Small, Smaller, Smallest
By Corina Fletcher and Natalie Marshall
Theme: Size (July 2015)
Small Smaller Smallest is an ingenious babies board book, which
playfully explores the concept of size. The simple tabs and levers
allow young readers to manipulate each picture and really engage
with this concept. The retro styled graphics are fun, simple and
appealing. Small Smaller Smallest will be enjoyed by both young and old.
Key Message for Parents
The First Five Years Last a Lifetime
A child’s development is dependent on and influenced by their upbringing. Time invested in
your child is an investment in their future. These first five years are commonly known as the
formative years as it is during this time that a child forms connections to their world, a time of
crucial social, emotional and physical growth.
Learning Outcomes
Outcome 1: Children Have a Strong Sense of Identity
We can help young children to develop a strong sense of wellbeing by:
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Being supportive, responsive and attentive when engaging with a child
Valuing and recognizing achievements bug and small
Promoting positive values of respect, acceptance and understanding of others
Welcome
Ask carers to write nametags for themselves and their babies.
Welcome everyone, introduce yourself, remind adults to turn their mobile phones off and that
there will be time for adults to chat after the story and songs.
Welcome Song (or your preferred song)
Have the words available as a handout or written on a board or butcher’s paper for the adults
to read and join in.
Good Morning
Good morning to you
Good morning to you
Good morning everybody
and welcome to you!
Song Rhyme time!
Babies love to listen to rhythmic repetitive rhymes! They are fun to share together important for
a babies language development!
Big A, Little A, Bouncing B
Big A (Open baby's arms wide)
Little A (Bring hands together)
Bouncing B (bounce and clap hands)
The cats in the cupboard (cover baby's eyes)
So he can't see! Peek-a-boo! I see you!
Repeat several times together
Encourage parents and carers
to have child sitting on their
lap or between their knees.
Before Reading
Ensure that babies are sitting comfortably in parents and carer’s laps. To introduce the
concept of this book you could use a balloon. Blowing it up and then letting it “squeak” might
also be a good way of getting babies attention! Start by slowly blowing up the balloon and
each time you take a breath say “Big and bigger” Then when you let the air out say “Small,
smaller… smallest!”. Safety note: If you use a balloon make sure the flat balloon is out of
reach so it can not be mouthed or chewed by babies.
During Reading
As you read Small, Smaller, Smallest open each double spread and model to parents how
you could enhance a babies engagement with it. For example on the first double spread, count
the flowers and make the buzzing sounds of the bees. You could encourage the parents to
make a bee with their fingers and tickle their baby! As you pull the tab and the flower grows,
make a sound like a hum or a whistle, which indicates the upward motion.
After Reading
In everyday experiences there are simple mathematical concepts to be discovered and
explored by your baby. Discuss with parents and ask them to share ideas. Mealtimes, putting
on a nappy and getting dressed are a perfect opportunities to count and don’t forget the many
simple rhymes and games which babies love like This Little Piggy Went To Market and Here is
the Beehive!
You might like to provide a range of different sized soft toys or balls that parents and babies
can play with together before the craft session. You could roll a big ball around the circle, then
some smaller balls like tennis balls. Allow time for play and discovery!
Activity Time
Watch the flower grow!
A simple toy that reinforces the concept of size.
Materials needed:
 Green Paper
 Scissors
 Paper cups
 Long skewers, chopsticks or pipe cleaners
 Print out of flowers (see attached template)
First take skewer and carefully poke a hole in the bottom of the cup. This is the stem of the
flower.
Cut out and attach flower head to top of skewer. Use the green paper to make leaves. Be
careful not to attach leaves too far down as the skewer will not be able to pass through bottom
of cup.
As you push the skewer upwards through the cup, the flower grows taller and taller. Young
children will love watching the flower magically grow!
Extension Activities
Encourage parents to spend some time each day chatting, talking and singing with their
baby/children. Even though babies can’t understand every word, having regular chats which
describe daily activities is a fun and easy way to help develop vocabulary, builds conversations
skills, and most of all strengthens the bond between baby and parent/carer. Ideas include:
 Counting items of clothing or shoes
 Talking about shapes of everyday objects
 Describing colours of clothing, food or toys
 Singing nursery rhymes or favourite childrens songs
Goodbye
Conclude the session with some suggestions of books that parents might want to share with
their children. The Little Big Book Club suggests the following books to support learning in this
area:
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Spot Can Count by Eric Hill
My First 123 by Pamela Allen
Grug 123 by Ted Prior
Goodbye Song
Depending on the size of your group, you may wish to insert each child’s name in the place of
‘you’ as it develops a more personal relationship between yourself, the child and the family.
Sung to the tune of (Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush) or your preferred choice.
Goodbye
This is the way we say goodbye (use a waving action)
Say goodbye, say goodbye
This is the way we say goodbye
To all our library friends (or) (to our friend……)!