How Big is Too Small? by Jane Godwin & Andrew Joyner

Reviewed by Carmela Ramos

     Sam’s big brother excludes Sam from playing because he is “too small". Sam ponders the question of ‘how big is too small?’ by comparing himself to the world around him. When Sam’s brother calls on him to climb and get back their ball, Sam easily completes this mission because of his size. While Sam is up high finding the ball, he meets another boy who shares a different perspective on size, and it doesn’t take long for these two boys to become new friends.  

      Jane Godwin is definitely in tune to the thoughts and struggles of a younger sibling feeling lonely and left out. Her writing is emotive, effective and appealing. Not only can the story easily connect with a young reader, it is also beautifully written in rhyme.

     
     The brush and ink drawings of Andrew Joyner look spontaneous and fun, and successfully help the young reader to understand the content of the story.  The illustrations are meaningful, energetic and entertaining. Andrew Joyner’s illustrations always make me smile, there is a familiarity about his drawings that is so appealing (They posses a similarity to the old picture books I was fond of as a child). I also liked the use of collage and vintage cutouts, from the plants around the house to the toy trains and scotch tape in Sam’s bedroom.

How Big is Too Small? is a picture book to treasure and will surely impress.

Thank you Penguin (Australia) for sending us a copy of this brilliant Picture Book.

RELEASE DATE : 22 April 2015
ILLUSTRATOR'S WEBSITE : http://andrewjoyner.com.au

For more information on the book go to http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780670070756/how-big-too-small

Jane Godwin (AUTHOR) 

     Jane Godwin is the Publisher for Young Readers at Penguin Books Australia. She is also a highly acclaimed author of many books for children. Her work is published internationally and she has received many commendations. Together with Anna Walker, Jane has created several bestselling picture books, including Little Cat and the Big Red Bus, All Through the Year and its companion volume Today We Have No Plans and, most recently, Starting School.

     
Andrew Joyner (ILLUSTRATOR)

     Andrew Joyner is an Australian illustrator and author. His books have been published in more than 20 countries, and they include Tim and Ed and The Terrible Plop, both written by Ursula Dubosarsky; The Swap, written by Jan Ormerod (winner in 2014 of the CBCA Book of the Year, Early Childhood, and the WA Premier’s Children’s Book Award); and the Boris series.