When I am Big

Maria Nilsson Thore, illustrated by Maria Nilsson Thore

“I can do almost everything, but I’m not allowed. I know what I want, but I can’t reach it!”

To be small can be terribly inconvenient. Unpractical and unfair. The things you want from the top shelf are hopelessly far away, and even though you are so wise, and have thought something out so well, suddenly grown-ups can come and just take over. But imagine if you grew taller than the treetops! If nobody could say “no” and “not now” anymore. How would things be then? In Maria Nilsson Thore’s illustrated gem When I am Big, a child grows and gets to try out how grown-up life can be. It is powerful, exciting, and fun, it turns out, although there are some good things about being small too…

When I am Big is a story about growing, about making decisions and try things for yourself – and about sometimes shrinking and becoming small again. It is all told through Maria Nilsson Thores unmistakably playful and flowing watercolour illustrations and her spot-on language. Delicate, cleverly quirky and with Maria Nilsson Thore’s always present children’s perspective.