Archives: Books

Leonard Cohen

Learn about the incredible life of Leonard Cohen, the inspiring singer-songwriter who shared songs about hope, love, loss and everything that makes us human.

Little Leonard grew up in Montréal, Canada, and was a child who delighted in the world around him. From roses with too-long stems, to birds chirping on a rusty wire, he noticed the beauty in things that others might miss. His trips to the synagogue were a source of wonder, too. Leonard listened in awe to the songs and stories – moved by their messages and timeless narratives.

When Leonard was nine, his father sadly died. To cope with the loss, he began writing poems, and soon realised how important it was for him to express his feelings through art. As an adult, his search for poetic inspiration led him to London and Greece until, finally, he settled in New York City. He was influenced by the city’s music scene and decided to turn his hand to writing songs. His haunting melodies and powerful lyrics gained him a following and he was soon a household name.

Most known for his beautiful ballad, Hallelujah, Leonard became one of the most iconic artists of all time through a music career that lasted almost fifty years.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the talented pilot and writer.

Little Antoine grew up in Lyon, France. Ever since he was a young boy, he dreamt of becoming a pilot. He soon joined the French military where he finally got his chance to learn. He spent a short time in the Air Force before leaving to become a mail pilot, all the while writing about his adventures.

However, in 1935, he crashed in the desert during a flight from Paris to Saigon. With little food and water to hand, he became very ill. Fortunately, after four days, he was found by a passerby and nursed back to health. This experience influenced much of Antoine’s future writing.

In WWII, he moved to the United States where he campaigned for France’s freedom from Nazism. During this period, he wrote the Little Prince, a captivating story of love and loss, which went on to become one of the bestselling children’s books of all time.

Salvador Dali

Learn about the incredible life of Salvador Dalí, one of the pioneers of the Surrealism movement.

Little Salvador was born in Figueres, Spain, in the shadow of the death of his elder brother. In his teenage years, he was introduced to Cubism and Surrealism, which had a profound effect on his life. After an education in fine art, he began a career as an artist. Many people doubted Salvador and found him and his work to be too eccentric, but he proved his doubters wrong by creating some of the most iconic and enduring artworks to have ever graced the world. Salvador’s life inspires generations of little creators to follow their own style.

Mary Kom

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Mary Kom, one of the world’s greatest boxers.

Mary grew up in a village in north-east India. Her family had very little and there was no money for toys, so she entertained herself by playing sports and running outside. When Mary discovered boxing, she knew it was the sport for her. Yet some people weren’t so sure, including her dad. He thought boxing was just for boys. But by training hard and believing in herself, Mary showed that she belonged in the ring. She won six world championships and became known as ‘Magnificent Mary’. Alongside winning medals, she opened a boxing academy for budding young athletes, became a member of parliament and campaigned for animals’ rights. In 2020 she was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, one of the highest accolades in India.

Vincent van Gogh

Learn about the life of Vincent van Gogh, one of the world’s most influential and best-loved artists.

Little Vincent was a quiet child. He loved spending time in nature and playing with his brother Theo. After leaving school, he began working as an art dealer. Vincent showed promise, but he found it more and more difficult to control his emotions and eventually had to leave. He had a go at many different jobs, including a teacher and a bookseller, but nothing felt right.

When he wasn’t working, he wrote Theo long letters that included beautiful drawings. Theo loved his work and suggested that he try being an artist. Vincent dedicated himself to painting and never looked back! He developed his own style and expressed his emotions through his art: from sorrow to joy, and everything in between.

Vincent dedicated himself to painting and never looked back! He developed his own style and expressed his emotions through his art: from sorrow to joy and everything in between.

During his life, Vincent had little success, but today, his paintings are admired and celebrated in galleries across the world.

Rafa Nadal

Learn about the incredible life of Rafa Nadal, the dedicated sportsperson who’s tenacity and drive has inspired young athletes across the world.

Little Rafa was born in Majorca, Spain. Encouraged by his two uncles, he started playing football and tennis, but found that he particularly excelled on the court. His uncle Toni became his coach and Rafa soon dreamt of winning tournaments. He was fiercly dedicated and worked hard at his technique and stamina – always being the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave. Then, at just fifteen years old, he became a professional, and seven years later was the number one tennis player in the world!

His journey has not been without challenges – he has faced several injuries and experienced losses – but each time he has come back stronger and more determined than ever to keep living his dream. Despite having won 20 Grand Slam titles, he remains humble and his perseverance and determination are the keys to his success. Today, he is considered one of the best tennis players in history.

This powerful 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 tennis player’s life.

Little People, BIG DREAMS: Amazing Women

A Memory Game!

Match up the Little People to their BIG DREAMS! Discover amazing women in this simple memory game, from the creator of the bestselling Little People BIG DREAMS books. 

Pair up Jane Austen, Marie Curie, Mary Anning and many more iconic women with their outstanding achievements. Featuring 20 inspirational women and their incredible life stories.

Gift box is sized 100 x 144 x 47mm, 40 cards sized 88 x 63mm, plus a 28-page booklet. Suitable for two or more players, aged 4 and up.

Little People, BIG DREAMS: Who Am I

A guessing game with a difference!

Choose one of history’s favourite characters – from designers and artists to scientists and activists – and try to outsmart your opponent by guessing their character before they guess yours. Take turns to ask ‘yes or no’ questions until you uncover the identity of your opponent’s chosen character. But questions based purely on appearance won’t get you far… Focus on characters’ achievements to win and discover their incredible life stories as you play.

Inside the box you will find 48 cards sized 10 x 7cm, 50 counters, two game boards sized 36 x 26cm, two privacy shields to keep your cards secret, and a booklet in which you’ll discover the stories of the outstanding people featured in the game.

Suitable for two players, aged 6 and up.

Stan Lee

Be inspired by the amazing life of Stan Lee, the comic book genius who created Spider-Man, The Hulk and Iron Man!

Little Stan grew up in New York City. As a child, he loved reading books, poems and newspaper strips. And when he didn’t have his head in a book, he was writing stories of his own.

After he graduated, Stan got his big break in the form of a job as an assistant at a small comic book publisher called Timely Comics. He started by helping the editors with their work, but before long, he was helping to write the comics. He contributed to a Captain America story but soon started to create his very own characters.

From the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man to The Hulk, Stan’s superheroes were innovative and exciting. Even though they were super, they felt human, flaws and all. In the years that followed, he built a solid career at Timely Comics. With Stan’s help, Timely Comics grew to become Marvel, the multi-million-dollar corporation behind some of the most successful Hollywood films, including The AvengersBlack Panther and Ant-Man.

Stan created a whole universe of connecting characters and stories which leapt off the page and into the hearts of millions of fans around the world!

Usain Bolt

Discover the life of Usain Bolt.

Growing up in a rural town in Jamaica, Usain was a standout cricketeer and sprinter from a young age. His speed was noticed by coaches, and by the age of 14, he was wowing fans with his lightning speed. He took the world by storm at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when he broke numerous records and he became the fastest man ever at the World Championships in 2009 with a time of 9.58 seconds. Despite the pressure and even a few off-days, Usain continued to be monumental in his achievements. Usain’s story teaches us that any dream is achievable if you put your mind to it, regardless of what others may say.