Small taught art for many years on the college level, ran a film series, and made satirical sketches for campus newspapers.
In 2001 Small won the Caldecott Medal for So You Want to Be President?, combining political cartooning with children's book illustration.
[8] In 2020 it was announced that Western Michigan University Libraries would acquire David Small and Sarah Stewart's archives, including their original artwork, sketchbooks, journals, published and unpublished writings.
[9] David Small and his wife Sarah Stewart make their home in an historic manor house in Mendon, Michigan.
It tells the story of Small's journey from sickly child to cancer patient, to troubled teen who ran away from home at sixteen to become an artist.