I might have read When I’m Big by Ella Bailey at least once before. However, I do not remember. And therefore, it was a brand-new read, even though the book came out October 2021. And while I will say, Bailey’s story is not my cup of tea, it will be a lot of people’s book of choice.
The idea is simple, a little dinosaur has big dreams of growing up. And the story takes them from their nest and familiar egg (shell) to the big world around them. When they are big, they wonder if they will have feathers, spikes, or horns? Will they have a long neck or wings? And, in the end, they find themselves back where they started, realizing what it means to be big. And along the way we learn about the different types of dinosaurs there were.
We have seen this story before, being patience and learning as we grow, but the artwork is somewhat fresh. It looks like a child drew it, but one with obvious talent. I mean, they are basic, but expressive, funny, cute, and sets the childlike innocence of the tone of the story. They are not for everyone, but everyone should find something about them that they enjoy. While there are not a lot of “hidden gems” there are things to look for and allow you to read the illustrations as well as the text. This allows the narrator’s voice to come out. Which is obviously that of a curious, wondering child/dinosaur.
While most ages are perfect for this book, the three to five might be the best suited as a reader/listener.
