Everyone Starts Small
by Liz Garton Scanlon (Author) Dominique Ramsey (Illustrator)
Sun grows beams
and Grass grows blades
and Cloud cannot contain herself.
Spring rains change Water from a tumbling creek to a roaring river and bring Tree nutrients it needs to stretch toward the sky. As Sun’s rays intensify, the sprouts and fruits and insects of the forest grow and bloom and develop, all working together in harmony. Even Fire, whose work causes Tree to ache from the inside, brings opportunity for the next generation of flora and fauna. Paired with the vivid, organic imagery of Dominique Ramsey, Liz Garton Scanlon’s poetic tribute to our planet’s resilience is a resonant story of life, death, and regeneration.
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Publishers Weekly
Starting with a cross-section of a young plant, this eco-tale of change and renewal articulates a vision of cyclical natural harmony. Early lines build on the title, spotlighting the universal ("Everyone starts small/ and then grows./ Sun grows beams"), while pages center a maturing tree experiencing drought, fire, and rain-ignited dormancy before cycling back to growth. Though the focus is on ecological processes, expressive dialogue and description personify elements including rain and wind ("I'm tired, whispers Fire"). Ramsey's curving digital renderings emphasize flow: green hills undulate with gently bent grass blades, and thick-drawn cloud curlicues sweep across skies. Aside from some surprisingly googly-eyed ants, scenes primarily feature vegetation, soil, and weather. Meanwhile, Scanlon's prose provides depth for a compelling portrait of ecosystem interconnection. An author's note concludes. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
JUV029010 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | Environment
JUV070000 - Juvenile Fiction | Poetry (see also Stories in Verse)
Seasons
Life cycles (Biology)
