I like the concept, but I don't love the execution. ( )

I like the theme a lot and I think it's important to have books with parents and kids of both genders displaying emotions. This one is just ... didn't quick click for me. ( )

picture book, toddler/preschool and up

sweet story with sparse prose and expressive, vibrant art. Great for one-on-one reading or with a group. ( )

Levi is off to his first day of school and feeling scared, when his dad says "Big boys don't cry". But on the route to school, Levi encounters oodles of big boys and men who ARE crying! With beautiful, vivid illustrations of Levi's seaside town and all its inhabitants, this book tells an important message via a simple and to-the-point story. ( )

Feeling frightened on his first day at a new school, Levi begins to weep, only to be told by his concerned father that "big boys don't cry." As he walks to school however, he sees any number of grown men crying, each for different reasons. Reassured about showing his emotions, he lets a tear slip as he gets to school. Fortunately, he has such a good time that he is no longer crying when he gets home. This time, it is his father who weeps, leading Levi to offer comfort in turn: for big boys do indeed cry...

A debut for British author/illustrator Jonty Howley, Big Boys Cry is a lovely, heartfelt picture-book addressing the emotional life of boys, and the importance of being able to express fear and distress. Although I do feel that there is value in being able to control one's emotions - or rather, the expression of one's emotions, when in public - particularly at certain times or events, I also believe that this can be taken too far, and that the way it is enforced along gender lines can be destructive. I'm glad to see that Howley offers a more humane and reasonable vision of a boy's life, in this regard - yes, big boys (and men!) do cry from time to time, like all human beings. The accompanying artwork here, depicting Levi making his way through his seaside town, is absolutely gorgeous, upping this one from a high three-star title to a solid four-star one. I loved the stylized figures, and the use of color, and look forward to seeing what Howley will produce in the future. Recommended to anyone looking for new children's stories addressing emotional expression for young boys. ( )