Megan Jacobson (text) and Beck Feiner (illustrator), Big Love, Walker Books Australia, October 2021, 32 pp., RRP 425.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760652890
This picture book moves from a large house – It’s very big! – to the town, a city, the world, the solar system to the universe. None of them, though very big, is not as big as my love for you. This book provides a wonderful statement about parental love, ensuring each child realises how much s/he is loved by the parent. The child and parent relationships show diversity so the book will appeal to a wide range of backgrounds.
Though my family didn’t use these exact words, it reminds me of the huge buzz I received as a child from my grandmother’s “Up to the sky and back again!” which I also said to my children and grandchildren. Beck Feiner’s illustrations with their strong colours and simple lines, give the young reader plenty to look at while waiting for the repeated words to come up again. There’s plenty to look at. How often are there repeated images: apples, kites, food, the bird on the window cleaner’s head? But overall, it is a wonderful statement of reassurance. It’s sure to become a favourite in school and home libraries.
Reviewed by Maureen Mann
