hurt. Many were willing to offer advice; none helped make her feel better about herself. At ballet class, she was crushed by comments made about the costume she should wear.
"You're just too big!"
Seven wordless spreads show her hiding in a corner on her own, and growing ever bigger until tears are all she has left. She is even criticized for those tears.
"Aren't you too big to be crying?
Have you tried being smaller?"
Once she has cried out all the hurt trapped inside, she begins to make space for herself. She speaks about the hurtful words. Not everyone understands or listens. Some do their best. When she sees for herself that she likes who she is - compassionate, gentle, smart, funny, sweet, imaginative, kind - she knows she is good just as she is!
Digital, textured illustrations are extraordinary and fully connect the child to readers. Ms. Harrison's powerful images show how what others say hurts this child to the core. The child continues to grow bigger as the hurt grows. Through her careful words and remarkable artwork, Ms. Harrison invites readers to take careful note of the biases held concerning body image. She celebrates this child who learns to love herself.
This exceptional book should be on every bookshelf.
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