Biggest Boy
- Book Review,
by Kevin Henkes
From Publishers Weekly
Flushed with his success at feeding and dressing himself, a boy and his parents imagine him becoming so big he can wear his house as a jacket and play ball with the sun. "Sweet and simple," said PW. Ages 3-up. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K?Billy, who is growing and gaining in competence, wonders what it would be like to be the biggest boy in the world. Together he and his parents laughingly imagine him as big as a house, able to move the clouds by blowing on them, to wear a rainbow like a necklace, to toss the sun like a ball, and so on. "'But right now' says his mother, 'you are just the right size for a big boy your age.'" The good-night ritual in this intimate portrait concludes with Billy tucked into his cozy bed. The child looks out his window and holds up his hand, seemingly holding a marble-sized moon between his thumb and forefinger, confirming in his mind that he really is the biggest boy. While the text does not possess Henkes's trademark wit, its language is good humored and pleasing. The repetitive rhythm and pattern make it an excellent read-aloud. Tafuri's idealized, flat style is recognizable. Her strong, assured line reinforces the safety and stability of Billy's world. Unsaturated blue is the predominating color, lending an atmosphere of serene sheltered tenderness. Billy's world is clean, uncluttered, and idyllic. He has loving parents who have time to spend with him, his toys are educational and tidy. It is a disappointing omission that in an otherwise nurturing family, there is no sign of a book, not one story in the bedtime routine. Otherwise, this is a gentle and reassuring selection.?Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CTCopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 2-4. Like MacKinnon's What Size? and Jenkins' Biggest, Strongest, Fastest , this picture book has fun with size and power. Billy is a big boy who can eat with a fork, get dressed by himself, and reach up high. His parents tell him how big he's growing every day. Soon he'll need new clothes. Soon he'll go to school and ride a bike. Billy says he'll be bigger than his parents: "I'll be the biggest boy in the world." They all imagine Billy as a giant who can drink up lakes and blow the clouds and hang the rainbow round his neck. Then back to the real world, where he's "just the right size" for a boy his age. The extra-large pages have big, clear illustrations in soft watercolor inks and black pen; the pictures show Billy with his toys at home and then as a giant against the sky, wearing the roof of his house as a hat. The story enters right into a child's imaginative play. Hazel Rochman
Book Description
Billy is a big boy who can do all sorts of things by himself. And when his parents tell him he is growing bigger every day, he starts to imagine what it would be like to be the biggest boy in the world.
Card catalog description
Billy and his parents discuss how big he is getting.
From the Publisher
Billy is a big boy who can do all sorts of things by himself. And when his parents tell him he is growing bigger every day, he starts to imagine what it would be like to be the biggest boy in the world.
About the Author
Kevin Henkes lives in Madison, Wisconsin. His novels include Protecting Marie and Words of Stone. Among his picture books are Owen, a 1994 Caldecott Honor Book; Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse; and Julius, the Baby of the World.In His Own Words..."I remember drawing at a very early age. I loved it. And my parents and teachers told me I was good at it -- that made me love it all the more.""I also loved books, and the ones I was lucky enough to own were reread, looked at over and over, and regarded with great respect. To me great respect' meant that I took them everywhere, and the ones I still own prove it. They're brimming with all the telltale signs of true love: dog-eared pages, fingerprints on my favorite illustrations, my name and address inscribed on both front and back covers in inch-high crayon lettering, and the faint smell of stale peanut butter on the bindings." "I wondered about authors and illustrators back then -- " What did they look like? Where did they live? Did they have families? How old were they? -- but I never imagined that one day I would be one myself.""I became an author-illustrator when I was nineteen years old. I flew from my home in Racine, Wisconsin, to New York City with my portfolio, hoping to find a publisher. And magically enough Susan Hirschman at Greenwillow Books made my dream come true. My first picture book, All Alone, was published in 1987. Since then I've written and illustrated many picture books and written several novels. I like the variety of trying new ways to fill the pages between two covers. Experimenting with words and paint and ink keeps my job interesting." "I used to live with my parents and brothers and sister and work at a card table in my bedroom. Now I live with my wife, my son, and my daughter in our own house and work at a drawing table in my own studio. I never thought I'd be lucky enough to be a real author and illustrator. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
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