I received an arc of this title from NetGalley. A gorgeous picture book about where and how a sagebrush lives. A small amount of text with breathtaking illustrations makes this one of my favorite reads of the year.

A beautiful picturebook that is both informational and poetic in its nature. It is marked as intended for 5–10-year-olds, but it's clearly not only for them, as the artistic merit and the contemplative mood give the book great crossover value.

I don't want to get deeply into the topic of whether it is actually for 5–10-year-olds, as has been suggested in another review, as it hinges too much on our, adults’ construction of what children are and what they like. The idea that preschoolers mostly like cartoonishly cute and exaggerated characters, with fast-paced action, might have some psychological basis, but by the middle-grade age category, this predilection is as much taught through exposure as anything. Okay, sorry, I did get into this topic after all.

But the sagebrush as the protagonist and narrator of the story that tells us about their world! Isn't that amazing? I truly appreciate that there are more and more titles out there that show the world from a more ecological, environmentally conscious point of view.

Publication date: October 7, 2025.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. The opinion above is entirely my own (informed by a professional interest in children's books rather than by my own age or by an experience of reading it with children in my care).

What. A. Gorgeous. Book.

The illustrations are striking, lovely, and have major staying power — this artwork is something I’m going to be reflecting on and remembering for a long time.

As someone who has lived exclusively along the Mississippi River my entire life, the sagebrush and its ecosystem is not one I have learned about and certainly not contemplated much. This was fascinating to learn about and to be able to share with my own kids.

I’ve got two kids in this target demographic and let me tell you what they love in their stories: cute animals and overcoming hardship. Tales with grit. Endearing illustrations. The Big Empty has ALL of that — every single element they enjoy!

And for me? The lines within this story like “I am nourishment when there is nothing else” speak to me as a mother on a deep level. Much like the sagebrush we offer our children so many elements of “home” as the sagebrush does in its ecosystem. Mothers are a safe place, a source of nourishment, and we are their nursery. Mothers endure even when all hope seems lost.

I loved this story and I’m so glad creative people like Kirby Fagan exist in this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Millbrook Press for the early eARC of this book in exchange for my review.

The Big Empty
Kirbi Fagan
Beautiful paintings, and research on the life of sage brush, not only what they provide for the environment. The images of fire and life cycle bring the story of sage to young readers. I liked the information about each of the animals related to the sagebrush.

Absolutely breathtaking landscapes adorned with varying style texts. The Big Empty will serve as a cozy and curiosity piquing read aloud. This story can sour further conversation and research, while doubling as a relaxing and joyful storytime. Children will root for rebirth and growth of big sagebrush. They will leave with a new appreciation for something that they probably hadn’t heard of before. The back contains further information on the topic to explore with little ones. This is a truly special title that manages to capture some of the magic of nature within it’s limited pages, with such a small amount of words.

This book is overall done really well! However, I am unsure about how popular it would be among the intended younger audience. I think the two main reasons for that are 1) the topic is very specific and narrow, and 2) the writing is just too serious and, frankly, dull. In short, I think that little kids will be easily bored when reading this book, which is not a great thing. Don't get me wrong, the information in this book is likely interesting to some people out there, but they are probably not children, and I am also not a part of that "some people".
For whom it may interest, this book is organized and written nicely. Information is clear and concise, and the history of the sagebrush is told in a storytelling format. A quick critique about that: I think that the story's ending came too abruptly. There was a resolution and then the book was done. I would have liked to see a quick line (or two) to make the conclusion a bit smoother.
Lastly, the illustrations were great! There was a very clear art style, but they were still true-to-life, without being overly realistic.

A beautiful look at the South West desert, told from the point of view of a sagebrush, narrating all the many, many ways sagebrush contributes to the surprisingly thriving environment of the desert, paired with hauntingly beautiful pictures.

This was a beautiful look at the landscape of the southwest, the effect of the sagebrush and the damage of wildfires. The illustrations are lovely, and the writing is sparse, but personal. I think this would make a great read-aloud for learning about the Southwest, conservation, and habitats. I recommend this book for schools and libraries.

An interesting book that shows the strength and resilience of an important plant. The book conveys the importance of endurance as well as the impact you can have on your environment in a positive way.