Little Juniper Makes it Big by Aidan Cassie -ADVISABLE

Little Juniper Makes it Big by Aidan Cassie.  PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2019. $18. 9780374310455

BUYING ADVISORY:  EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Little Juniper is so tired of being little, everything is designed for grownups. When he meets Clove the squirrel, who is way shorter than him, he realizes that being small is awesome. When he goes to Cloves house for smallness lessons, he quickly realizes that there is such a thing as everything being too small. Juniper decides his own house is pretty perfect.

The artwork is simply adorable; it reminds me of the cute little critters playsets. Appreciating what you have, accepting yourself, and seeing others overcome perceived shortcomings, are all great lessons presented. Could make for a fun lesson about times that students feel too big or too small, and what they feel like is just right about themselves and their life.  In person, the cover is surprisingly unappealing for such a great book, its dark and stark.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author