“Big” by Vashti Harrison
Winner of the 2024 Caldecott Medal and finalist for both the Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator awards, Big is about a girl who was always judged for her size. Constant insults make her insecure: she is given a myriad of hurtful nicknames by her peers and does not receive the same opportunities from authority figures in her life. She can’t be a flower in the school play; she has to play the mountain. When she expresses concerns, she is dismissed: “it was just a joke,” or “you’re too sensitive.” By the end, she learns to not take their harmful words to heart. Rather than changing herself to be accepted, she grows to love herself and all the things that make her different.
I adore the lessons in this book about acceptance of both others and one’s self. It teaches kids to appreciate their differences and teaches others to not judge for being different.
Author’s Website: Vashti Harrison
Read Aloud: https://youtu.be/mHWOiShs6B4?si=-n1u2W3-giFRaV98
