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The World Is Big and I'm So Small
From morning to bedtime, this delightful poem follows a day in the life of a child. The world of adults seems very big but his imagination brings the everyday objects around him playfully to life. Joe Servello's illustrations perfectly depict the wonder that children bring to the most ordinary objects. Full color.
22 pages, Paperback
First published September 9, 1986
About the author
William Kotzwinkle
83 books263 followersWilliam Kotzwinkle is a two-time recipient of the National Magazine Award for Fiction, a winner of the World Fantasy Award, the Prix Litteraire des Bouquinistes des Quais de Paris, the PETA Award for Children's Books, and a Book Critics Circle award nominee. His work has been translated into dozens of languages.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 5, 2017
The World is so Big and I am so Small, by William Kotzwinkle. Illustrated by Joe Servello
The life of a child is one filled with imagination and curiosity. This book follows a day in the life of a young rabbit as he goes through his daily routine of rambunctious behavior. From morning to bed time, this book will illustrate wonderfully the life of a child.
Illustrated with watercolor and pencil, this colorful and beautiful book does a wonderful job at putting into words what the child thinks that they are doing, while in reality it may not be so. Using contradicting illustration to illustrate this at points was something I quite liked. At one part during the book, the child claims he's being helpful and doing the laundry, when in the illustration he's dumping the detergent all on the ground. Other parts of the book I enjoyed were the personification of the different objects the child was interacting with. It gives children the chance to connect what is happening in the illustration to abstract dialogue. The opening scenes do a great job depicting this, as it starts with the child sleeping in bed, and the dialogue on page is coming from a mobile with a fish and bird on it hanging above him. Overall, the book is an enjoyable one that both parents and children will be able to enjoy.
The life of a child is one filled with imagination and curiosity. This book follows a day in the life of a young rabbit as he goes through his daily routine of rambunctious behavior. From morning to bed time, this book will illustrate wonderfully the life of a child.
Illustrated with watercolor and pencil, this colorful and beautiful book does a wonderful job at putting into words what the child thinks that they are doing, while in reality it may not be so. Using contradicting illustration to illustrate this at points was something I quite liked. At one part during the book, the child claims he's being helpful and doing the laundry, when in the illustration he's dumping the detergent all on the ground. Other parts of the book I enjoyed were the personification of the different objects the child was interacting with. It gives children the chance to connect what is happening in the illustration to abstract dialogue. The opening scenes do a great job depicting this, as it starts with the child sleeping in bed, and the dialogue on page is coming from a mobile with a fish and bird on it hanging above him. Overall, the book is an enjoyable one that both parents and children will be able to enjoy.
October 22, 2008
Genre: Picture book
Reading Level: Early
Topics & Themes: The activities of a young rabbit's day from waking up to bedtime.
Curricular Use: Read aloud or shared reading.
Literary Elements: Rhymed text. Personification: main character is a rabbit and the rabbit's world of inanimate objects coming to life and talking.
Text & Pictures: Interaction of text and pictures. Colorful and adorable, the pictures support the text and reinforce the young rabbit's activities.
Additional Notes: Jenna's nomination for “Won't You Be My Neighbor” Award. Fun illustrations of rabbit getting the sleep washed out of his head and wearing kitchen pots for a crown. Rated the book based on both pictures and content, just illustrations would give the book a 5.
Reading Level: Early
Topics & Themes: The activities of a young rabbit's day from waking up to bedtime.
Curricular Use: Read aloud or shared reading.
Literary Elements: Rhymed text. Personification: main character is a rabbit and the rabbit's world of inanimate objects coming to life and talking.
Text & Pictures: Interaction of text and pictures. Colorful and adorable, the pictures support the text and reinforce the young rabbit's activities.
Additional Notes: Jenna's nomination for “Won't You Be My Neighbor” Award. Fun illustrations of rabbit getting the sleep washed out of his head and wearing kitchen pots for a crown. Rated the book based on both pictures and content, just illustrations would give the book a 5.
