I love the Little People Big Dreams series of books. They, along with the Rebel Girls series, are fantastic for inspiring young children. We already have the Rosa Parks and David Bowie books in our collection, so I was excited to see a new book featuring the life of Hans Christian Andersen.
The Little People Big Dreams series, created by author Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, are aimed at young children and tell the stories of influential people from all walks of life. Each book provides an age-appropriate overview of the lives of pioneering figures, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. Each of them achieved incredible things, yet began life as a child with a dream. This makes the series ideal for inspiring the next generation of people who will change the world.
We are big fans of Hans Christian Andersen and his works, including The Ugly Duckling and Thumbelina. During our 2018 trip to Copenhagen we took the kids to see the famous Little Mermaid Statue and also visited the H.C. Andersen Museum. We learnt about the fascinating life he led and just knew his life story would make a great book.
The book begins with H.C Andersen’s humble upbringing, where the most precious thing he owned was a book. After his father died he was forced to leave school early without a proper education. We read about his move to Copenhagen where he worked in theatre and attempted to write stories. He had the opportunity to return to school later after a theatre director was impressed with his stories, despite the many spelling mistakes. After completing his education and suffering from heartbreak, he continued to write stories to express his feelings. These stories went on to be beloved all around the world.
H.C. Andersen’s story teaches children so many important lessons. It encourages us to realise that dreams can come true despite humble beginnings and how it’s possible to succeed despite adversity. It also shows how it’s never too late to learn. H.C. Andersen was much older than his fellow classmates when he returned to school but he appreciated receiving this second chance at education. He was a man who never gave up, despite often feeling like an ugly duckling and facing rejection both from women and in his profession. He went on to be one of the best children’s authors of all time, which shows children there’s a swan inside of us all.
As always with the Little People Big Lives series, the illustrations are vivid and eye-catching and the story itself is perfectly told in a way that’s accessible for young children. Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara has produced yet another inspiring read.
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I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.