Think Big!

Jamaal is the biggest kid in his family, but he has the smallest room. When his parents refuse to do anything about it, Jamaal takes matters into his own hands by borrowing his dad’s tools to move walls and the ceiling to make himself a bigger room. Jamaal outfits his new room with a hot tub, stereo system, and a giant TV. When his family wakes up in their now smaller rooms, they perform the classic Munsch freak-out before allowing Jamaal to keep his new space….as long as he makes bigger rooms for the rest of his family. The last page features an illustration of the house from the outside, now Frankensteined with colourful additions for everyone including the dog.

Think Big! is classic Munsch; an absurd story in which an ordinary situation is turned into an extraordinary one. Like in many of Munsch’s other books, the kid protagonist is the hero of the story, fixing his own problems in the face of indifferent and weary adults. The text is full of Munsch’s usual exaggerated dialogue, characteristic repetition, and absurdity which make this book, like his others, great for being read aloud.

Dave Whamond is a newer illustrator for Munsch’s books. His style, much like Munsch’s frequent collaborator, Michael Marchenko, is vibrant and dynamic. Whamond’s people are caricatured with large heads and exaggerated expressions that perfectly fit the lively mood of the story. The illustrations have many details to hold a reader’s interest, from the mess of Jamaal’s room to the family’s colourful pajamas. The dog, though absent from the actual text, is full of personality, copying Jamaal’s gestures and helping in his endeavors throughout the book.

Munsch has a style, and this one does not stray. Fans will find comfort in what has become Munsch’s own cliches, but Think Big! lacks the heart of some of his other more well-known work. It’s fun and silly, but it’s a story we’ve read over and over and over again.