February 9, 2009
By: William Kotzwinkle
Pictures: Joe Servello
Genre: Fictional Picture book
Audience: prek through 2nd
Topic/Theme: childhood, imagination,
Classroom Uses: independent reading, read aloud, partner reading
Reading Level: early
Literary Device; Rhyme
Summary: This story is about a rabbit and what he does throughout his day froText and image: The text in this book is done in a rhyme scheme which gets readers to follow the story in a sort of sing song manner. The illustrations really enhance the text add meaning to it. There really isn't a lot of description in the text and a reader needs to look at the illustrations to get the full image of this story.
m waking up to falling asleep.
Pictures: Joe Servello
Genre: Fictional Picture book
Audience: prek through 2nd
Topic/Theme: childhood, imagination,
Classroom Uses: independent reading, read aloud, partner reading
Reading Level: early
Literary Device; Rhyme
Summary: This story is about a rabbit and what he does throughout his day froText and image: The text in this book is done in a rhyme scheme which gets readers to follow the story in a sort of sing song manner. The illustrations really enhance the text add meaning to it. There really isn't a lot of description in the text and a reader needs to look at the illustrations to get the full image of this story.
m waking up to falling asleep.
March 12, 2009
Author: William Kotzwinkle
Illustrator: Joe Servello
Genre: fiction picture book
Publication Info: Crown Publishers Inc. (1986)
Reading Level: Ages 4-8, early
Topic/Theme: childhood, imagination,
Issues Addressed: childhood
Classroom Uses: independent reading, read aloud, partner reading
Summary: This story is about a rabbit and what he does throughout his day from waking up to falling asleep.
Text and image: The text in this book is done in a rhyme scheme which gets readers to follow the story in a sort of sing song manner. The illustrations really enhance the text add meaning to it. There really isn't a lot of description in the text and a reader needs to look at the illustrations to get the full image of this story.
Literary Devices: rhyme
Illustrator: Joe Servello
Genre: fiction picture book
Publication Info: Crown Publishers Inc. (1986)
Reading Level: Ages 4-8, early
Topic/Theme: childhood, imagination,
Issues Addressed: childhood
Classroom Uses: independent reading, read aloud, partner reading
Summary: This story is about a rabbit and what he does throughout his day from waking up to falling asleep.
Text and image: The text in this book is done in a rhyme scheme which gets readers to follow the story in a sort of sing song manner. The illustrations really enhance the text add meaning to it. There really isn't a lot of description in the text and a reader needs to look at the illustrations to get the full image of this story.
Literary Devices: rhyme
October 16, 2008
Genre: Picture Book
Audience: K-3rd
Curricular Uses: Read aloud, independent reading, shared reading
Reading Level: Early Readers
Literary Elements: Personification, Rhyme, Dialogue
Illustrations: Colorful illustrations that support the text. Done by local artist, Joe Servello.
Additional Comments: This is a great book to use to introduce personification. It is all about inanimate objects coming to life and talking. Also would be a lot of fun because of the rhyming. Children in the primary grades would love this book and have an easy time rereading it after hearing it once.
Audience: K-3rd
Curricular Uses: Read aloud, independent reading, shared reading
Reading Level: Early Readers
Literary Elements: Personification, Rhyme, Dialogue
Illustrations: Colorful illustrations that support the text. Done by local artist, Joe Servello.
Additional Comments: This is a great book to use to introduce personification. It is all about inanimate objects coming to life and talking. Also would be a lot of fun because of the rhyming. Children in the primary grades would love this book and have an easy time rereading it after hearing it once.
February 4, 2009
Author: William Kotzwinkle
Illustrator: Joe Servello
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Year Published: 1996
Reading Level: Preschool-2nd
Topic and Themes: Imagination, Childhood
Curricular Use: Read Aloud, Shared Reading
Social: Childhood
Literary Elements: Rhyme
Text and Pictures: The pictures are a must see, because they are drawn by a local artist. The pictures are very detailed and beautiful.
