The Biggest Story

by Sarah Coyle, Dan Taylor (Illustrator)

Errol’s mom is too busy to tell him a story so she tells him he should try to make one up himself, but as soon as he starts, all the creatures in the garden – and beyond! – overhear and all want to be the hero! A celebration of imagination, packed full of humor, energy, and adventure.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Writing, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 2020

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story may be good to use to inspire children in their own writing. It shows children that they can write about anything and they sometimes just need to take a minute for the inspiration to come to them. The book can inspire children’s imagination and make them think outside the box during their writing process. The story is about a little boy who wants his mum to tell him a story, but she is too busy. Instead, he goes outside to try to think of his own story... when suddenly ants start to talk. All of a sudden he had soooo many ideas that he couldn’t think about how to include ALL of the new characters in his story!! When he finally had his idea, he was a little nervous to share to his audience (his mum) but he took a deep breath and off he went. His mum loved it, so it was worth him being brave! After he told one story he realised how much fun it was and continued to tell a new story to his friend the owl.

[Nanny Miss Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were trying to get your child to read “The Biggest Story”, it would be an easy sell--‘It has dinosaurs! It has monkeys! It has sling-shotting cats and parachuting sheep!’ London native Sarah Coyle’s hardcover tale tells the story of Errol, whose imagination runs wild to create the biggest story ever!

Errol is bored and out of ideas one afternoon, but mom is busy and won’t be able to cure his blues with her usual amazing stories. When she challenges him to create his own story, he is visited by an unlikely cast of characters who help him realize that all he needs is an open mind. Dan Taylor’s mid-century modern illustrations provide the perfect pops of color and pizazz for this fast-paced, exciting, and humorous adventure.

Kids who read “The Biggest Story” will learn how much fun they can have when they think outside the box. Suggested reading the next time your little one complains about not having anything to do!

[Lauren Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will be on my "favs" list forever. It features:

*larger text for emphasis of words / phrases

* … to carry a sent from one page to the next, helping to engage the page turns and hold excitement levels

* Fun word combos “awful kerfuffle”

* Embedded graphic novel within the story (story in a story)

* Alliteration

* Onomatopoeia

* An open ending to encourage the reader to keep the story going

* Back matter story creator for kids (mix n match style!)


I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!

[Emma Patience · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book!

[Paige Dalton-Reitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book encouraging creativity and imagination for young ones.

[beereadsabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun picture a book about a kid learning how to create his first story when his mom is too busy to tell him one. Colorful, eye-catching illustrations complement the words well.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant book. I really loved the quality illustrations, I really think they added to the adventurous text. The mixture of styles, even with a graphic novel section, is really visually pleasing to readers.

A young boy, Errol, found himself in need of one of his mum's incredible stories. Mum was busy with a plumbing problem but encouraged Errol that he could make up his own amazing story. Errol wasn't so sure he knew how.

Errol was trying his hardest to think of a story in the garden, he didn't even notice the story finding him. That afternoon, Errol's story came to life around him. All that was left to do was share it with mum when she had fixed the plumbing. In the end, Errol's story was 'the best and the biggest' mum had ever heard, 'much better' than any of hers.

I really like how Errol and his mum are of a different ethnicity to that which is so over-commonly portrayed in books. In this text, this is simply the characters, without making this a feature or the topic of the narrative, just how it should be. Greater representations in children's books mean greater chance readers are able to find themselves reflected in a text.

I also like how Eroll is excited to share his story with his mum, and shes happily sitting on her chair with her cup of tea waiting to enjoy the story. This spreads the message of joy sharing stories with others can bring. Additionally, Errol not being sure about his abilities, and then finding it easy and creating a wonderful story will encourage children to have a go (the addition at the end is a perfect prompt for this). Particualry orally constructed and told stories, this helps to remove barriers of writing from story enjoyment.

[Shaunterria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun exploration of childhood creativity and the creative process. And what a great way to affirm the inner storyteller in us all.

[A Severs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aside from a cool representation of a mum doing plumbing jobs this was a little too boring for my liking.

[Bridgette Elston · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids loved usimg the story prompts at the end to make up thier own stories.

[Annese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!