Additional information
by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara (Author), Sue Downing (Illustrator)
**The multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series**
Discover the life of ballet dancer Anna Pavlova, told in an inspiring biography for kids! Little Anna fell in love with ballet after watching a performance with her mother. At the age of just nine-years-old, she auditioned for the famous Imperial Ballet! But... she was rejected. The set-back didn't stop Anna--she auditioned again a year later and was accepted into the company. Although ballet was her passion, it didn't always come easily to her, and she worked fiercely to become the best. After her training was complete, she performed across Russia and later formed her own company with which she toured the world. The story of Anna Pavlova, one of the greatest dancers to have ever lived, teaches us that with hard work, our talents can take us wherever we want to go. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the star's life. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children. Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS! Select praise for the New York Times Bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series: "...cute and quirky..."- USA Today, in praise of Dolly Parton"...address[es] not only setbacks but also their strength to persevere and reach their goals."- Buzzfeed, in praise of RuPaul
"...introduc[es] kids to important figures in Latinx history." - Good Housekeeping, in praise of Frida Kahlo
"...[an] extraordinary series..." - TheEverymom, in praise of Mindy Kaling
"...a fabulous way to teach little ones about the extraordinary lives of influential people..."--Town & Country, in praise of Vincent Van Gogh
"...handled in an age appropriate way..." - Parents.com, in praise of Amanda Gorman
"...particularly great for this age..." - NY Magazine, in praise of Prince
"...encourages kids to dream big to 'achieve incredible things.'" - Rolling Stone, in praise of Kamala Harris
Author Biography
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.
Sue Downing lives and works in a little eco house in Newcastle upon Tyne with her husband and two children. She loves to draw, design and make things. Since leaving Edinburgh College of art in the late 1990's, she has worked as an illustrator, a product/licensed character developer, and a designer and maker of jewellery, greetings cards and wrapping paper, and many other things. Sue's wide-ranging inspirations include knitted toys, Japanese design, Scandinavian Chic, Modernism, Dick Bruna and infographics. She's drawn to anything that is quirky, humorous and minimal in design, as reflected in her brilliant illustrations.
