Once I Was Little, Now I Am Big, Juliet C. Smedley, is a gentle picture book about a child looking back on the everyday things that used to feel enormous, and noticing how those same things have changed as she has grown. Back-door steps that once required help are now easy to climb. A bed that once felt endless now fits her stretched-out body. Her father no longer has to bend so far for a kiss, a snow dog-house becomes too small to crawl into, spinach is still complicated, and a beloved rocking chair and toy dinosaur no longer fit her quite the same way. The story keeps returning to one tender idea: growing up changes the size of the world, but it doesn’t erase who we were.

What I liked most about the writing is its simplicity. It has the fun, looping rhythm children respond to, but there’s something quietly wistful underneath it for the adult reading aloud. I found myself smiling at the tiny measurements of childhood: toes not reaching the middle of the bed, standing on tiptoe to kiss Daddy, a toy dinosaur once big enough to rest on. Those details feel honest because children really do understand growth through objects and rituals before they understand it as time passing. The spinach scene adds a welcome little spark of humor, too. I appreciated that the book doesn’t make growing up feel overly sentimental or perfectly tidy. Some things change, some things don’t, and that feels true.

The artwork is bright, clear, and very readable for young children. The pages use strong colors and familiar settings, like the bedroom, school cafeteria, snowy yard, and front steps, which help ground the bigger idea in scenes kids can recognize. I especially liked the contrast between the earlier and later images, where the same spaces feel different simply because the child’s body and confidence have changed. There’s a sweetness in the family moments, particularly the scenes with her parents and grandpa.

Once I Was Little, Now I Am Big is a reflective children’s book about growing, remembering, and making peace with the strange little losses that come with getting bigger. I’d recommend it for preschoolers and early elementary children who are starting to notice their own independence, and for parents who want a sweet, reassuring read-aloud that opens the door to talking about change.

Pages: 24 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07VVP6NZM