Astrid Lindgren (Little People, Big Dreams)

Astrid Lindgren is a new biography for babies and the youngest readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Due out 3rd March 2020 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly whimsical illustrations are well done. The art by Linzie Hunter is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the books, animals, multicultural children, and more which appear throughout the book).  I love to see so many kids and adults reading in the illustrations!

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Ms. Lindgren was and is an intelligent and beloved author and this little book is a nice introduction to her life and work for the youngest generation.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Katherine Johnson - Little People Big Dreams

Katherine Johnson is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series.  These are all delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail. Due out 7th Jan 2025 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Succeeding throughout her life despite formidable hurdles in place because of the time period (mid 20th century) and area in which she was born (WV), as well as being a female person of color, Katherine Johnson was a wonderfully brilliant applied mathematician who refused to be cowed and whose expertise played a significant part in the early manned space program's success.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly whimsical illustrations are well done. The art by Jemma Skidmore is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the school scenes, her studies, her university days, and her work at NASA and even her acceptance of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama).

Well written and appealing, all of these little books are worthwhile and enchanting. This one is a worthy addition. The author/publisher have also included a short timeline with photos in the back of the book as well as suggestions for further reading.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Mrs. Johnson was an intelligent and beloved figure and has become an icon for a more hopeful and cooperative future, an inspiration for girls choosing STEM educations, and this little book is a nice introduction to her life and work for the youngest generation.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Amanda Gorman (Little People, BIG DREAMS)

Amanda Gorman is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail. Due out 3rd March 2020 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Even before she burst onto the wider cultural consciousness as the vibrant, graceful, and intelligent poet at the inauguration of US President Biden, this accomplished young woman had already fought challenges in her own life, overcoming a speech impediment and the challenges of being a young black woman in a country split by divisiveness and pain. 

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly whimsical illustrations are well done. The art by Queenbe Monyei is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the books, animals, multicultural children and adults, and more which appear throughout the book).  I love to see so many kids and adults reading in the illustrations!

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Ms. Gorman is an intelligent and beloved figure and has become an icon for a more hopeful and cooperative future and this little book is a nice introduction to her life and work for the youngest generation.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
 

Charles Dickens (Little People, Big Dreams)

Charles Dickens is a short illustrated biography of the famed author for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and icons of innovation while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Released 9th Nov 2021 by Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  There is so much information included in this little book. The art by Isobel Ross is appealing and colorful and I found myself drawn into the pictures. The illustrations are active and kinetic and suit the subject.

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift. Dickens lived a difficult life in many ways and the author does a wonderful job of relating information in an age appropriate way without being hurtful or maudlin. This would make a great starting point for deeper research for young readers and a good introduction to his work. I felt that there was an overemphasis on A Christmas Carol, but this book could serve as a springboard and introduction to his *other* works as well.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Rosalind Franklin (Little People, Big Dreams)

Rosalind Franklin is a short illustrated biography of the famed scientist for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and icons of innovation while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Due out 24th Aug 2021 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  There is so much information included in this little book. The art by Naomi Wilkinson is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The illustrations are active and kinetic and suit the subjects. I especially liked the artist's illustrations of the x-ray diffraction images and the famous "photo 51" which first showed the X-formation of the DNA macromolecule. 

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift. Rosalind Franklin died tragically young and I'm impressed by the way this series manages to provide age appropriate biography without emphasizing or detracting from the racism, professional sexism, and troubles she lived through. This would make a great starting point for deeper research for young readers who are interested in STEM subjects, life science, and Franklin's life and legacy.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes 

Little People Big Dreams: Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Due out 4th June 2019 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly humorous illustrations were well done. The art by Daria Solak is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The illustrations are rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the little butterflies which appear throughout the book). Dolly herself has this to say about her butterflies: “Butterflies are my symbol. As a child, I used to get lost chasing them and got my butt whipped for wandering too far off. So we have butterflies everywhere.”

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Dolly is an intelligent and accomplished woman and this book is a nice tribute to an iconic entertainer.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

David Bowie Little People, Big Dreams

David Bowie is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and they all manage to pack an impressive amount of detail in these little books in an age-appropriate and accessible manner.

Due out 2nd May 2019 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly humorous illustrations were well done. I loved the series of pictures of Bowie through his different stage incarnations.  The art by Ana Albero is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The illustrations are rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the little green alien who appears in cameos throughout the book).

