by Vashti Harrison
Little Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group, Inc.
2023
60 pages
ISBN: 9780316353229
A National Book Award Finalist
A happy child, a growing child, a caring child is told, "What a big girl you are!" and "What a good girl you are!" and it is good...UNTIL...the words are the same but the tone changes. Sitting on Santa's lap, "You're a big girl, aren't you?" Standing among classmates, she is the tallest and largest. She wants to fade into the background.
When adults begin to tell her, "You're too big," and kids begin to laugh at her, calling her cruel names, the girl doesn't fit in anywhere. The words sting and she disappears within herself. When adults try to "fix" her, it hurts her feelings. She decides to give them their words back. All the hurtful words, she gives back to those who hurt her. She sees a way out. She will make more room for herself: for her imagination, her caring, her empathy, her kindness.
This lovely picture book will resonate with so many girls and boys who are dancers. Sadly, ballerinas are supposed to be lithe and tiny, and BIG is not celebrated in the dance world (or anywhere else usually). The girl owns her uniqueness and bigness and does not want to change. She likes the way she is.
The inspirational moment the girl spreads her wings to make more room for herself in the world is captured beautifully on a double fold out spread that will take your breath away. Illustrations alone tell the story of the girl's journey to accept herself and insist that others accept her as she is.
This is a powerful book and a must-read for every child. The customer reviews on Amazon are full of stories of women who bought this book for themselves because of the same type "big" shaming that happened to them as children.
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