How big is the sky? by Kimberly Brown

Asked by her two year old son, how big is the sky, has led to many years of thoughtful investigation and research, culminating in this exciting picture book which presents all sorts of measurements which young children will enjoy seeing told within a story about a family’s sailing adventure. I loved opening the book finding the endpapers covered with a range of measuring devices from a clock to a plumb bob, a slide rule, compass, scales and measuring cups, the range was fascinating and several different ones given on the last endpaper, to keep readers hooked.              

The story tells of a young boy and his family going on a sailing trip. They have built their boat, with the help of a measuring tape, and now give the measurements, height, depth, circumference and width as they prepare for their adventure. Measurements form part of the story and I can imagine young children working out the boat’s measurements in their classroom or yard.   

Over the page is a scale and readers learn that a scale measures mass and weight, i.e. how heavy something is. A comparison is given between a blue whale and the little boat on the seas above. Next is a nanometer, a small tool which measures wind speed, a necessity on the seas. There is also a thermometer for temperature and a watch for time. Even the bucket used for mopping the decks is a measuring tool. There are ways for measuring everything, and scientists have developed many tools to help. Readers here will love finding all the things in the classroom or at home which are for measuring. 

And so follows a few things that cannot be measured. Fear, family, laughter, courage, wonder and awe are all things felt by people but cannot be measured. But they do show how we feel about the wonder of the world we live in, how big it is, how deep, how far and how wonderful. All it takes is observation.

This is a lovely starter to discussions about measuring, as it gives a whole range of implements which can be used to measure, but also poses the question that some things cannot be measured. A wonderfully illustrated picture book sure to entice, encourage and prod young minds. 

Themes: Measurement, STEM, Sailing, Family.

Fran Knight