Many children struggle to understand what becoming
BIG means.
The girl/main character in Karen Blair’s stunning picture book, When
I’m Big, questions and imagines what this could mean.
Just how big will I be?
Will she be bigger than others? What adjustments
will be needed to accommodate her size if she is?
A bigger bath? A bigger
bed?
Her mind becomes cluttered with all the images the thought of growing
big brings with it.
Will she be too big for everything?
It is when Mum explains that someone smaller will soon
join the family, that the understanding of being bigger becomes an interesting,
exciting and acceptable thing.
Supporting the text, expressive illustrations convey
the insecurities children may experience when a sibling is facing change. They simultaneously
reflect love, anticipation, togetherness and family.
The gorgeous end papers reveal the characters, situations,
and important theme built into the story. Set out in framed images, each picture
is a like a subject that can be used as a prompt for discussions between parent
and child, or teacher and child, about a new addition to the family.
Title: When I’m Big
Author/Illustrator: Karen Blair
Publisher: Penguin Random House, $19.99
Publication Date: 4 April 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761045813
For ages: 2 – 6
Type: Picture Book
