About the Author

Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, born in Barcelona, Spain, is a writer and creative director in constant search of new concepts for children’s books. In 2014, she created a book for her two twin nieces for their birthday, which shortly thereafter became the first book in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. This multimillion-copy bestselling series of picture books explores the lives of outstanding people. From Mahatma Gandhi to Aretha Franklin, to Prince, Sánchez Vegara researches complex careers and makes them accessible to young children, with her unique and mindful style of writing. She works with a diverse team of illustrators to make each book lively, eye-catching and motivating. Working for more than fifteen years for clients in top advertising agencies, her books combine creativity with learning, aiming to establish a new and fresh relationship between children and pop culture. ​

Reviews

“The kind of books that adults will covet and collect as well… The language and structure is simple enough for young readers, while a biographical timeline at the end of each book offers greater historical complexity” 
*Irish Times*

"A stylish book … a great stepping stone to non-fiction."
*The Guardian Family Review*

"The Spanish text is engaging and informative... making these titles an ­excellent choice for younger readers..."
*School Library Journal*

“Brilliantly accessible and inspiring” 
*Rhino Reads*

Best children’s books for spring - "Strikingly illustrated, they’re superb first biographies for younger readers."
*The Huffington Post*

“One children’s books series trying to fight back… by telling the inspiring stories of women who overcame adversity and made history by pursuing their childhood dreams.”
*Toronto Star*

"A QUIRKY kids biography series"
*The Voice*

'Sumptuously illustrated hardbacks, they take the life stories of famous women in history and retell them in a child-friendly way'
*Daily Mail*

‘The picture book biopic of Frida Kahlo in the very successful Little People, Big Dreams series is very carefully judged. It doesn’t sugarcoat Frida's injuries or her struggles with chronic pain, nor does it indulge in triumph-over-adversity clichés, but looks at her disability as part of who she is as a woman and an artist. Frida is shown with a range of mobility aids, which is a bonus.’
*Caboodle*

“ . . . introduc[es] kids to important figures in Latinx history.”
*Good Housekeeping*