You Are (Not) Small

Backed by a fun musical score, and read by the illustrator and two others, this audiobook explores the concept of perspective: Who's big and who's small? A snappy argument develops regarding size ("You are small. I am not small--you are big!") Eventually small vs. large gather allies, encouraging a crowd of similarly sized others, and the story descends into a chorus of cantankerous voices arguing--while discordant background notes echo the conflict. As the argument escalates, so does the volume: "BIG! SMALL!" they shout at each other --that is, until a couple of game-changing players enter to settle--or at least resolve--their dispute. Little kids, figuring out their place in the world, will ask their big people to play this one over and over. J.C.G. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

June 2, 2014
Like Rosenthal and Lichtenheld’s Duck! Rabbit!, the debuting husband-and-wife team of Kang and Weyant uses the picture book form for a sophisticated philosophical debate. Weyant, a New Yorker cartoonist, draws two pudgy bearish creatures with bean-like noses—clearly the same species, but different in scale (and in color, it should be noted, though it never comes up). “You are small,” says the larger one, pointing an accusatory paw. “I am not small. You are big,” replies the smaller one, pointing back. “I am not big,” says the larger one, paw to his chest. “See?” A page turn reveals a whole gang of larger creatures just his size. “They are just like me!” But there’s a gang of smaller ones, too. The argument changes when a massive, Godzilla-size foot lands in the middle of the spread (“Boom!”), followed by a tiny creature who descends with a parachute. With these revelations, the creatures hone their analysis: “You are big and you are small.” Start a discussion on the difficulty of establishing standards—or else just read it and giggle. Ages 2–6. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties.