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“Why can't you just fit in?“

This would be a great book to use when talking abut self identity in the classroom and more specifically how we feel about ourselves.

The Caldecott Medal | Picture book published in 2023
This story is discussing body image and how she feels about her body. The images portray the negative feelings she has about herself, feeling larger than everyone else. In some pages, she was drawn to take up the entire page.

I would use the book to talk about self care and love and how we need to live ourselves.

“She decided to make more space for herself... and was able to see a way out.“

2020 This book is beautifully illustrated and has so much symbolism within the pages. There not only is text but imagery and speach bubbles and shows a little girls emotions just within the pages.

“These are yours. They hurt me.”

BIG by Vashti Harrison is useful in the classroom because it opens conversations about body image, kindness, and self-acceptance. It can help students build empathy, recognize the power of words, and celebrate differences, making it a strong tool for social-emotional learning.

Vashti Harrison‘s BIG uses illustrations that are carefully organized to mirror the emotions of the story. The shifts in scale and space, showing the girl small and isolated, then later filling the page, highlight her journey from shame to pride. Colors move from muted to bright, and soft rounded lines contrast with sharper ones to show vulnerability and strength. The art doesn‘t just support the text but becomes essential in creating its meaning.

Big was one of my top favorite reads in June. It speaks so deeply to the way girls are spoken to & spoken about. It also really hits home on how things others think are innocent can plant seeds for decreased confidence, body image struggles, and long-term trauma. I like the way this book approaches the topic & how it tackles all of that. June was a great (and insightful!) reading month for me

A good message both literally (body) and metaphorically (other ways of being “too big“). The illustration effects are creative- the character grows trapped by the size of the page but breaks free of those boundaries.

A book about respecting/loving yourself how you are and standing up for yourself, even when other people don't understand and reject you. The book describes itself as an “emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small“ and “a tender portrayal of how you can stand out and feel invisible at the same time“.

“She decided to make more space for herself... and was able to see a way out.“

“No Thank You. I like the way I am”

In Big, Vashti Harrison invites readers on a delightful journey of self-acceptance and individuality. Through vibrant illustrations and a heartwarming narrative, the story celebrates the unique qualities that make each person special. Join a diverse cast of characters as they discover the beauty of being “big“ in their own ways, reminding young readers that embracing who they are is the greatest adventure of all.

Big by Vashti Harrison features enchanting illustrations with vibrant colors and whimsical lines, drawing readers into a warm, imaginative world. The story promotes self-acceptance and celebrates individuality, encouraging children to embrace their unique qualities. With its exceptional artistry and meaningful message, Big won the the Caldecott Award in 2024, making it a valuable addition to any child‘s library.

I would use this book in my classroom to talk about how to be kind to one another and how your words have an impact

Great message within this book and I loved how the author went about discussing this topic

“She decided to make more space for herself and was able to see a way out.”

This is a good book can be good for students who may feel this way or to understand classmates that may feel similar. It can also help them to be more empathetic and to put themselves in other people‘s shoes.

I enjoyed this book and think that it has a very meaningful message. Body positivity is such a struggle, especially for girls as they are growing. The book is great for advocating self love.

This would be a good way to teach students how words hurt. They can learn how to stand up for themselves and explain their feelings. It also teaches the lesson that not all people are nice but you can still keep being you.

“yet invisible”

“ She decided to make more space for herself“

I would use this to teach about being kind and how words you dont think will impact people will. this would wrk well with social emotional learning

Big by Vashti Harrison 2023- Caldecott. This is a very simplictic book with an amzing message. It shows the impact of words on a person and how we can feel that we are not worthy even from a young age. The images and colors within show the emotions of how the protagisint feels throughout.

The book had simple illustrations that emulated the main character's thought that she was “too big.“ The word bubbles show what people can say, and the character shows how the words can hurt. The underlining theme is to be nice and not speak about other people's bodies.
My favorite quote is, “The words stung and were hard to shake off.“

“...that she was just a girl. And she was good.“ I think this is a very sweet quote that is useful for all students to hear.

This would be a great book to read if students were dealing with bullying/not being nice to their peers. Talking about how words can hurt and seeing how they hurt the character in the story can be beneficial for students to understand the impact of their words.

Big by Vashti Harrison, 2023. Big is a moving story that shares valuable lessons for readers of all ages. The illustrations are wonderfully done and add to all the emotion in the story.

Week 1: Caldecott Winner. About a young girl who loves being herself until people around her start treating her differently because she‘s big. Tease by kids and held to high standards by adults. She become sad. Eventually, she speaks up about how their words hurt her, although not everyone responds with kindness. The story emphasizes the importance of body image, self expression, and resilience. Published in Jan. 22, 2024.

“No Thank You. I like the way I am”

I think this would be a good book to help children learn the power of confidence and standing up in the face of judgment. I would use this book in my classroom and focus on teaching differences as well as overcoming battles.

Big by Vashti Harrison, 2023. Caldecott Award Winning Book. This book is about a girl‘s struggle to fit into the world because of her differences. I like this book because it shows the good and the bad sides of a child growing up in a tough world. It also values the power of overcoming a struggle and coming out stronger.

Vashti Harrison‘s self-illustrated picture book is a beautifully executed look at fat bias and its impact on young children. The text is sparse with the focus on the images of the nameless little girl as she endures the taunts and well-meaning but still hurtful comments from adults. It‘s wonderfully done and very moving such that I am still thinking about it. I‘d definitely read more of Harrison‘s work on the strength of this.

I‘m so glad this picture book won some ALA Youth Media Awards today! It‘s a fantastic and beautifully illustrated story of how words can hurt, but how we can also work to control our self-image. Many of my students picked this as the Caldecott winner! *Graphic via Little, Brown Books for Young Readers‘ instagram

I‘m doing a “Mock Caldecott” unit with my students in the library, and these are the books we are reading. They are so beautiful! We‘ll find out the real winner next week! #schoollibrarian

I love Harrison‘s other books and this did not disappoint. I adored this book‘s illustrations and message. Everyone should read it. 💕💕💕

Gorgeous artwork. Powerful message. Loved it.