“Dad,” says Henry.  “Tell me about when I was small.”

So begins this soothing story about a young boy’s nightly conversations with his father.  With gentle, rhythmic text and simple, soft illustrations, Sara O’Leary and Julie Morstad transport their readers to the days when Henry was small—so small that he was bathed in a teapot, used a teabag as a pillow, and wore a thimble as a hat.  Join Henry as he conjures images of himself walking his pet ant on a leash and sleeping in one of his Dad’s slippers…“the left one.”

What do I like about When You Were Small?

Everything!

It is the quintessential picture book. The story is imaginative and humorous. The text is rhythmic, sparse, yet powerful. The illustrations perfectly reflect and embellish the tone and meaning of O’Leary’s words. Together, O’Leary’s tender prose and Morstad’s water colored pen and ink drawings create a work of children’s literature that is subtle, evocative, beautiful and witty.  This picture book proves that less can be more. And it has great fun doing it!

Enjoy sharing this story with your child, and imaginative, fanciful conversations will most surely follow!