The Biggest Things in the World.

Title: "The Biggest Things in the World."

Author: Kenneth Steven

Illustrated by: Melanie Mitchell

 

Reading level: Ages 4-8 

Grade Level: Pre-kindergarten-Second

Hardcover: 32 pages 

Publisher: Lion UK; 1 edition (February 26, 2010) 

Language: English 

ISBN-10: 0745962041

Little Snow bear has been asleep for 97 and half days. Its spring time and that means its time for all little bears to wake up and head outside the den. Spring is coming and little bear can not to explore the outside world. All he can see is this great BIG world. How can anything be bigger then this he thought. Well his mother and him went on a walk to discover the world around them. First little bear asks if the musk ox is the biggest thing in the world, nope its not said his mother. Then they come up to many elk and little bear know that is not the biggest thing in the world. They then come to a river, sea, and ice burg but still there is something bigger said mother. Final a whale comes and little bear knows this is the biggest thing in the world, but still mother tell him it is not. What must be the biggest thing in the world the mountains, the sky? what is it? Heading back to the den mother bear tells little bear she will show him the biggest thing in the world. They head back to the den mother snuggles with little bear and tells him that the biggest thing in the world is her love for him!

What a great story! After reading it, it makes you feel loved. I believe the author was trying to show us that we are all loved. The love from another person is so much bigger than anything in this world. Taking the little bear out of the den and showing him all the big things in the world and yet telling him there is something even bigger is such a great way to bring prospective to a child on how much you truly love them. The animals in the story are the main characters and at time it can be hard for a child to really connected with them but in this story its easy to put yourself as the little bear and have your caregiver be the mama bear. The story does not transcend stereotypes. I believe anyone could picture this story as themselves in it. A big loving mama showing her child the world and expressing her love for her child is a beautiful thing. This story is one that captures your heart and will make you want to read it to all those children who do not feel like they are loved! What a amazing thing a story can do!

The elements in this story are personification, allegory, and hyperbole. Each are in the story many times. The personification is shown in the ways that the animals are given human characteristics. The allegory is also shown though out the whole book in the scene that this book is helping us understand the love that a parent gives to a child. The last example is hyperbole which is showing in again in the whole story as each time the little bear asks if that is the biggest thing in the world when really they are super small compared to how big love can be between two people. The illustrations in this story are amazing. They are warm, cozy, and comforting. With out the images you couldn't capture what the illustrator wants you to capture. I loved this book and I will be using it when I teach. A mini-lesson I would teach using this book would be on that shows children the love I have for them and the love their parents have for them. I would want to use the story as a way to teach about what comes in spring and how animals are born or come out of hibernation in the spring. This book is filled with many great ideas I just thought of a few.