Vashti Harrison burst onto the children’s book scene with her book, “Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History.” But to hear her tell it, Vashti still cannot believe that her entry point for kidlit was through nonfiction. Perhaps that is why she took such care and tenderness in creating her first fictional picture book, “Big.” In “Big,” we meet a young girl whose journey feels universally relatable, even if her story is uniquely hers. The book earned Vashti many accolades, including the Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award. But its profound effect on her personally was also a great gift and illuminating force for Vashti.
“Every time I read “Big” at a school, obviously I’m there to speak to kids about the story, and I hope they’re all connecting with it, but at every single reading, there is always an adult woman that comes to me and says, this is my story, I needed this when I was young. And I just wish we all knew that we were all going through the same thing.”
— Vashti Harrison
A New York Times bestselling author, illustrator, and filmmaker, Vashti’s words and artwork explore themes of identity, self-acceptance, and representation. In this episode, “Scratching the Surface: Vashti Harrison on Going Past Skin Deep,” Vashti reflects on how everyday magic and storytelling have shaped her life and work. She reflects on her childhood in "Only Lonely," Virginia, where she immersed herself in books and films and first thought of herself as a drawer. She also considers how she has navigated the complexities of beauty standards and body image over the years and shares the drawing contest she entered on a whim that led to a book deal in 24 hours!
Vashti’s reading challenge, The BIG Reading List, is a curated list of books that inspired and helped her write “Big.” The titles are all about understanding and dismantling anti-fat and adultification bias and celebrating Black girlhood.
Listen to the full episode, "Scratching the Surface: Vashti Harrison on Going Past Skin Deep," on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. Like what you hear? Please leave a 5-star review, subscribe, and share with someone who will enjoy it!
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