Theme: Men

Ed Sheeran

Discover talented singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s life story, from writing his first song aged just 11 to becoming a global super star! 

Ed Sheeran’s love of music began in childhood in Suffolk, where he sang in a church choir and taught himself guitar while still at primary school. Little Ed was bullied at school, but his music gave him confidence and a sense of belonging. This biography shows how his determination and passion led him to write his first song at 11, and later move to London to busk, play small gigs and ultimately chase his dream.

Young readers will follow Ed’s journey as he worked tirelessly until his big break with the release of his album + (Plus) in 2011. They’ll see how his career soared with record-breaking hits, making him one of the most successful and streamed artists in the world. Along the way, the book also highlights Ed’s kindness and generosity, from supporting education and music charities through his foundation to inspiring fans everywhere with his humility and perseverance. A role model to all aspiring stars, Ed’s story proves you can be kind and successful, determined and generous – the good guys and girls can win!

This inspiring book features stunning illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with photos and a detailed profile of Ed’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 hardback 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 setsActivity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.

Alexander Hamilton

Discover the inspiring story of Alexander Hamilton, the Founding Father, political trailblazer and modern-day icon.

Alexander Hamilton’s childhood was characterised by loss and hardship. Yet with a little help and a lot of tenacity, he travelled to America to pursue an education. Aged 15 he arrived in New York City as an immigrant and an orphan. He studied hard and became known for his intelligence, wit and impressive rhetorical skills. He was soon swept up in the revolutionary cause and joined the army. During the Revolutionary war he became a close friend of George Washington and after America gained independence, he trained as a lawyer, founded a national bank and was appointed to Congress. As a politician, he co-wrote the highly influential Federalist papers and later became the first Secretary of the Treasury.

Alexander was one of the lesser-known Founding Fathers, until Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash-hit musical Hamilton catapulted him to global fame, sharing his incredible story with millions.

This powerful book features stunning illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the protagonist’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 title is part of an exciting new strand in the series, focusing on historical figures who shaped the arts, sciences and culture.

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 hardback 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.

Harry Kane

Learn all about the incredible story of Harry Kane, an inspirational athlete whose determination and hard work helped him become captain of England’s football team.

Little Harry always knew he wanted to be a footballer. He joined his first club, Ridgeway Rovers, at a young age and worked hard to improve his skills every day. He was soon scouted by Arsenal, who spotted his potential and asked him to join.

But when he was dropped from Arsenal after just one season, Harry was devastated – he thought it would be the end of his footballing journey. With the support of his dad and the rest of his family, he picked himself back up, trained even harder and proved that he had real talent. And when he joined Tottenham Hotspur, it felt like home. He became their top scorer, netting hundreds of goals and delighting fans with every match.

Harry’s incredible determination saw him rise to the top and become captain of the England team. In his first World Cup, he won the Golden Boot – a prize for being the top-scorer in the competition. Even in tough matches, Harry has been a pillar of strength for the team, showing true leadership. And he uses his voice off the pitch, too, by starting a foundation to help encourage people to talk about their feelings.

This highly-illustrated book, about a little boy who never gave up on his dream, introduces children to the incredible moments in Harry’s career. His remarkable story of determination and perseverance shows young readers that anything is possible.

This book also features extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with photos and a detailed profile of the athlete’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 hardback 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.

Erno Rubik

Discover the fascinating story of Ernő Rubik, the inventor of the world-famous Rubik’s Cube, and master of creativity and problem-solving!

Ernő Rubik was born in Budapest in Hungary in 1944. His mother was a poet and his father a flight engineer, and as a child Ernő loved colours and shapes, design and geometry. He went to art school but soon realised he wanted to make things that served a purpose as well as looking good. Erno studied architecture and discovered a passion for teaching – he and his students worked together building things and testing ideas in his studio.

Determined to build something that would help his students understand how things move and change shape, Ernő started work on the cube that would make him famous in 1974. It took a lot of time and patience to build, but his ingenuity and perseverance paid off. Ernő’s students both loved and hated the puzzle finding it hugely addictive, so Ernő took it to a games company. And the rest, as they say, is history…

A global sensation, the cube soon captivated the world; over 350 million Rubik’s cube have been sold, making it one of the bestselling toys in history. Erno’s success story celebrates the power of curiosity and innovation, showing children that even small ideas can have a big impact.

