I Am Small

Mimi is so little, “I might as well be called Mini,” she says. Everyone is taller than her, even the family dog! She can barely reach the bottom of the blackboard at school and isn’t tall enough to see all the pretty cakes in the display case at the bakery. Though her friends try to tell her there are lots of advantages to being her size — like fitting into the best hiding places and easily scooting to the front of the cafeteria line — to Mimi, being small is the worst. But then one day, she hears that there’s a surprise waiting for her at home. A very little surprise. And Mimi is about to discover a little something about being little. In her authorial debut, award-winning illustrator Qin Leng has crafted a delightful picture book with a fresh twist on the themes of self-acceptance, growing up, and the arrival of a new sibling. Youngest siblings and small children everywhere will find a kindred spirit in Mimi and will appreciate her change in perspective when — for the first time — she sees herself through the eyes of someone smaller than her. Qin Leng’s simple but poignant illustrations use gentle humor to highlight how Mimi fits in her world. This is a terrific book for sparking conversations about personal development and self-esteem. It also aligns with character education lessons on self-respect and resilience.