My oldest daughter loves learning about the -est and most of the world. She constantly asks me about the biggest, smallest, fastest, widest, and oldest. I usually tell her to go look up her question in a book. Thus, when recently offered the chance to review How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? All Around Me from Little Gestalten with illustrations by Jun Cen in exchange for my honest opinion, I eagerly accepted the opportunity to add a new title to my homeschool library.
Author/Illustrator
Little Gestalten is a publishing branch of the world acclaimed Gestalten, German Art Book Publishers, that offers great stories for children alongside striking visuals. Little Gestalten books captivate children of all ages and inspire also a love of reading.
Winner of Overall New Talent of the 2013 Association of Illustrators Award, illustrator Jun Cen is a Chinese artist who currently resides in the United States. His work has been recognized by The Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, and 3 x 3 Illustration Competition. His list of clients include The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Verge, Grantland, Oxford University Press, Nobrow, and Little Gestalten.
Synopsis
Recommended for children between the ages of 5 and 9 in first through fourth grade, How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? All Around Me invites young readers to imagine, test, interact, and measure the world. The playful approach uses relatable comparisons to inform imaginatively. The title is follow-up to the original How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? from Little Gestalten. The new comparisons focus on planet Earth, teaching children different ways to measures as well as some incredible facts about the world. Illustrator Jun Cen uses a muted palette and minimal graphics that pay homage to the vintage Ladybird Classics. The 48-page hardback book currently costs $16.48 on Amazon with a list price of $24.95.
Evaluation
As I briefly mentioned, my daughter loves learning incredible facts about the world. She has informed me that the blue whale is the biggest animal in the world but that the elephant is the largest land animal. Her little brother adores owls, so she enjoyed telling him that the smallest owl is the elf owl. How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? All Around Me is therefore right up her alley. Each two-page spread presents a topic such as the fasting growing and the longest living along with interesting facts such as that bamboo can grow three feet per day and that the oldest trees in the world started growing before the pyramids in Ancient Egypt were built.
My daughter has been reading on her own for almost three years now and reads at approximately a third-grade level. She can easily get through How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? All Around Me on her own, and she loves reading the facts to her little brother. She also loves the interactive elements. For example, on the page about the froghopper jumping 400 times their height, she of course had to try jumping as high as she could, and her little brother had to join in too. The unique format of the book makes learning amazing information fun. I also quite enjoy the muted colors of the illustrations, which offer a vintage feel like I love.
Final Verdict
As a homeschooling mother, I find How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? All Around Me from Little Gestalten with illustrations by Jun Cen a perfect addition to our classroom library. The book for young readers between the ages of 5 and 9 invites kids to imagine, test, interact, and measure the amazing planet while offering some interesting facts about the -est and most of the world. My oldest daughter love reading the facts out loud to her little brother and especially enjoys attempting to measure her world in all the ways described in the book. My kiddos and I give the book an enthusiastic thumbs up!
Purchase How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? All Around Me on Amazon via my affiliate link.
Image Credits
‘How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? All Around Me’ Book Review © 2018 Heather Johnson
Cover of ‘How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? All Around Me’ © 2018 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? All Around Me’ 1 © 2018 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? All Around Me’ 2 © 2018 Heather Johnson
Inside Pages of ‘How Big Is Big? How Far Is Far? All Around Me’ 3 © 2018 Heather Johnson
