The World and Everything in It

K-Gr 3–It can feel nearly impossible for children to imagine the scale of everything outside themselves, but Henkes invites them to meditate on just that, and everything in the world, in this poetic new book. The text itself is quite simple (“there are big things and little things in the world”), but within it is a call to consider all things, no matter their size, and how they fit. A possible quibble for some young readers will be with the meaning of “world.” Earth? The universe? Does it matter? As with other of his books, the illustrations (watercolor and brown ink) are a real standout. The seemingly simple images pair well with the text, giving readers a chance to pause, breathe, and consider. The illustrations are both colorful and muted, capturing attention while complementing the words. The meditative tone makes this suitable for bedtime; alternatively, it could be used in a story time with activities around size or observation.