A Small Thing . . . but Big

by Tony Johnston, Hadley Hooper (Illustrator)

Overview

Lizzie and her mom go to the park. That's where Lizzie meets an elderly man and his companion, Cecile, a dog about her size.

But Lizzie is afraid of dogs, so she'll have to rely on her new friend to help her take things one step at a time.

Getting over your fears may seem like a small thing . . . but it sure can feel big.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626729933
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	10/18/2016
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	42 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Tony Johnston is the award-winning author of more than a hundred beloved children's books. She lives with her family in San Marino, California, where she grew up.

Hadley Hooper works as an editorial illustrator for numerous magazines and newspapers. In 2011 she illustrated Here Come the Girl Scouts! by Shana Corey. The Iridescence of Birds was her second picture book and first for Roaring Brook Press. She lives in Denver, Colorado.

Editorial Reviews

…risky in its simplicity…[Tony Johnston's] care in the quiet repetition, giving words like "worry," "quiet" and "springingly" growing power, makes the text as delicious as a brave afternoon. Hadley Hooper's illustrations—in a breezy, twee territory not far from William Bee and Ed Fotheringham—move us all around the park, zooming in on blades of grass or rising to an aerial view as Lizzie gets bolder and bolder. The world here, as in any good picture book, is wondrous. One only wants to keep looking.

The New York Times Book Review - Daniel Handler

★ 08/15/2016
It’s a glorious day in a classically styled park: big trees line the avenues, and water sparkles in a fountain. Visiting with her mother, Lizzie encounters an elegantly dressed elderly gentleman who is walking his dog, Cecile. The dog seems nice, but Lizzie is fearful. Cecile’s owner sees that Lizzie wants to be brave, however, and with quiet encouragement and a little humor (“Does she bite?” asks Lizzie. “Only her food,” says the man), Lizzie sheds her fears step by step. By the end of the story, she walks Cecile around the park all by herself. It’s a lovely story about a transformative connection that goes both ways, as well as the power of modest revelations—beautifully summed up in the book’s title, which is also a refrain in the text. There’s also just enough reassurance for grownups—Hooper (The Iridescence of Birds) visually establishes that Lizzie’s mother and the gentleman are friends—to assuage any misgivings about stranger danger. Johnston’s (First Grade, Here I Come!) concise, courtly prose and Hooper’s graceful illustrations exude an old-fashioned sweetness. Ages 4–7. Illustrator’s agency: Marlena Agency. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"This intergenerational tale of kindred spirits facing fears and finding friendship is certain to inspire courage in readers. A sublime read-aloud for small group sharing."—School Library Journal, starred review

"Johnston's economical text about conquering fears also focuses on finding the good in each dog and in the small actions of all. Hooper's charming illustrations make Lizzie's brave walk an absolute delight."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A buoyant book just right for reading aloud."—Booklist, starred review

"A lovely story about a transformative connection that goes both ways, as well as the power of modest revelations—beautifully summed up in the book’s title, which is also a refrain in the text."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The light-toned palette of the relief-print illustrations allows the reader to find little Lizzie and active Cecile on each spread, and Hooper’s attention to detail encourages viewers to notice both the activities in the foreground and the goings-on in the background."—The Horn Book

From the Publisher

★ 08/01/2016
PreS-Gr 2—What could be a more carefree experience than a trip to the park with one's mother? After exploring, however, Lizzie finds herself face-to-face with a dog—and she freezes. The gentleman at the other end of the leash "timidly" responds to some of her nervous questions and then encourages her to pat Cecile. This "small thing, but big [step]" gradually leads to other brave acts, from holding the leash to walking the dog by herself. Johnston's poetic dialogue is perfectly paced to indicate the paradoxical desire and discomfort experienced by both main characters, as well as their giddy joy upon reaching out ("'She is quite adoring being with you,' the old man said shyly."). Lizzie notes: "How springingly she walks," imitating the dog's movements. By the story's conclusion, the introverted man and child are "aglow." Hooper's relief printmaking and digital designs employ a summery palette with blocks of color, object groupings, and wrought iron grillwork to create depth against spacious white backgrounds. She makes strategic use of the gutters to produce mirror images of girl and dog, each with big grins; short black lines define one head with loose pigtails and another with perky ears. Classical statuary directs attention and adds symbolic meaning; other park encounters reinforce the theme. Hooper establishes a friendly rapport between Lizzie's mother and the gentleman from the beginning to allay stranger concerns. VERDICT This intergenerational tale of kindred spirits facing fears and finding friendship is certain to inspire courage in readers. A sublime read-aloud for small group sharing.—Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

School Library Journal

★ 2016-07-20
A child overcomes her fear of dogs—and finds that even small steps forward can be big.At the park, Lizzie happily busies herself chasing butterflies and tiptoeing around the fountain’s edge, until she realizes she’s close to a dog. Wonderfully composed illustrations perfectly place the silhouette of a seemingly large canine in the foreground, while the rosy-cheeked white child is frozen midstep, her anxiety clear. However, gentle Cecile turns out to be a well-mannered (and quite adorable) pooch of small stature. The dog’s benevolent owner, a white-bearded older gentleman, also white, encourages Lizzie to pat Cecile, and when she accomplishes this feat, the two recognize that it was “A small thing, but big.” And so the little girl, with her black hair enchantingly tied up in two topknots, goes from tentatively walking beside Cecile to holding her leash to walking Cecile around the park by herself. This proud moment is delightfully depicted in a spontaneous, simplified drawing style. The artwork, done using linotype prints and digital manipulation in a warm, pastel palette, invites readers to explore the lovely park environment with Lizzie. Parents will also appreciate the artist’s inclusion of Lizzie’s mother in various spreads, acknowledging her approval of Lizzie’s interactions. Johnston’s economical text about conquering fears also focuses on finding the good in each dog and in the small actions of all. Hooper’s charming illustrations make Lizzie’s brave walk an absolute delight. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews