Revenge of the Small Small

Kelly L. Green is editor of the Canadian Book Review Annual’s
Children’s Literature edition.

Patsy is the youngest of the four children in the Small family, and
while her siblings have such charming names for her as the “lowly
infant,” her father says she is simply the small Small. She does
everything she can think of to show her siblings that she is big enough
to participate in their activities, to the extent of doing special
things for them when they come down with the chickenpox. When Patsy gets
sick, however, the siblings do not return the favor, and Patsy, aided by
her Dad, learns a thing or two about getting her own back. She also
learns that it is ultimately more fun to forgive and be friends.

Jean Little’s ability to portray realistic children in real dilemmas
was never more acute than in this unassuming story. Patsy’s method of
graphically illustrating her hurt feelings to her older siblings
(creating tombstones for them with insulting epitaphs in a miniature
“Small Town” she creates while sick at home) is a stroke of genius,
but one that any beleaguered youngest child would be proud to call her
own. Janet Wilson’s illustrations are touching and genuine. Highly
recommended.