The Tallest of smalls

Max Lucado has done it again. With a simple storyline, Lucado touches on some very deep stuff. The Tallest of Smalls is about Ollie. Ollie so much wants to be part of the “in” crowd. These people, lifted high on stilts, looking down on those below casting judgment. Ollie is tired of being looked upon dejectedly, wishing that he would be picked to wear a pair of stilts. His moment arrives, only to find that it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Soon he loses his stilts, but finds friendship in the One who cares for him no matter how tall, making Ollie the Tallest of Smalls.
The book is wonderfully illustrated by Maria Monescillo. The setting takes place in the town of Stiltsville. Every day at 6, those on stilts come into the town square and pick someone to receive a pair of stilts. The book is written in rhyme, so it is easy for my sons to get into and follow.

I think The Tallest of Smalls speaks to so many who think that they are somehow less worthy than others. Whether they think they are not pretty enough, rich enough, smart enough, even funny enough, we often place others on pedestals; those we look up to. This book brings to light that what we are in search of is much greater than looks or smarts, but acceptance. Trying our best to please the world only makes us less pleased with ourselves. However, when one finds friendship in Jesus, they find the acceptance for who they really are. Jesus doesn’t want us to be more beautiful or more intelligent, He just wants us. He is our dearest friend, one who can look past all our imperfections and see through to the very heart of all of us. Knowing this lifts us to new heights, far surpassing our wildest imaginations.