When You Were Small

When You Were Small is a picture book that follows bedtime conversations between a father and his son Henry. Each night, Henry asks his father to tell him stories about when he was small. The father shares imaginative tales about Henry's supposed miniature past, describing various activities and scenarios from when his son was tiny. The illustrations by Julie Morstad complement the text with whimsical black and white drawings. This parent-child bedtime ritual explores bonds between generations through storytelling and gentle humor. The book captures a universal aspect of childhood - the desire to hear personal stories and imagine impossible things.

Readers describe this as a gentle, whimsical bedtime story that fosters connection between parent and child. Parents report their children request repeated readings and engage with the imaginative scenarios. Liked: - Simple, understated illustrations complement the text - Captures intimate parent-child conversation style - Short enough for bedtime but engaging enough for multiple reads - Introduces kids to playful exaggeration and tall tales Disliked: - Some found the premise repetitive - A few noted the story lacks a traditional plot structure - Limited appeal beyond the bedtime reading context Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,024 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (89 ratings) From readers: "My son loves pointing out how impossible these scenarios would be" - Amazon reviewer "The illustrations have a nostalgic, dreamy quality" - Goodreads reviewer "Perfect for winding down at bedtime but might not hold attention during daytime reading" - Library Thing reviewer

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🌟 This whimsical picture book is part of a trilogy, alongside "Where You Came From" and "When I Was Small" 📚 Author Sara O'Leary is also a playwright and has written for both stage and radio 🎨 The book's illustrator, Julie Morstad, is known for her distinctive vintage-inspired style and has won multiple awards for her children's book illustrations 💫 The story follows a bedtime ritual between father and son, where the father tells fantastical tales about when his son was literally tiny enough to use a ruler as a skating rink 🌙 The book's gentle approach to parent-child bonding has made it a popular choice in early childhood education for encouraging imagination and storytelling skills