Big

Big, written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, follows a joyful girl who loves to dance and dream. She is growing, and at first that feels wonderful, but as she gets older the remarks of classmates and grown-ups begin to suggest that being big is a problem. Their words pile up until she feels both too noticeable and unseen at the same time. The story traces her path toward setting that judgment aside and accepting herself as she is. Harrison's art shows how the girl's feelings shift from page to page. The book offers families and teachers a starting point for talking with children about kindness, body image and how much words matter. It won the 2024 Caldecott Medal.