Big by Vashti Harrison

In Big, winner of the 2024 Caldecott medal, one young girl learns to be kind to herself, despite the words of others.

Big by Vashti Harrison, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2023. 60 pages.

• Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8
• Recommended For: Ages 6-8

Once upon a time there was a little girl who wasn’t so little. She was a big baby. She became a big girl, praised for finishing her food. Life was good. Till suddenly, the word “big” was no longer used as a praise. Rather, this beautiful, happy little girl starts hearing that she is too big. After an embarrassing incident on the playground (which really did happen to the author) she is surrounded by unkind words and laughter. But will she let these words trap her and weigh her down? No, by the end, she has found her own solution to unkind words.

What’s the “big” deal?

As one can tell from a quick glance at the cover, Big has garnered a lot of awards. Flipping through Big is a visual and even at times visceral experience. Vashti Harrison uses colors and art to surround her story. Unkind words are written in gray. Some of the words are very unkind. Still, Harrison uses words sparingly. Her illustrations capture a young girl struggling with who she is and who people say she is. 

Ultimately, Big is a reminder that words can hurt. But whether we let the words of the world define us? That is our decision, according to Big. Adults are mentioned but not very present in the story except offering words that vary from unkind to generally unhelpful. I found myself longing for this little girl to have a parent wrap her up in a hug. 

As Janie has written, not all books about body positivity are helpful. Yet in a world where questions about a child’s body can quickly lapse into questions of gender identity, the ending of Big is refreshing. Our ballet-loving heroine, after a good cry, realizes that she can let the words of others shape her. Or, she can choose her own words and remember, “that she was just a girl. And she was good.” Big concludes with a joyful moment of self-awareness, but Christian readers might sense more. The word “good” also brings echoes of our Creator looking at his Creation and calling it good. And that is good! 

Overall, a sweet story with a serious message and a reminder to be kind: kind to others, and kind to yourself. 

Considerations:

• Language: One profanity is exclaimed in the story’s background
• Discuss with your reader: how might Big‘s story have changed if an adult/parent was there? Do you think it would have been better?

Overall Rating: 4/5

• Literary/Artistic Rating: 4
• Worldview Rating: 4

Read more about our ratings here.

Recommended Reading at Redeemed Reader

• Book Review: Don’t Blame the Mud by Marty Machowski pictures sin and points to the gospel.
• Resource: What Is “Body Positivity”? Janie explores the problems of focusing on body positivity.
• Book Review: *God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell and Catalina Echeverri a wonderful book about loving our neighbors.

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