Summary: This story book is about a rabbit that goes through every step of the day, wanting to be noticed.
Illustrator: Joe Servello
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Year Published: 1996
Reading Level: Preschool-2nd
Topic and Themes: Imagination, Childhood
Curricular Use: Read Aloud, Shared Reading
Social: Childhood
Literary Elements: Rhyme
Text and Pictures: The pictures are a must see, because they are drawn by a local artist. The pictures are very detailed and beautiful.
Summary: This story book is about a rabbit that goes through every step of the day, wanting to be noticed.
February 23, 2009
Illustrator: Joe Servello
Publisher: Marlowe & Company
Date of Publication: 1996
Genre: Picture book, Rhyme and Poetry, Animal Character
Reading Level: ages 4-8
Theme: size, imagination
Curricula Use: teach children to use their imagination
teach children about size
Social Issues: family culture
Text & Pictures: Illustrations match the text. It is a picture book so the illustrations fit the text.
Summary: the little rabbit goes through a typical day in his life. He wants the world to notice him and he embraces life to the fullest that he can.
Publisher: Marlowe & Company
Date of Publication: 1996
Genre: Picture book, Rhyme and Poetry, Animal Character
Reading Level: ages 4-8
Theme: size, imagination
Curricula Use: teach children to use their imagination
teach children about size
Social Issues: family culture
Text & Pictures: Illustrations match the text. It is a picture book so the illustrations fit the text.
Summary: the little rabbit goes through a typical day in his life. He wants the world to notice him and he embraces life to the fullest that he can.
October 16, 2008
genre: picture book
audience: k-3rd
curricular uses: read aloud, independent reading, shared reading
reading level: early readers
literary elements: personification, rhyme, dialogue
illustrations: colorful, support the text. done by local artist Joe Servello
thoughts: this is a great book to use to introduce personification. it is all about inanimate objects coming to life and talking. also would be a lot of fun because of each page rhyming with the other.
audience: k-3rd
curricular uses: read aloud, independent reading, shared reading
reading level: early readers
literary elements: personification, rhyme, dialogue
illustrations: colorful, support the text. done by local artist Joe Servello
thoughts: this is a great book to use to introduce personification. it is all about inanimate objects coming to life and talking. also would be a lot of fun because of each page rhyming with the other.
December 1, 2008
For Liane's Award
Level: Early
Genre: Picture Book
Curricular Use: Guided Reading
Topic: Being a small person in a big world, seeing the world through the eyes of a child
Social: the way a child views the big world, being independent, helping out, being a small person in a big world
Literary Elements: rhyming, personification
Strong connection between the pictures and the text (the pictures really add to the fantastical element of the story)
Level: Early
Genre: Picture Book
Curricular Use: Guided Reading
Topic: Being a small person in a big world, seeing the world through the eyes of a child
Social: the way a child views the big world, being independent, helping out, being a small person in a big world
Literary Elements: rhyming, personification
Strong connection between the pictures and the text (the pictures really add to the fantastical element of the story)
April 30, 2009
Reading level- k-2
Genre- Fiction Picture Book
Topic-Imagination
Social-Childhood
Curricula Use-independent reading or read aloud
Literary Elements-rhyme
Text and pictures- Images offer a lot to the book. Not much text description so the pictures really come in handy.
Summary-
Genre- Fiction Picture Book
Topic-Imagination
Social-Childhood
Curricula Use-independent reading or read aloud
Literary Elements-rhyme
Text and pictures- Images offer a lot to the book. Not much text description so the pictures really come in handy.
Summary-
February 1, 2013
This book teaches children about math. This book teaches children about the number one million. It also has colorful pictures that they can relate to.
Learning extension: The children can practice writing the number one million. Can use arts and crafts for this activity.
Learning extension: The children can practice writing the number one million. Can use arts and crafts for this activity.
May 17, 2014
Among my top five faves in the kid's library. So old school. Has a forties vibe in the illustrations --sweet and a little haunted. Visual and written text reflect a child's perspective --
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews