I picked up Little Big Sister by Eoin Colfer and illustrated by Celia Ivey because the cover was terribly brightly colored and pushy to the eye. I read it because I like sibling stories (sister stories in particular) and thought it would be an interesting read on differently abled children/people. And while it was not my favourite read, it was a read that I enjoyed and recommend if you have a family member, friend or a child’s classmate who has dwarfism.
Therefore, the rating of four for this book is due to the potential of representation. It is a brightly done story that might be a bit sugary for the adult reader but for the aged five to nine it is perfectly done. While I personally had a few issues with the tone being as “upbeat” as it was, (again, it was a bit sugary for my tastes) I appreciate the positive approach. The inclusion continues with the fact that the illustrator, Celia Ivey, is a (from their biography from another title) British/French illustrator born with dwarfism.
The part of the story I enjoyed the most was that it is relatable regardless of your personal background or situations. We all have things we are good at, not good at, can have sibling issues and school can have its own challenges and issues. This book is about not fitting it, but being the best you can be, with finding ways to adapt not just yourself, but the bigger picture around us.
And as the book is due in June 2022 (and was read as a finished reader copy), I am looking into other titles by the publisher (Little Island Books) as they seem to have a style worth checking out (as I have read a few others by them).