SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

March 11, 2008 by Travis Jonker

Book Review: Big and Little

March 11, 2008 by Travis Jonker   3 comments

big-and-little-cover.jpgBig and Little
By John Stadler
Robin Corey Books
ISBN 9780375841750
$9.99
Grades PreK-1
In Stores

*Recommended*

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!“

Ronald Reagan June 12, 1987
Berlin

When I hear this quote I can’t help but agree with the Gipper’s impassioned plea for children’s book authors to tear down the literary “fourth wall“, and allow characters to speak directly to readers. “Big and Little” succeeds at drawing in readers by making them the audience. An entertaining flap book that will work well individually or with groups of listeners.

The premise is this: Elephant jumps into a small container of water. That’s it. The first time you’ve seen this reenacted? Me either. The circus ringmaster (a mouse) pours a glass of H20, sets it on the table, and speaks directly to the reader (there is no other audience shown) about what’s happening. The buildup is exciting. Things get more and more urgent until the time comes for everyone to find out if Ellie can actually dive into that glass. The twist ending will catch readers off guard and adds a nice finishing touch.

You ever read a book aloud to kids and have the punchline/exciting result ruined because the next picture shows what happens? Kids are already laughing/shocked/grossed out before you can read it. The only alternative is to read the book with the pictures facing you and turn it over when you get to the punchline, which is no fun. “Big and Little” is set up so that will not be a problem. Take a look:

(click to enlarge)

1205279614_107.jpg

1205279667_107.jpg

Each two page spread contains a flap that the reader must flip over to continue the story. If you’re a regular reader you may know how I feel about gimmickry (click here to read my review of “Gallop! A Scanimation Picture Book”). But that’s just plain inventive, friends, and it adds suspense to the story. A solid choice for storytime.

Also reviewed by: Jen Robinson’s Book Page, Young Readers, Shelf Space, A Year of Reading.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat

(photos of “Big and Little” © 2007 by John Stadler)

Filed under: *Best New Books*, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

October 2021

Review: The Genius Under the Table by Eugene Yelchin

by Travis Jonker

February 2021

Review: Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd

by Travis Jonker

August 2020

Review: Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

by Travis Jonker

July 2020

Review: Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright

by Travis Jonker

April 2020

Review: The Sewer Rat Stink (Geronimo Stilton Graphic Novel #1) by Tom Angleberger

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Sydney Taylor Blog Tour: THE TOWER OF LIFE by Chana Stiefel and Susan Gal

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Abecedarian Movement and Dance: A Q&A with Corinna Luyken About ABC and You and Me!

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Haley Newsome on Unfamiliar | Interview

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Writing Trans Joy in Spite of Everything, a guest post by Edward Underhill

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Best Nonfiction 2022 | SLJ Best Books

Best Picture Books 2022 | SLJ Best Books

SLJ’s 2022 Best Books Are Live. Download a PDF of the Complete List.

Best Books 2022 | The Year in SLJ Covers

SLJ Book Reviews Editors’ Favorite Books Read in 2022

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Children book lover says

    March 12, 2008 at 7:00 am

    Thanks for the review and recommendation, it sounds like a great book to give as a gift. My sister is having her third kid in the next month, and this just might be the ticket. The flap idea sounds really cool.

  2. Scope Notes says

    March 12, 2008 at 8:57 am

    This one would make a good gift – it’s a fun read with a basic plot that even really little kids could get into.

Trackbacks

  1. Book Review: The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! « 100 Scope Notes says:
    April 15, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    […] but the opposite is true here. Similar to another recent release (and recommended book) “Big and Little“, the Pigeon breaks down the fourth wall and grabs the readers attention right from the get […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023