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Bowie was an intelligent and important cultural icon.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Simone Biles - Little People Big Dreams

Simone Biles is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series.  These are all delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail. Due out 25th June 2024 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Even before she was the darling of the international sporting community as the vibrant, graceful, and intelligent gymnast who dominated the sport from a very young age, this accomplished young woman had already fought challenges in her own life, living for a time in foster care, being adopted by her grandparents, and the challenges of being a young black woman in a country split by divisiveness and pain, along with the massive stress of performing and sacrificing almost everything to perform at the top competitive level.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly whimsical illustrations are well done. The art by Nadia Fisher is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the gym scenes, multicultural children and adults, her teammates, and more which appear throughout).

Well written and appealing, all of these little books are worthwhile and enchanting. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Ms. Biles is an intelligent and beloved figure and has become an icon for a more hopeful and cooperative future, always trying to do what's right, as an advocate for mental health and wellness, and this little book is a nice introduction to her life and work for the youngest generation.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Bob Dylan (Little People, Big Dreams)

Bob Dylan is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Due out 7th April 2020 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's presented in clear, accessible, age-appropriate language.  The gentle and sweetly humorous illustrations were well done. The art by Conrad Roset is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. Both the illustrations and text are rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the riffs on his songs, echoed in the text and the illustrations).

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Dylan is an iconic and important poet and this book is a nice tribute.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Note: I received an early eARC and in my copy of the material, there was a formatting error which caused the timeline biography and artist credits to be switched with an earlier book in the series (Astrid Lindgren). This will presumably be corrected in the final published version. 
 

Evonne Goolagong (Little People, Big Dreams)

Evonne Goolagong is a short age appropriate illustrated biography of the famous tennis player and a new addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and sports icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Due out 3rd March 2020 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly whimsical illustrations are well done. The art by Lisa Koesterke is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the animals, multicultural children, and more which appear throughout the book). There was a small typo in the timeline in the early eARC I received - Goolagong was picked up and trained by Vic Edwards in 1965, not 1956 (when she would've been 5 years old), but otherwise it's factually correct and engaging.

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Evonne Goolagong has used her fame as a platform to encourage and help others and this little book is a nice introduction to her life and work for the youngest generation.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Pele

Pele is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Due out 1st Sept 2020 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and vibrant illustrations were well done. The art by Camila Rosa is appealing and colorful and supports the story. The illustrations are bold and simple.

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition. I also appreciate that there are suggestions for further reading in the back of the book with the timeline of Pele's life.

Four stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Pele is obviously a supremely gifted athlete, but the book also highlights his accomplishments as an ambassador for equality and his charitable works. This book is a tribute to an icon who still represents the ideals of sportsmanship and brotherhood for so many thousands of people worldwide. It's nice to see him being introduced to a new generation of kids.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

David Attenborough

David Attenborough is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Due out 4th June 2019 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly whimsical illustrations are well done. The art by Mikyo Noh is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the little butterflies, bugs, reptiles and more which appear throughout the book).

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Sir David Attenborough is an intelligent and accomplished spokesman for conservation and our lovely planet and this book is a nice introduction to his life and work for the youngest generation.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Freddie Mercury -

 

Freddie Mercury is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and icons of innovation while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail for young kids. There are over 100 books in the series at this point and they're all worthwhile.

Released 7th Feb 2023 by Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's presented in clear and accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly whimsical illustrations are well done. The art by Ruby Taylor is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look, including many of Freddie's outrageous stage outfits based on real life appearances.  I loved seeing his beloved cats making an appearance as well.

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Queen and Freddie Mercury were and are an important part of the soundtrack of the world's experience for the last 40 years to and this little book is a nice introduction to Freddy's (and Queen's) work for the youngest generation.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Alan Turing

Alan Turing is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Released 7th April 2020 by Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly whimsical illustrations are well done. The art by Linzie Hunter is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the books, birds, and more which appear throughout the book).  I love to see so many kids and adults reading in the illustrations! I also appreciated the paraphrased Turing quotes in the text.

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Alan Turing was and a brilliant and unique man with a prodigious intellect and this little book is a nice introduction to his life and work for the youngest generation.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Note: I received an early eARC and in my copy of the material, there was a formatting error which caused the timeline biography and artist credits to be switched with an earlier book in the series (Astrid Lindgren). This will presumably be corrected in the final published version.  

