The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade
Here’s my selection for Perfect Picture Book Friday:
The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade
Author Justin Roberts
Illustrator Christian Robinson
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2014
Fiction
Suitable for: Ages 3-5
Theme/Topic: Bullying, Teasing, Excluding Others, Rhyme
Opening Spread: Hardly anyone noticed young Sally McCabe.
Brief Synopsis: From the jacket flap: Hardly anyone noticed young Sally McCabe. She was the smallest girl in the smallest grade. But Sally notices everything— from the twenty-seven keys on the janitor’s ring to the bullying happening on the playground.
One day, Sally has had enough and decides to make herself heard. And when she takes a chance and stands up to the bullies, she finds that one small girl can make a big difference.
Links to Resources: A bullying lesson plan.
Why I like this book: I love the work of Christian Robinson and grabbed this one from the library display. The art for this book was done in colored pencils. The art pulls the reader through to the third spread where the meat of the story begins. The story is serious. The book is a great reminder of how to pay “super extra special attention” to those around you. In our digital and “connected” world, it’s easy to be distracted and miss what’s happening around us. I’m guilty of it too.
For more PPBF books, visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s Blog.