The Tallest of Smalls

When I first read Max Lucado’s Fearless and learned about the people of Stiltsville, I thought it to be a rather amusing way of relating a serious issue. Imagine my surprise when I saw the illustration be turned into a children’s book.

Lucado’s The Tallest of Smalls is a children’s book that uses didactic poetry and beautiful, earth toned, illustrations to tell a story. The story is about the Stiltsvillians and their caste system; dividing their people between those with stilts and those without.It tells the story of a little boy named Ollie and his desire to be picked as one of those that receive a set of stilts. Only those citizens whose names are picked can receive their stilts. Otherwise, they are left on the ground with the others.

One night Ollie’s name is called to receive a pair of stilts. Once he was elevated on his stilts he began to learn that it was not as easy as he once thought it was. He experienced trouble and eventually fell of his stilts. When he was at his lowest and no one else was there to help, he is helped by Jesus and given some advice that changes his life.

The Tallest of Smalls is a great book that helps children understand self-esteem and the love of Jesus. Lucado’s book helps children understand that they do not have to fear what others might say. Because no matter if a child’s peers do not pick them to play or consider them to be cool, there is always someone that loves us just for who we are and nothing more.