Klein und GROSS

by Jonathan Bentley

Being little is no good. That's because being big is better. Except when being little is best of all.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Plays

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

As a little boy, Jonathan Bentley liked football and drawing. When he was about eight years old he realised he wasn’t going to be good enough to play football for Leeds United, so he concentrated on drawing instead.

When he left school he studied at Brighton Polytechnic. Jonathan worked as a builder’s labourer and kitchen hand for many years before he became a full-time illustrator, and he worked in London and Sydney before moving to Brisbane, Australia.

Jonathan has been an Editorial Illustrator at the Courier Mail newspaper for ten years, and has illustrated books for Margaret Wild, The Wiggles and Andrew Daddo.

Jonathan likes to work with a range of materials including acrylics, oils, and line and watercolour, and he looks forward to the day when he has a big barn-like studio somewhere in the countryside.

Reviews

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully illustrated book that will make kids use their imagination and adults laugh. Hidden within the short story is a message that everyone will appreciate - sometimes you think it'd be better if you could be big, but you don't always realize what you'd miss out on. It's a nice reminder that it's okay to be little and to enjoy every moment. A short read recommended for storytime.

[Neko · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing that I love about working in a school is the access to children's story books without needing to pay for them myself..I'll usually pick up anything that grabs my attention because of the cover and this is why I ended up reading, 'Little Big'.

I love that the art style is different than the usual bold and simple drawings..I'm a lover of big and bold as that is my own style when I do illustrations but I also love seeing different styles and different techniques used (water colours and mixed medium in this case). So, from the illustration stand point I really enjoyed flipping through the pages looking at these drawings WITHOUT paying attention to the storyline...I like to do this with children's books - go through and see if I can make some sense of the story without the words.

This book is about a young boy who is trying to workout his place in the big, big world. He has and older older brother who is much bigger than him who is allowed to do all different things like stay up later, ride a bike, attends school. So, of course the little boy starts to think about being 'bigger' and what he is able to accomplish or not. He also discovers what it's like to be small.

It's like looking through a small child's eyes and discovering what you can and can't do..So, it's like a 'what if' and getting your answer on both sides of the coin.

[Vera Godley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The charm of this book is its strikingly engaging illustrations that are cute, bright, ferocious, humorous, and which succinctly tell the story of being little and being big. As little brother typically trying to do and be just like big brother, he discovers he simply can't be and do both at the same time. Sometimes little is better than big.

I love the way his stuffed animals play an integral part in the story. The illustrations are super good with the stark colors standing boldly against the white backgrounds.

Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers which is a Christian publishing house, the book is not focused on any Christian belief or concept. It could have just as easily been published by any secular main-line publisher. While there is no moral taught in the story, the concept of accepting ourselves for what we are (in this case it is being little as oppose to big), is certainly well developed.

A book that Chat with Vera can heartily recommend. Buy it as a gift. Get it for your own young child. Look for it in the library.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Eerdmans Books to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Maddie Adams]

Little Big By Jonathan Bentley is a fiction story. The theme is that little kids sometimes just don't want to be little, even if little is the perfect size. This story follows a little boy who just wants to be big so he can do the things his big brother does. But with each inch we wants to add he realizes he no longer can do the little things he loves to do. Like ride in the wagon and eat cookies in the playhouse. The little boy eventually comes to terms with being little. Perfectly Little.

I enjoyed this book. The water color illustrations were stunning and playful. The text was very simple. In the book the little boy is always looking up to his brother both literally and figuratively. Its a very sweet and relatable message.

In the classroom i think this would be a great book for comprehension. Why does he want to be bigger? Do the kids relate? This book also has themes of family, envy and independence. Its a great book for preschool kids.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a little boy who, as a younger brother, is little and therefore, can't do all the big kid things. He imagines what adventures would be like if he was big like a giraffe, gorilla, alligator (the very stuffies that you see in his backpack).

Themes: animals, zoos, size/age (being little/young)
Ages: preK-1st grade
Pub year: 2013

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Big is a book with gorgeous illustrations. It starts with a little boy trying to be big and ends up with him realizing that he is little for a reason. This book consists of many reason why being little is not such a bad thing. The colors in this book really can catch ones eye because the author uses light colors with bold bright colors as the focal points of each page. Teachers could use this book when demonstrating that being little has its advantages, as does being big!
Suitable for children ages 2-4

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations of this book work well with the words, great for beginning readers and those on the cusp of reading. The emphasis on BIG words is charming. My favorite part is the very last line "Perfectly little" showing that being BIG is great, but being your right size is even better.

[Nazziwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple story, that my (middle child) son understands and can often relate to in his day to day life! I appreciated the illustrations and how it flowed back and forth from one perspective to the other. We were sad when the story ended! Look forward to checking out other Bentley books.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple story from a little boy's point-of-view. He wants to be big like his brother so he can win the games and eat the cookies. But as he thinks it through, he realizes that there are some advantages to being little, too. A nice group read aloud on siblings or sizes or opposites.

[Concetta Kellough · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy wants to be big like his older brother. Cute illustrations.

[Haaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are super cute.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could work for storytime.

