If you've never read (or realized that you've read) picture books by CARTER HIGGINS, allow me to introduce you. If you don't click on her name now to learn more about her and her books, please do so once you reach the bottom of the page. I've followed blog posts by Carter for years. Working with books as a librarian was her career and her personal delight, always with an uncanny ability to see in the best of them (in the images especially) the depth of ideas and intricacies of detail and meaning that could be found and shared with young audiences. Nuance and discovery were traits of her book reviews and explorations and I learned a great deal by reading her thoughts.
In time, she was immersed enough in the world of picture books to write her own. In her many amazing books she has been paired with stellar illustrators who rose to the high bar of her language and concepts. Her books show how thoroughly she absorbed and learned from the best examples of others that she often celebrated in her blog posts. Please explore her website to see examples of her work and confirm them as evidence for my praise.
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| CHRONICLE BOOKS, 2022 |
One particular title is a seemingly small work that is in fact quite complex and rich. BIG AND SMALL AND IN-BETWEEN is written by Carter Higgins and Daniel Miyares. It includes a few complex interactive paper folds and gatefold features, but the words and art merit long pauses and appreciation at each page turn. The concepts of big, small, and in-between represent sections within the book, each followed by multiple spreads of examples. These range from literally-sized references, to emotionally evocative ones (BIG is the donut that your brother has because he got to it before you could!), to imagined ones, challenging ones, and figurative ones.
Each experience in each grouping combines with simple but evocative language ("a boat below the sky and above the swell" with illustrations that expand the concepts and entice further inspection of the many ways in which things like in-between-ness can be noticed and appreciated. The cover art and end papers invite scrutiny, too, offering rich opportunities for close inspection and discussion of discoveries.
The "concept spreads" offer an enjoyable read-through and discussion of comparative size, value, impact, etc. They also welcome discussions of emotions and reactions. We sometimes describe little ones who struggle for self-regulation as having BIG FEELINGS, and yet, don't we all? Even the most accommodating child (or adult) likely feels deeply and strongly about many things, but has managed those feelings, wrestling them into levels of expression that won't "make waves". A book like this, one with such gentle and delightful language and color, can be dipped-into a page at a time. It is a priceless tool for folks to find themselves within. It invites discussion and encouragement, acceptance of BIG FEELINGS even among those who try so hard to deny or suppress them.
Finding a way to describe just "what kind" of a book this is can be a challenge. It is not as literal as a few concept books Carter has created, including her numerous board books and interactive books. This has several of those qualities, including the durable construction and smaller square trim size. But it has even more pages than a typical 32 page picture book, far more than an eight- or sixteen-page board book. The labeled concepts of size are much more ambiguous or internal, still aimed at readers of any age but inviting longer, lingering consideration.
I urge you to spend similar reflections time exploring her website. She offers activities related to her books for those focusing on early language and concept development. In case you didn't click on CARTER HIGGINS above, do it now!
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