Theme: Women

Amal Clooney

Discover the inspiring story of Amal Clooney, the inspirational lawyer and human rights activist.

Amal Clooney was born in Beirut in Lebanon in 1978. When she was just two years old, her family fled to the United Kingdom to escape the Lebanese Civil War. Amal’s mother was a journalist and her father was a business man and academic, but Amal always dreamed of being a lawyer. She loved school and always worked hard, determined to achieve her dream. She studied at Oxford University and the New York University School of Law and became a barrister.

Now one of the leading human rights lawyers in the world, Amal is known for her dedication to fairness and justice. With a sharp intellect and fierce determination, she has represented high-profile clients, including journalists, political prisoners and victims of human rights abuses.

Always looking to give back, the annual Amal Clooney Scholarship programme provides educational opportunities to young women from Beirut while the Clooney Foundation for Justice, co-founded by Amal and her husband George in 2016, provides free legal aid in over 40 countries, focusing on defending free speech and women’s rights.

Amal worked hard to achieve her dream and through her legal and charity work, she continues to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves and to inspire the next generation of young activists and leaders.

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

Rihanna

Discover the inspiring story of Rihanna, from her childhood in Barbados to becoming an international superstar and successful businesswoman.  

Growing up on the Caribbean island of Barbados, little Robyn Rihanna Fenty loved to sing and perform. Despite a challenging childhood where she often had to look after her younger brothers, she dreamed big, and an audition in New York set her on the path to stardom. From her debut single ‘Pon de Replay’ to worldwide anthems like ‘Umbrella’ and ‘Diamonds’, Rihanna is the best-selling female recording artist of the twenty-first century with 14 number-one singles to her name.

But Rihanna’s story didn’t stop with music. She built an inclusive beauty and fashion empire with her brand, Fenty, changing the industry by celebrating every skin tone and body shape. She is also a dedicated philanthropist, working through her Clara Lionel Foundation to support education, disaster relief and healthcare worldwide. She is the ambassador for culture and youth in Barbados and many on the island celebrate ‘Rihanna Day’ on 2 February.

This inspiring book introduces children to Rihanna’s remarkable journey – from her first performances at home to global superstardom, philanthropy and entrepreneurship – showing that with determination and self-belief, anything is possible.

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

Beatrix Potter

Learn about inspiring story of Beatrix Potter, the legendary author, illustrator and protector of nature.

During her childhood in London, little Beatrix loved to draw. She drew everything she came across, and particularly loved drawing animals and other things that she spotted in the natural world around her.

As an adult, she began writing and drawing her own stories, and she created a story about a naughty little rabbit named Peter. That story, which she decided to publish with her own money, became The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which today is a true classic.

She went on to create other beloved animal characters, such as Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, enchanting readers with her timeless tales set in the English countryside. Her beautifully illustrated stories, filled with mischief and adventure, inspire readers with a love of nature and storytelling. Beyond her writing, Beatrix was a pioneering conservationist, preserving much of the Lake District for future generations.

Her story, of self-belief and perseverance, is a reminder that we should always follow our dreams, and that everyone has a story to tell.

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 author’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 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.

Mikaela Shiffrin

Discover the inspiring story of Mikaela Shiffrin, a record-breaking alpine skier who battled tough times to become the very best.

Mikaela grew up under a snowy mountain in Colorado, USA. Her family were all big fans of skiing and by the age of two she was already gliding all by herself, determined to beat her brother! This was to be a theme throughout Mikaela’s career as, inspired by skier Heidi Voelker’s message as a junior skier she added the acronym A.B.F.T.T.B to her helmet: ‘Always Be Faster Than The Boys’!

Mikaela truly fell in love with skiing when at the age of just six she started training for slalom. She went to the Burke Mountain Academy, a top US ski school and at sixteen won her first World Cup trophy. Between 2013-2018, Mikaela broke many records and won two Olympic Golds – one at the Winter Olympics in Russia in 2014 and one at the Winter Olympics in South Korea in 2018.

The Shiffrin family was very close – Mikaela’s mum was her coach, best friend and travel buddy, while her dad helped with her training and provided great emotional support. At the height of Mikaela’s success and fame her dad died following a tragic accident. Mikaela was devastated and considered giving up skiing. She persevered however and despite a tough Olympics in 2022, she went on to win her 100th World Cup race in 2025 at the age of 29.