[createitlibrarian (Amanda) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I did talk about how being small has an advantage where you can hide in a lot more place for hide-and-seek.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Katrina Clohessy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Haley Kilgour · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a cute message of its ok to be small. And the simple and small amount of words makes it a good story for small children.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy thinks that it would be much better to be big than so little. After all, his older brother can reach the cookie jar and ride a bicycle. If the little boy had legs as long as a giraffe, he would be able to outrace his brother up the hill. On the other hand, he wouldn’t be able to ride in the wagon behind his brother’s bike anymore. If he had big hands like a gorilla, he would be able to open the cookie jar with no problems. But then, he wouldn’t be able to fit in his playhouse to eat them. If he had a mouth as big as a crocodile’s, he could tell his brother to go to bed early. But then, he would miss him too. Perhaps being little isn’t entirely bad after all.

Originally published in Australia, this picture book has a lot of playful appeal. The universal feeling of younger siblings is that they wish that they were bigger. Here, that yearning for being bigger is combined with some even larger animals. The book tells the story purely in the little boy’s voice, keeping the perspective clearly that of a small child. Yet the logic all works from that point of view too.

The illustrations are a mix of watercolors, pencil and scanned textures. They have a warmth and vibrancy to them which is very appealing. While the thought of a small child wanting to be bigger is not unique to this book, it is the illustrations which make this a book worth seeking out. The animals that the toddler dreams of being like are his toys that he carries around from one page to the next, making for a book that has a completeness and wholeness about it.

A delightful book that shows littler ones that they have advantages too, this picture book is ideal for sharing one-on-one so the details of the illustrations are not missed. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

[Breanna Samuels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Big is a concept book attempting to teach children about size. It is about a little boy and his older brother who play together. When the little brother is unable to do things like the big brother he begins to wish that he is big like a giraffe, with big hands like a gorilla, and a big mouth like an alligator. He later realizes that each one of those animals are not able to do the fun things that he can do, like playing in his play house, because he is so small. In the end he learns that being small is not such a bad thing and he continues to have fun playing with his older brother. The illustrations in this book also help to show children the difference between big and little as well.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This charming and gently humorous book from Australia proves that being little has its advantages, and sometimes we are better off being content with our lot. As so many little ones do, the narrator wishes that he were as big as his older brother, and then imagines what it might be like to have the physical features of a giraffe, a gorilla, or a crocodile. The message is empowering, and the illustrations, created with watercolors, pencils, and scanned textures show the pluses and minuses of being even bigger. This book would be a great read aloud to a youngster who feels inferior or smaller to older or bigger friends or siblings. After all, his/her day will eventually come, and until then, the book suggests enjoying whom you are right now.

[Julie Fortenberry]

Jonathan Bentley has written and illustrated a playful picture book about a toddler who wishes to be big, like his older brother. The boy imagines what it might be like to have "big legs like a giraffe," "big hands like a gorilla," and a "big mouth like a crocodile," and finds that there are strategic advantages to being little.

The images of the large animals are both dramatic and comic. The pictures, created with “watercolors, pencils, and scanned textures,” are loose and lively. This is a fast, fun read aloud.

[Margaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super cute pseudo concept book about a little little boy who wishes he was bigger. But he soon realizes that being big might not be so good. If he was big like a gorilla, his hands could open the cookie jar, but he couldn't ride in his wagon. He embraces his smallness. Really great mixed-media illustrations with pencil and watercolor set off this book with cartoon-y humans and realistic wild animals.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big creatures and ideas (a giraffe, a gorilla, opening jars, pretending, play-acting and expectation) meet a perfectly little guy--and his big brother--in this delightful Australian import. Thank you for bringing this one ashore, Eerdmans!

Highly recommended as a gift for a younger sibling, especially one 2-4 years old.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a kid wishing he was big, but then realizing that being a little brother is just as good. I like picture books where there is something to look for on each page, and this one features the little brother's stuffed animals in different sizes as the story goes on. Not sure it would connect to social studies, but it has a good message

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Little Big, a younger brother wishes he were big and able to do all the things his older brother does, but then realizes that being small has its benefits too. There isn't anything especially novel the story Bentley is telling here, but his illustrations are phenomenal. Exploring these spreads is truly a joy.

[Jeanne Curtin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart-warming story about a younger sibling wanting to be big like his older brother. And yet he realizes the privileges of littlehood. It's that life long pull of wanting to grow up and yet longing to be forever young.

The illustrations add warmth, and the story has a perfectly little ending.

The only thing I'd change is the title. Maybe: If I was BIG Like a Monster.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original presentation of perspective from child's point of view as he considers the pros and cons of being big enough to do one thing creates a challenge in another situation.
Colorful illustrations against white background on two-page spreads help readers feel the bigness and smallness described.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the pacing of this sweet tale is slightly rough, these illustrations are endearingly beautiful, like when the gorilla as it peers into the playhouse. This is a book to read more than once & a feast for the eyes. Highly recommended.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book about size and perspective was fun to read to preschoolers because of the engaging, yet detailed illustrations. Kids related well to the character's struggle with being smaller than his big brother and not quite ready to do all of the things he sees his brother do.

[Bailey Bergman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book would be good to read in a preschool classroom or a kindergarten classroom. I don't think it's appropriate for older students because it's about a little boy and how he feels about being so little. It would teach younger students all of the benefits of being small.