Exploring the tiny world around us: Children's books bring discovery to small ones (ages 3-7). [Candlewick Press]

Tiny Worlds: A Story About Appreciating the Small Things (A Gentle Picture Book That Celebrates Imagination and Grandparent Bonds) by Brittany Cicchese 

Hardcover $18.99 USD
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9781536236521

My thoughts:  This is a  simply lovely book. A book that gently tells the loving story of a small boy's relationship with his caring grandmother. It is obvious that he frequents his grandmother's home as he has his own treasures placed prominently and easily available for him. The story explores his love of the small world - almost a fairy world - that in reality is a world that exists under, at the bottom of, and within our larger world. He sees the tiny world, and his eyes and mind are alight with the story that can be told of that particular tiny world.

Grandmother gently urges him out into the big, main world that is where he really lives. He eases himself off to the edges of the main, larger world. After awhile in the larger world, he desires to again begin discovering the tiny world that sits amongst his present location.

Whilst this is truly in essence a story of a boy who has a mind and eye to discover the hidden that is small and hard to know but that sits right among us in our larger world. It can be but a small step to envision that this little boy has such an introvert personality that his preference is his own world or a world of his own creation from the small hidden things that sit at our feet. His grandmother in her wisdom, gently eases him out into the big world this is his to discover, yet recognizes the need to still allow his settling back into his small world for play.

The author is the illustrator and she has created a beautiful rendering of these small worlds and the world around them and of the little inquisitive boy with his loving and wise grandmother. Beautiful.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the book: Grandma’s house isn’t that big, but there’s always enough room for a tiny world. . . .

An introverted child finds grandness in the small things around him in this heartfelt intergenerational story.

When a young boy visits his grandmother’s house, he doesn’t just see scraps of ribbon lying around, mushrooms clustered under a log in the forest, or shells hiding along the beach. He sees tiny worlds where pie tins become playgrounds, ants become farmers, and tide pools teem with life waiting to be explored. Tiny worlds are full of whimsy and imagination, but they have one problem: He seems to be the only one who sees them. While at first Grandma keeps trying to draw him out, to a busy park or the beach or the zoo, eventually she realizes that her grandson’s tiny worlds are big enough for her to meet him there. In her authorial debut, Brittany Cicchese offers a touching story and warm illustrations that celebrate the connection between a child and grandparent and encourage readers to appreciate the little things in life—and the sensitive souls who lead us to them.

Jayden Noticed by Carolyn Crimi & illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice

Hardcover $18.99 USD
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9781536227307

My thoughts:  This is a sweet story of a family who moves from one home to another in a location that appears different in many ways to a young boy. As Jayden packs his beloved rock collection to take along on the move, he wonders.

When he arrives he finds a new rock that has a lovely shiny streak in it. Soon after he finds a new friend.

A lovely story of adjusting to changes in locations and discovering new friends.⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the book: With the help of a rock he’s collected, a child moving to a new house learns to embrace change and make a like-minded friend in this story celebrating our most thoughtful little observers.

Jayden notices everything. He notices the way the moon looks different every night as it peeks through the oak tree. He notices spiderweb wheels and egg freckles, mouse paws and rose petals. But most of all, Jayden notices rocks. Jayden collects a rock to go with everything: a homework rock, a Saturday rock, even enough wishing rocks to fill up a jar. But now that he and his family have moved to a different house, where the trees are too short, the color is off, and the mailbox is in the wrong place, will he find a rock to grant him courage—and help him make a new friend, maybe even a noticer like him? In a tender story for curious and observant little readers, Carolyn Crimi’s text joins with Shamar Knight-Justice’s expressive illustrations in a tale that offers comfort in the face of life’s many changes.

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.