Hello, friends! Our book today is When You Were Small, written by Sara O’Leary and illustrated by Julie Morstad, a whimsical tale of Henry, and what life was like when he was very, very small.

Each night, Henry and his father play a sort of game, and it always begins with Henry’s request: “Tell me about when I was small.” His father then relates (possibly made-up) stories of when Henry was small. Very small. About six inches tall or so. He would sleep in a slipper with a washcloth for a blanket and a teabag for a pillow. He used a ruler as a toboggan. His parents would take the toy castle out of the aquarium, and Henry would be king of it. When Henry questions if all these stories are true, his father simply smiles and replies, “Don’t you remember?”

Simple and sweet. The story explores a popular children’s book theme, miniaturized life, with fun, playful scenarios and examples of little Henry in the big world. The illustrations are key here, and Morstad’s timeless pen-and-ink art style creates Henry’s tiny world with delicate detail that makes everything feel as small as described by the text. It’s earnest, slightly silly, and inspires the imagination of little readers to look at things from a different perspective. The length is fine, and JJ enjoyed it, so we can definitely recommend this one. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)