Theme: Men

Steven Spielberg

Director, writer, editor, producer . . . Steven Spielberg is the person behind some of the most celebrated films ever made. Little People, BIG DREAMS Steven Spielberg is an empowering testament to believing in yourself and following your childhood dream.

Little Steven was six when he first went to the cinema. Although he didn’t understand the story, he was captivated by the beauty of the moving pictures on screen. Soon after, he picked up his Dad’s film camera and began experimenting. By his teens he was making short films – carefully crafting every part of the process, from writing the scripts to directing the shots.

Filmmaking was a refuge for Steven, who faced bullying and anti semitism at school. With his camera, editing machine and notebook he could create a world he felt safe in. As he grew, he found somewhere else he felt at home: Universal studios. He first visited the company’s lot during a studio tour, and was later  hired after impressing executives with a short films. Within a few years, Steven went from making TV movies to cinematic blockbusters. Audiences fell in love with his heartwarming adventures, like ET and Jurassic Park, and were deeply moved by his film about the Holocaust, Schindler’s List.

After a lifetime of accolades and awards, Steven remains happiest behind a camera – telling stories that encourage us to open our hearts and minds.

Beethoven

Learn about the inspiring story of Ludwig van Beethoven, the ground-breaking pianist and composer who changed the shape of classical music.

Little Ludwig grew up in the city of Bonn in Germany. His father and his grandfather were both musicians, and they hoped that Ludwig would take after them, but there’s no way they could have known what Ludwig would one day achieve. He learned to play the piano before his feet could even touch the floor, and his talent only continued to grow with his hard work as he got older. He went on to compose amazing musical pieces, including symphonies for a whole orchestra, and his energy and originality blew his audiences away! But his musical skill was about to be put to the test . . . Ludwig began to lose his hearing, and eventually became deaf. He was really worried, as music was his life! But then he realised something amazing: he could still hear every instrument in his mind. Through resilience and creativity, Ludwig continued composing extraordinary pieces that changed musical history.

Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most impactful musicians of all time. His inspiring story shows the power of music as a force for creativity and self-expression.

Louis Braille

Little People, BIG DREAMS Louis Braille explores the life of the remarkable man behind Braille, the tactile reading and writing system.

Little Louis was a curious child – always exploring and having adventures. Then one day, while playing in his father’s workshop, he had an accident with a tool and eventually lost sight in both eyes. It was tricky to get used to, but with help from his family and a local teacher, Louis continued to learn and explore.

Aged ten, he moved to Paris to start at the Royal Institute for the Young Blind. Unfortunately, the school used a system that was very tricky, and didn’t allow pupils to write. Disappointed with alternatives, Louis began to develop his own system. When he shared his invention four years later, his teachers and classmates were amazed – his system used just six dots in a tiny space that fit under his fingertip, and included a complete alphabet, with punctuation marks, numbers and mathematical symbols.

It took many years for his system to be widely used, but little by little it spread across the world and came to be known as Braille. Today, Braille is used by more than six million people and there are codes for more than 133 languages.

David Beckham

Learn about inspiring story of David Beckham! The much-loved footballer who grew up dreaming of scoring goals for his favourite team.

Little David always knew that he wanted to be a footballer. Growing up, he and his family supported Manchester United, and he dreamt of being part of their team. He spent years playing for local clubs and joined Manchester United’s youth academy as a teen. After entering the first squad under the leadership of Alex Ferguson, it soon became clear that David was a star on the pitch.

With Manchester United, he won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League all in one season, a pioneering feat! He went on to become captain of the England team and a hero to people across the country. Away from the pitch, David had fallen in love with Victoria, a successful singer. They got married and everyone became obsessed with their love story!

When he left Manchester United, David, Victoria and their children moved to Spain, and he played for Real Madrid as part of a superstar squad. Football continued to take him around the world – to LA in California, and back again to Europe. When it came to retire from playing, David couldn’t keep away from the beautiful game. He helped to start a new team, Inter Miami CF, in Florida, elevating the sport in the US.

A footballing legend who is loved by all, David’s achievements are the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and talent.

This powerful book features quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the footballer’s life.

Patrick Mahomes

Learn about inspiring story of Patrick Mahomes! The legendary American footballer and MVP who grew up dreaming of being a baseball player.

Little Patrick grew up in Texas. His dad was a legendary baseball player and he dreamt of following in his footsteps. As a child, he excelled at all sorts of sports: from baseball to basketball to ping-pong, but it was American football which captured his heart. In college, he dedicated himself to building his skills and strength on the field. His hard work soon paid off when he was asked to join the Kansas City Chiefs. Just two years later he won his first super bowl ring! The next few years bought two more Superbowl victories as well as some losses. But whether he wins or loses, Patrick knows that the most important thing is being a good teammate and a strong leader.

Alongside his football career, he is a dedicated husband and father. He is passionate about improving the lives of children and through his foundation, 15 and the Mahomies, supports a range of charitable causes.

A sporting legend who is loved by all, Patrick’s achievements reflect his tenacity, drive and belief in himself.

Dream Big Bingo

Dream Big BINGO! is a bingo game with a difference! Choose an inspirational figure and collect all the qualities they need to fulfil their dreams.

  • An easy-to-learn bingo game: Screen-free family fun with simple gameplay for 2–6 players
  • Discover inspiring role models from the popular children’s book series Little People, BIG DREAMS and learn as you play!
  • Attractive gift box contains: 6 double-sided bingo cards, 30 bingo chips, 54 tokens, a cloth bag, and an educational booklet; box size is 8.5 × 8.5 × 1.5 in.
  • Edutainment for children age 4+: Little People, BIG DREAMS brings history to life

Discover history’s favorite characters in this inspirational bingo game, from the creator of the bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS books.

Dream Big BINGO! is a bingo game with a difference! Choose one of history’s most inspirational figures—from writers and artists to scientists and sports stars—and collect all the qualities and experiences they need to help them fulfil their big dreams. Race to be first to complete your card and shout ‘bingo’ to win! Learn about their incredible life stories and amazing achievements as you play, with mini biographies in the accompanying booklet.

Inside the box you’ll find six double-sided bingo cards, 30 chips, 54 tokens, a cotton bag, and a booklet in which you can read the stories of the outstanding people featured in the game. Suitable for up to six players, aged 4 and up.

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.