Smile So Big

Smile So Big tells the story of a little girl named Challa and her beautiful smile. One day, Challa comes home crying from school because she was teased about her smile. Her mother comforts her and gives her a beautiful, beaded mirror that had been passed down from her djo djo. Whoever looks into the mirror “would see their true self”, but every person who did so had to say what they saw in their reflection. When Challa looked into the mirror, she saw her beautiful, toothy smile, and how much beauty she had. When she said as much out loud, the beads on the mirror lit up and Challa felt better and happier.

Challa shared the power of the mirror with her friends. Neebin, who was sometimes teased about his long hair, realized how much he loved his long hair when he looked into the mirror. Challa’s friend Keggy was teased about her dark skin. When Keggy looked into the mirror, she saw the beauty of her dark skin. Challa noticed that every time one of her friends looked into the mirror and saw their own beauty, the mirror not only lit up but would also shake the earth and surround her friends with magic. But that didn’t happen when Challa had looked in the mirror. She looked again and tried to truly see her reflection. The more beauty she saw in herself, the happier and more content she felt. She learned to truly love herself. Finally, the magic of the mirror surrounded herself as well.

Sunshine Quem Tenasco and Chief Lady Bird have told a story that encourages those to rediscover the beauty within themselves and celebrate what makes them unique. Whether it is dimples, long hair, or skin colour, we are all beautiful inside and out. Chief Lady Bird’s illustrations are bold and bright, enhancing the “magic” of the mirror. When a character’s reflection is seen in the mirror, their features remain unchanged, further making the point that being oneself is all that is needed. Furthermore, the story reiterates that accepting your own beauty first is just as important as sharing in the joy and beauty of others. It is about the power that love can have on yourself and each other. Smile So Big is recommended for elementary age children, but it is also a good reminder for adults to remember the beauty in themselves as well.