Wohnoutka's animal cast is beautifully expressive, and his use of relative size within compositions is masterful, easily getting across to readers how the world feels to Bear and Squirrel.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Mike Wohnoutka condenses the exhilaration and terrors of school entry into a few brief phrases in So Big!, a picture book for young children filled with warm-hued illustrations that exude reassurance.” —The Wall Street Journal
“This simple yet thought-provoking picture book . . . would be a perfect read for a new kindergartner.” —School Library Journal
“By the end of the book, readers will be all set for school too: this is sure to provoke shared laughter that will calm the fears of even the most unready parents.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review, on DAD'S FIRST DAY
“Wohnoutka's gouache paintings poke gentle fun at Daddy, and they'll elicit giggles. . . It should leave new students with an extra jolt of confidence.” —Publishers Weekly on DAD'S FIRST DAY
“The colorful gouache illustrations will elicit giggles from young readers as they imagine their parents behaving like Oliver's dad.” —School Library Journal on DAD'S FIRST DAY
“This book is bold, original, and funny, and should be part of every picture-book collection.” —Starred review, School Library Journal on MOO!
“The readaloud's the real fun here.” —BCCB, starred review, on MOO!
“Good barnyard fun, with nods to Mo Willems' aspirational Pigeon and Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin's enterprising Duck.” —Kirkus Reviews on MOO!
★ 2019-05-08
Using just six words, Wohnoutka manages to spin a complete school story.
The sunshiny gouache illustrations do the heavy lifting, supporting the words "so," "big," "not," "too," "just," and "right" that are repeated throughout. The first spread shows Bear waking up in a sunny bedroom. A red star marks Sept. 4 on the wall calendar, and there's a backpack on the floor: "So big." Bear continues to feel capable and confident while dressing, eating breakfast, packing a bag, tying shoes, and standing at the bus stop (there is nary an adult in sight) next to a nervous elephant and squirrel. Then the bus arrives, dwarfing Bear, and this contrast and the font indicate a change: "SO big." The other students on the bus (rhino, hippo, giraffe…) are "So BIG," and the school is "SO BIG!" Bear is suddenly "Not so big." But then Bear spies Squirrel, who is crying and feeling even smaller and less ready than Bear. Wordlessly, Bear, a model of empathy, holds out a hand, and together, the two brave the hallways, which are "Not so big…," meet their teacher, and find that their classroom is "Just right!" Wohnoutka's animal cast is beautifully expressive, and his use of relative size within compositions is masterful, easily getting across to readers how the world feels to Bear and Squirrel.
Even the most school-ready kid can have doubts, but with a friend, nothing will seem too big to handle. (Picture book. 3-6)
