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Small's Big Dream ISBN: 9780008501099
Mann, Manjeet and Quartey, Amanda
Published by HarperCollins Publishers, 2022
Everything about Small is small - her house, her bed, her room, her blanket - even herself with her small feet and shoes too tight. What we are not told, and must see from the pictures, is that Small is also black. She loves all things big, like mountains and the sea and space, but her dreams of conquering these big places are often poo-pooed by those who say that small people (not to mention black ones) 'can't have Big Dreams', so she tries to 'sit on them, stamp on them, and swallow them back down'. This proves difficult, and Small finds herself climbing up trees and playground equipment to try to get higher, only to be told by parents and teachers, 'Head down, feet on the ground, Small!' During one of her dreams at night, she seems to be taken up to the moon where she sees lots of other small people, some of them black, floating around in space, enjoying themselves, and this convinces her that her big dreams are not impossible after all. Her self-esteem is healed and in the final picture we see a grown-up Small in full astronaut gear. She has made it to the stars! Brilliant picture book about the need for believing in yourself and striving for your goals.
Age: 5+