• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Beehive Books and Art

Beehive Books and Art

How to raise readers plus children's book reviews and art activities

  • Start Here!
  • The Bookshelf
  • About
  • Blog
  • Features
  • Raising Readers
  • Art and Activities
  • Resources
You are here: Home / Features / Bigger! Bigger! by Leslie Patricelli

Bigger! Bigger! by Leslie Patricelli

Category: Features
BIGGER! BIGGER! by Leslie Patricelli
May 10, 2020 by Sarah Laucks

We discovered this “new to us” Leslie Patricelli book at the library yesterday! It’s called … BIGGER! BIGGER!

Are you new to Leslie’s work? She’s an author/illustrator of board and picture books for young children. I would say babies and toddlers, but if I did that you wouldn’t read on to find out the age of my kiddo who wanted to read this “toddler” book. Do read on because the answer may surprise you?!

First things first – I must tell you – this book is HILARIOUS!

There’s a BIG SURPRISE in the middle and no, I am not giving it away! You’re going to have to get it and read it yourselves!

When I saw it on the “new books” shelf at the library I grabbed it right away. We are BIG fans of Leslie Patricelli books in our house. Have been since my guy was a wee one. Her books have always been winners for us.

Illustration of child building with blocks

So this is how things went.

We read it before bed last night. I probably should note that I read this book to an 8-year old who is in second grade and reading above grade level.

VERY IMPORTANT TAKE-HOME point here for the grown-ups!

Kids want/can/should be reading books on all different levels at home. I keep the focus on books that he ENJOYS. We never read “for practice”. We read for enjoyment. My focus is to raise a child who loves reading. I can’t do that if reading is work and not fun!

Mary Gallagher over at Teach a Child to Read stresses this point as well. Focus on real books and enjoyable reading. And she always says read easier than harder. She supports that advice well with research.

In addition to her recommendations we look to read hard books, easy books, baby books, magazines, catalogues, DVD covers. You name it. We read what we find INTERESTING. If he needs help with words he lets me know. If he wants to read it he does. If he wants it read to him he asks us to.

Repeat. If he wants me to read the book to him … I do.

I’ve seen research that says we should keep reading to our kids until they are as old as 14 – and that this strategy will help them to be strong, life-long readers. Interesting idea isn’t it. And that’s what happened last night – I read to him.

I might add that this book has, at most, TWO WORDS PER PAGE SPREAD.

Here are some fun facts for you about Leslie Patricelli books:

  • They are VERY FUNNY – for kids AND adults. Code for get thee to the library and check out every single Leslie Patricelli book they have!
  • She’s published 17 books featuring her beloved bald baby character. Is he/she in this book? Might be … I’m not giving that bit away lol!
  • Her illustrations are RICH and full of VIBRANT color. We have her books in board book format but BIGGER! BIGGER! is in large picture book format. I felt that the paper used in the book made the illustrations even more robust with almost a three dimensional feel to them.
  • BIGGER! BIGGER! was published in 2018 by Candlewick Press (one of my most favorite kids book publishers, you can always count on a Candlewick Press book to be amazing).

Who reads Leslie Patricelli books to their kids? Which of her books is your favorite?

Oh, and guess what? There’s a cat in this book ????. There always seem to be a cat in a picture book. It’s a thing.

A few extra resources for you:

  • Candlewick Press. Keep them on your radar. You can follow them on Instagram @candlewickpress
  • Leslie Patricelli’s website is www.lesliepatricelli.com and you can find her on Facebook and Instagram.

 

This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my Affiliate Disclosure.

SharePinEmail
Previous Post: « Box Fort How to Build a Box Fort
Next Post: Drawing Like An Illustrator THE DUCKLING GETS A COOKIE!? picture book cover »

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • No Two Alike
  • Welcome to The Bookshelf!
  • Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
  • Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes …
  • If I Were an Elephant

Categories

  • Art and Activities
  • Babies and Toddlers
  • Board Books
  • Emerging Readers
  • Features
  • Graphic Novels
  • Little Ones
  • Picture Books
  • Preschoolers
  • Raising Readers
  • Resources
  • The Bookshelf
  • Wordless Books

Beehive Books and Art

The mission of Beehive Books and Arts is to be a resource for anyone who has kids in their life that are learning to read and to love reading. 

Our blog articles, activities, and The Bookshelf support families with children from birth to around age 12. From the earliest days of their lives to the point where they are fluent readers!

Recent Posts

no two alike

No Two Alike

Book shelf displaying many books for children of all ages

Welcome to The Bookshelf!

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

Quick Links

  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Affiliate Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 · Beehive Books and Art · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Solution

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!