Considered the greatest skier of all time, Mikaela’s story is a thrilling ride of perseverance, discipline, and the pursuit of excellence. Today she works to help inspire the next generation of skiers, not only encouraging them to succeed and win, but to have fun and enjoy the ride.

Oprah Winfrey

Discover the incredible story of Oprah Winfrey, the trailblazing entertainer, businessperson, and global icon. From a young girl living in poverty to becoming one of the most influential celebrities in the world and the first Black female billionaire, Oprah’s journey shows the power of dreaming big. Inspiring and insightful, Little People, BIG DREAMS: Oprah Winfrey teaches children the power of empathy, ambition, and determination.

Learn about the inspiring story of Oprah Winfrey! The trailblazing entertainer and businessperson who became a global icon.

Growing up between Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Tennessee, little Oprah loved reading and performing poems and Bible verses at church. Sadly, life at home was very tricky. She lived in poverty and was not always treated with kindness. But Oprah didn’t let this hold her back. She worked hard to achieve a scholarship to university, and by age nineteen she was a news anchor on television!

From there, she went on to host her own TV show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and became a household name. Her empathy and openness changed television forever. She became one of the most powerful voices in media, working as an actor and producer as well as an interviewer and host, and proved herself to be an amazing businessperson. Oprah didn’t stop there: she used her success to become a philanthropist and advocate for education and social justice. From the bestselling series Little People, BIG DREAMS, this title is the perfect gift for little storytellers and budding entrepreneurs.

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

Virginia Woolf

Learn about incredible story of Virginia Woolf! The modernist writer and feminist.

Born into an artistic household, little Virginia loved writing. At nine years old, she started a newspaper about her family – delighting relatives with her wit and wisdom. But life took a sad turn in her teens, when he mother, sister and father passed away just a few years apart. Having fallen into a depression, Virginia stopped writing. It took time, but she eventually felt well enough to pick up her pen again. As an adult, she wrote reviews, poems, essays, novels . . . using her writing to express her ideas and soothe her mind. She was determined that her books would be different from the popular Victorian novels of the time and became known for her inventive way of capturing characters’ thoughts and feelings. From Mrs Dalloway to The Waves, Virginia’s work surprised and delighted readers and changed the course of literary history forever.

Virginia Woolf is a literary giant and feminist icon whose works have become classics. Her story shows the power of writing as a form of self-expression and source of comfort.

Mary Earps

Champion, Advocate, Lioness – Mary Earps’ legacy is as powerful off the field as it is on. Little People, BIG DREAMS Mary Earps is the positive guide for life that will inspire young girls to find their strength and empower them to follow their dreams. 

Little Mary loved playing football with her dad and brother, but it wasn’t until she joined her first team that she discovered her talent for goalkeeping. She dreamt of growing up to play professionally, though she knew how challenging that would be as a female player. 

Yet Mary never gave up. Since those early days, she has played for several international teams, facing many highs and lows along the way. In the summer of 2022, she joined the Lionesses and helped lead them to a historic victory at the European Championships. Soon after, she was awarded BBC Sports Personality of the Year and named FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year. Today, she inspires kids everywhere, showing them that they can achieve anything they set their minds to! 

We all know Mary for her energy on the field, but it’s time to see her determination to ensure that all girls have an equal opportunity to play the game they love. So, get out there, follow your dreams, and enjoy the journey along the way! 

Yayoi Kusama

Learn about incredible story of Yayoi Kusama! The groundbreaking contemporary artist who covered the world in dots. 

Little Yayoi grew up in Japan and loved creating art. Although her parents didn’t approve of her pastime, Yayoi continued to express herself through painting and drawing. One day, at around ten years old, she had an intense vision. All of a sudden, she felt as though she was in a field of talking flowers, their heads looked like little dots going on forever and ever, and she was becoming part of them . . . This vision influenced Yayoi’s art for decades to come. From drawings and paintings to sculptures and installations, she mesmerized audiences with her dot-covered creations, using her work to show others how she experienced the world.

Yayoi has been open about her mental health challenges and has helped break down inaccurate views on mental illness. In her forties, she took the decision to move into a psychiatric hospital and, from a studio nearby, she continues working – surprising and delighting audiences with each new collaboration and exhibition.

An icon who changed the world of art, Kusama’s story encourages us to follow our dreams and embrace our uniqueness.