Big Little (Leslie Patricelli board books) [Board book]

Leslie Patricelli (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 15, 2003 | Age Range: 1 - 3 years | Series: Leslie Patricelli board books

Whether you’re big or little, learning about opposites has never been more fun - or funny - than with this winning board book.

Ladies are big, but ladybugs are little. Amiably illustrated in a bright, graphic style, Leslie Patricelli’s spirited board book, BIG LITTLE, stars an obliging, bald, and very expressive toddler who acts out each pair of opposites with comically dramatic effect.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Leslie Patricelli lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband, their two children, and two kitties. She sketched out her first children’s book, YUMMY YUCKY, when her then one-year-old son was putting everything in his mouth. "After hearing myself say ‘yucky!’ or ‘yummy!’ for months on end, this book seemed to write itself," she says. "Talking to and watching my young children all day gave me a voice and inspiration for these books. I write down what I say to them and what they say to me."

About the Author

Leslie Patricelli lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband, their two children, and two kitties. She sketched out her first children’s book, YUMMY YUCKY, when her then one-year-old son was putting everything in his mouth. "After hearing myself say ‘yucky!’ or ‘yummy!’ for months on end, this book seemed to write itself," she says. "Talking to and watching my young children all day gave me a voice and inspiration for these books. I write down what I say to them and what they say to me."

Product Details

• Age Range: 1 - 3 years
  
• Board book: 24 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; BRDBK edition (September 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763619515
• ISBN-13: 978-0763619510
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 0.6 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"My Grandma was a pastel artist and, for as long as I can remember, an artist is what I wanted to be too," says children's author and illustrator Leslie Patricelli. "My hobby as a kid was drawing cartoons and writing stories, and I started to consider a career in art in seventh grade. When the multiple choice career test I took resulted in a recommendation that I pursue a career in forestry, I went back and changed all my answers, so that it recommended instead that I pursue graphic design, which was the closest thing to children's book writer or cartoonist on the list."

Today, Leslie Patricelli's legions of fans are evidence that career tests are not always reliable. Her colorful trio of board books about opposites -- YUMMY YUCKY, BIG LITTLE, and QUIET LOUD -- follows a diapered protagonist as he discovers some curious contradictions, such as "ladies are big" while "ladybugs are little." Her inspiration for the series came from her son Beck who, at one year old, "was constantly putting everything into his mouth." Says the author, "I found myself saying 'Yummy!' and 'Yucky!' all the time. I began to draw a baby dramatically expressing his taste or distaste for the things he was eating. The idea of YUMMY YUCKY was born!"

Her other toddler books in the series, BINKY, BLANKIE, NO NO YES YES, BABY HAPPY BABY SAD, and her latest books -- TUBBY AND POTTY, were also based on her parenting experiences. "I am inspired by how passionate toddlers are," she says. "I love the way they are so extremely focused on things, and display such intense emotions. It is easy to see what they care about the most."

Leslie Patricelli's beloved baby character graduated to star in his first full-length picture book, THE BIRTHDAY BOX. She notes "I've watched my kids transform boxes into cars, boats, spaceships, hospital beds, dog carriers, snake houses, bass drums, forts, airplanes, sleds, and of course, robots. It's very exciting when a new box comes into our home."

Her book HIGHER! HIGHER! was selected as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards Honor Book. "I credit my daughter, Tia, for writing this book for me," says Leslie. "I was pushing her on the swing at the park when she was two, she started shouting, 'Higher! Higher!' I noticed how the other kids were saying the same thing. We started pretending that with every push I was sending her higher into the sky until she was in space. I went home with the book almost fully formed in my head."

About her latest series, which includes, THE PATTERSON PUPPIES AND THE RAINY DAY. and THE PATTERSON PUPPIES AND THE MIDNIGHT MONSTER PARTY, Patricelli says, "Although the puppies' individual personalities are based on the personalities of my own kids, the stories for these books were inspired by incidences from my own childhood. When I was four, my friend and I decided to create an ocean in her bedroom by dumping buckets of water on the floor, just like the puppies do in THE PATTERSON PUPPIES AND THE RAINY DAY. I will never forget the feeling of being caught by our parents and torn from our imaginary world to realize that we had done something very wrong! Their was no doubt in my mind that we would succeed at making an ocean. I love how a child's imagination can carry them right out of their present situation into an imaginary world that is so real to them. This is the feeling I tried to capture in the Patterson Puppies books.

"My favorite part of writing books is the moment when a new idea comes into my head," says Leslie. "If I give it my attention, a book will start forming in my mind. At this moment, I most certainly have a smile on my face."

Leslie Patricelli lives in the mountain town of Ketchum Idaho with her husband, Jason, her son, Beck, her daughters, Tia and Tatum, two cats, Oreo and Elvin, two rabbits, Olivia and Chewy and a fluctuating population of guppies. Her husband is a drummer, music engineer, ski instructor, and her on-request editor. Her kids have become her editors, whether she requests it or not!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the littlest littles October 15, 2005

By shogun named natalie

Format:Board book

I also found this book at TJ Maxx for $3. Before my son was born I went on a hormone induced shopping spree for all the books I had as a kid and anything that looked fun. I really loved the simple but bright artwork, little did I know what a big hit this would be. starting at 6 mos my son was able to recognize this book progressing now at 11 mos to grab the book climb in my lap and have me read the book over and over again. sometimes he will just sit on the floor and flip the book and kiss the baby on the heads are big page. I am buying another copy for a friend and hope she gets the same joy from the book as our family does.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very clever, well-illustrated book! November 20, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Board book

This is a very clever book, with comparisons such as "Ladies are big, lady bugs are little". The illustrations are beautifully hand-painted, and kids like that they are simple, colorful and cute. This makes a great set with the author's other books (Yummy Yucky, Quite Loud), and I hope that they're offered together in a boxed set soon.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My 3-month old and I both love it! November 17, 2004

By RikaRae

Format:Board book

I found this book at TJ Maxx for $3, and what a bargain! The pictures attract you, since they are simple graphics, not all busy on the page like some other books we've looked at. Also, the words are so simple and fun, ie "Trees are big. Dandelions are little." It's perfect for my little baby girl. I recommend it to all looking for young children's books.