This inspiring book features vibrant illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the artist’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 hardback 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 setsActivity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Discover the incredible story of Cristiano Ronaldo, an inspirational athlete, global megastar and one of the world’s greatest footballers. 

Born on the island of Madeira in Portugal, Cristiano grew up playing football from a very young age. With determination and self-belief, he pursued his dream of becoming a professional player, overcoming setbacks and challenges – including surgery for a heart condition called tachycardia – along the way. From his first matches in local clubs to international stardom, his journey shows the power of hard work, resilience and courage.

This inspiring book introduces children to Ronaldo’s record-breaking career, including three consecutive Premier League titles with Manchester United, victories in the Champions League and Club World Cup, and his record transfer to Real Madrid in 2009.

Ronaldo’s remarkable, record-breaking career is a story of hard work and determination, one that is sure to resonate with young sports fans, inspiring them to dream big and believe that anything is possible. Ronaldo is also known for his charity work, using his fame to raise awareness and help good causes.  Young readers will learn how he followed his passion, never gave up and became a role model for millions around the world, both on and off the pitch.

This inspirational book also features dynamic illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the athlete’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 hardback 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.

William Shakespeare

Learn about the story of William Shakespeare, the incredible playwright and poet who shaped the world of literature. 

Little William grew up during the Tudor era, a time long before TV or movies. But then, as now, there was storytelling, and William loved to create new stories.

After getting married to his wife Anne, William moved to London to seek his fortune. He joined a theatre there and acted on stage alongside writing his own plays.

His work is some of the most famous literature of all time, loved and performed across the world to this day. From the romance of Romeo and Juliet and the drama of Macbeth, to the farce of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the comedy of Much Ado About Nothing, his works explore an enormous range of emotion, each with their own lessons about the human experience.

As the book follows Shakespeare’s journey, young readers will see how his imagination and curiosity helped him to write incredible tales. They will learn of the challenges he faced in pursuing his dreams, the joy of performing and the excitement of seeing his plays come alive on stage. The story also highlights his creativity in capturing different human emotions, from love and jealousy to humour and magic, showing how he became the storyteller we still celebrate today.

A truly timeless, iconic figure, William Shakespeare forever changed language and culture with his incredible gift for literature.

This powerful book is complete with captivating illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline and a detailed profile of his 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 hardback 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!

Leonardo da Vinci

Discover the incredible story of Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance genius whose boundless curiosity and creativity changed the world. 

Young readers will follow Leonardo from his childhood in the small village of Vinci, Italy, where he sketched animals and dreamed of flying machines, to his training as an artist and his creation of world-famous paintings like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Along the way, they’ll see how his endless imagination and fascination with nature shaped his life’s work. But his talents didn’t stop there…

Throughout his life, Leonard set himself challenges. Lacking any real formal education, at the age of 30 he taught himself Latin. Around this time, he moved to Milan to work for the ruling Sforza family as an engineer, sculptor, painter and architect. From designing flying machines to sketching the first ideas for submarines and robots, Leonardo’s brilliant and technical mind meant he was always thinking centuries ahead of his time. Now, this book brings his groundbreaking inventions and wide-ranging genius to life.

Leonardo’s work continues to influence art, science and innovation today. His story teaches children to embrace their curiosity, explore their passions and never stop learning. By showing how one person’s imagination can shape the future, this inspiring book will spark creativity in young readers and encourage them to see the world through curious, questioning eyes – just like Leonardo.

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

Chris Hoy

For every book sold, a donation will be paid to Maggie’s, a charity that helps families living with cancer. Discover the life of Sir Chris Hoy, the cycling champion who became an inspiration to millions.

As a boy growing up in Scotland, Chris loved nothing more than racing around on his BMX and dreaming of becoming a champion. He wasn’t the fastest cyclist at first, but did that stop him? No! He quickly learned the value of hard work and perseverance, equipping him with the tools he needed to push forward. With determination, courage, and relentless effort, he went on to become one of the greatest cyclists of all time, winning six Olympic gold medals and eleven world titles!

But Chris’s story doesn’t end at the finish line. After retiring, he became an author, writing books to inspire children and young athletes to chase their dreams. In 2024, he showed remarkable courage once again, by openly sharing his cancer diagnosis and offering hope through his strength.

With lively illustrations and fascinating facts, this book takes young readers on an inspiring adventure through Chris’s incredible journey – showing that with passion, perseverance and a dream to follow, anything is possible!

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.