Big and Small and In-between by Carter Higgins illustrated by Daniel Miyares

 

I have coveted this 2022 book since I first saw it many months ago, so when one of our best Sydney bookshops (Gleebooks) announced their 20% sale prior to moving to new premises I was able to grab this book for less than $30. 

There was a competition recently for the best end papers. Big and small and in-between could certainly be a strong contender. These end papers are different front and back, the front ones have a sunrise hue and the back ones night is falling. These pages are filled with the big and small objects from the book such as a chipped tea cup, a key, shells, coins, a cassette tape, dice, a whistle, a feather and a skipping ripe. 

Publisher blurb: This lovely, lyrical book collects the world by size. Divided into three chapters with three specially paper-engineered separations, every page encapsulates one precious moment that perfectly represents both a size and an experience. A beautiful, giftable meditation on what it means to be a kid - and what it means to be a human. This book has a beautiful blend of lyrical text and interpretive illustrations. The big, small and in-between things all lend themselves to deep conversations.

The three chapters in this book are big, in-between and small. Let's Talk Picture books explains the paper folds:

But perhaps the most exciting part of the book's design is the different paper folds we see on the section headers. Decreasing in intricacy and size as they go, they perfectly build up to the bonus surprise chapter and gatefold at the end of the book. The impact of the gatefold is amazing after all that!

I love all the pages in this book but especially these:

BIG - the trophy you got for the jump-rope contest because your feet remembered the pattern.

In-Between - the leftover balloons that are losing their oomph but not all the way droopy.

SMALL Things - the PLIP of a raindrop and the PUDDLE where it falls for a butterfly to sip.

I would be tempted to share this book very slowly with a class of older students (Grades 4-6) and only reveal one page each day. This book might not survive multiple library borrowers because of the paper engineering but it is one you could gift to a teacher or a special friend or perhaps it might be a gift to celebrate the arrival of a new baby. 

Truly a book that soothes the worries and congratulates the soul for being here and celebrates the amazing thing we are living - together - called a life.  These are magical moments that connect us.  These are sad and happy things we all share because we are human beings living side by side on this planet.  What an amazing celebration of being alive and here today. A Book and a Hug

Here are some other books illustrated by Daniel Miyares:

I previously talked about Bring me a Rock!