Thanks to lovely friends at Raincoast Books, I had the pleasure of getting to review a new picture book from acclaimed creators Carter Higgins and Daniel Miyares called Big and Small and In-Between. Join me as I take a closer look!

Written by Carter Higgins (Circle Under Berry) and illustrated by Daniel Miyares (Night Out) Big and Small and In-Between is about…well, everything! The figurative big, small, everything in the middle and our feelings; and the literal big, small and everything else of the world- all from the particular vantage point of children. Divided into four sections: Big Things; In-Between Things; Small Things; and Everything, Higgins and Miyares take readers on a unique and resonant exploration of experiences, feelings, and things. As an example, let’s take a look at some of the ’big things’ talked about in Big and Small and In-Between: “the SUN and its SHINE/when it asks you to rise/the DONUT that your brother got because you picked last and only got the hole”. In ’Small Things’, Higgins and Miyares look at “the PLIP of a raindrop/and the PUDDLE where it fall/for a butterfly to sip”, “WHAT’S LEFT of your fort/after your mom says/to clean up those pillows” and ”the SUN right before it slips away/when it is going/going/gone”. There is a lovely circular feel to the story, as a number of things overlap and reappear between the chapters, while the grand finale in the chapter titled ”Everything” leaves an exciting and stunning surprise. It should be mentioned as well, that there is a key tactile element to Big and Small and In-Between: there are beautifully designed fold out components to the start of the chapters, as well as a stunning fold-out out at the book’s end. Elegant, wise, whimsical- somehow comforting and surprising all at once!; the pairing of Carter Higgins’ gorgeously poetic, appealing text with Daniel Miyares’ fluid, rich, and emotive artwork is brilliant here. All of these ingredients and careful paper construction come together to make this an extra-special sensorial reading experience. For readers who loved picture books by authors and/or illustrators such as Britta Teckentrup, Renata Liwska, Catia Chen, or Sarah Jacoby, might especially adore the dreamy, contemplative, larger-than-life feel of Big and Small and In-Between. With a starred review from School Library Journal, and a glowing write-up in The New York Times, Big and Small and In-Between is a picture book to pick up and pore over again and again.

I received a copy of this title courtesy of Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own. Title has been been published and is currently available.