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Released 30th July 2019 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  There is so much information included in this little book about which I was completely unaware. Bruce Lee was a master of cha cha? He was a western boxing adept?  The art by Miguel Bustos is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The illustrations are active and kinetic and suit the dynamic energy of the subjects.

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Bruce Lee died tragically young and I'm impressed by the way this series manages to provide age appropriate biography without emphasizing or detracting from the racism, tragedy, and trouble the subjects lived through. This would make a great starting point for deeper research for young readers who are interested in Bruce Lee's life and legacy.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes 

David Bowie: My First David Bowie (Pequeño & GRANDE #3)

My First David Bowie is a new picture book biography for the youngest readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and they all manage to pack an impressive amount of detail in these little books in an age-appropriate and accessible manner.

Due out 26th May 2020 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 24 pages and will be available in boardbook and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  The gentle and sweetly humorous illustrations were well done. I loved the series of pictures of Bowie through his different stage incarnations.  The art by Ana Albero is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The illustrations are rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the little green alien who appears in cameos throughout the book).

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Bowie was an intelligent and important cultural icon.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Stan Lee -

 

Stan Lee is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series.  These are all delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail. Due out 2nd July 2024 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

A powerhouse of creativity, inclusiveness, enthusiasm, and flourishing despite all odds, Stan Lee went from being a scrappy son of Jewish immigrants in NYC to creating or co-creating an amazing stable of superheros and turbo charging the silver age/renaissance of superhero comics in the 60s to the blockbuster franchises for Marvel down to the current day. Nearly everyone loves comics and he was an absolute titan of the genre.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's easy to read with clear accessible language.  The energetic and colorful illustrations are well done. The art by Ana Albero is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which invite readers to take a closer look.

Well written and appealing, all of these little books are worthwhile and enchanting. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  Stan Lee was an intelligent and beloved figure and has become an icon for a more hopeful and cooperative future, encouraging reading and literacy, honor and doing what's right, and this little book is a nice introduction to his life and work for the youngest generation. As always, there's a short timeline in the very back of the book with some suggestions for further reading.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

 

Rudolf Nureyev

Rudolf Nureyev is a new young reader book in the Little People, Big Dreams series.  Written by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara and illustrated by Eleonora Arosio, it's due out 30th July 2019 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint.  Aimed at young readers, it's 32 pages, perfect for a storytime or classroom circle read.  It'll be available in ebook and hardcover formats. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovation icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

This series is really amazing for its accessibility and charm.  The subjects are profoundly important people culturally and historically who have lived through often deeply difficult lives.  How does one write them into a digestible and appealing format for very young children (and their caregivers)?

This particular book and the artist's finesse with settings and postures/expressions is truly charming.  There are also number of subtle and reassuring messages about inclusivity, respect, passion for one's art, and doing what one loves.

I really love all of these books I've read and reviewed and can recommend this one unreservedly.  In addition to the biography, there is a short additional bibliography/suggested reading list included at the end of the book.

Lovely book! Five stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso is a new addition to the immensely popular Little People, Big Dreams series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. Due out 4th Jan 2022 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is another engaging little book, well written in clear accessible language.  There is a surprising amount of information included here compared to the page count. The art by Teresa Bellon is appealing and colorful and I found myself drawn into the pictures. The illustrations are active and full of creativity and suit the subject well. There are flashes of homage throughout but they're presented in a playful and respectful way.

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift. Picasso was a rebel and a firebrand and lived such an interesting life and the author does a wonderful job of relating the information in an age appropriate manner without being too specific or disingenuous. This would make a great starting point for deeper research for young readers and a good introduction to his works.  

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Megan Rapinoe

Megan Rapinoe is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovation icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail. Due out 2nd Feb 2021 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language.  The whimsical and energetic illustrations were well done. The art by Paulina Morgan is full of fun - appealing and colorful, they just bounce off the page. The illustrations are bold and full of bright contrasting colors and simple lines and lots and lots of energy.

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition. The author has included a timeline at the back of the book with some photos and highlights from Ms. Rapinoe's life, as well as a very short bibliography including books to explore further.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift.  I like that these books cover arts, sports, science, historical, and entertainment icons. There's something for everyone.  

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes