Title: Am I BIG or Am I Little?
Author: Eileen Simonsen
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-4653-4856-2
Pages: 28
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
Am I BIG or Am I Little? by author Eileen Simonsen answers a question most kids are confused over – being called ‘big’ by grown-ups complimenting children’s development, but still ‘little’ by being a youngster. Which are they? Both, we come to learn while reading this delightful perplexing dichotomy of defining terms – the answer is, whichever works best at the time.
Simonsen saw this with her own grandchild, thus giving creative origin to Violet, a two and-a-half year old girl. Throughout this book, Violet is confused as she is told she is ‘big’ and then ‘little’ as she has many episodes confront her; such as being a ‘big girl’ when blowing out her birthday candles – yet a ‘little girl’ and not to play with matches. Also being a ‘big girl’ to run fast in her backyard, but a ‘little girl’ when it comes to having to hold a hand to cross a street. So on and so forth are the examples. I liked the one about Violet being big enough to tie her shoelaces, but being too small to wear her aunt’s high-heeled shoes.
As Christmas approaches, the theme of the book is revealed as it is best to be a ‘little girl’ so you get more presents! This makes for wonderful theme and with the artistically expressive illustrations by Marvin Alonso the book achieves the perfect ‘story-board’ visual and text convergence so important in books of this genre.
Am I BIG or Am I Little? answers a question, I have not seen in other books, in such a way it becomes a good bedtime story to be read over and over. It helps children understand the multiple ways they are told they a ‘big’ without losing their innocence of childhood and still able to enjoy the benefits of being ‘little.’ After reading this, it reminded me of the song in Peter Pan with the lyrics “I won’t grow up.”
My recommendation to all grown-ups is to get Am I BIG or Am I Little? and read it often to your little ones. Explain to your children and grandchildren they will always be your little ones – and Christmas will always be a joyous gift-giving time of year, forever and always.
