Reviews
There are so many incredible books available at the moment that it is impossible to read them all, no matter how hard I try! Here are my thoughts about some of the books I have read and how I think they could be used in school as well as Q and A sessions with authors and illustrators.
Little People, Big Dreams games
The long Easter weekend offers plenty of time for playing games whilst eating plenty of chocolate. This year, we enjoyed playing two games based on the very popular ‘Little People, Big Dreams’ series.
‘Who Am I?’ is based on the game ‘Guess Who?’ and features historical figures from the books. One player chooses to be blue and one yellow before setting up their board, secretly selecting one of the cards to be their character. This they hide in their ‘shield’ card so the other player can’t see it. However, unlike traditional ‘Guess Who?’, this game encourages children to learn more about the personalities shared in the game. Under each picture there are icons- for example, a medal, a microphone, a football- giving clues to that person’s achievements, making it easier for the players to eliminate people. The booklet contains a list of question prompts and a brief biography of each historical figure which includes the aforementioned icons.
The game was a huge success with our visitors recognising some of the figures and enjoying learning about others. The questioning prompts worked really well, supporting everyone from 6 to much older with the game! The pieces are sturdy, standing up to plenty of usage, and everyone was keen to play more than once.
‘Amazing Women’ is a pairs game which can be played in two ways. With the cards facing up, pairs can be matched and then players can discover more about each in the accompanying booklet. Alternatively, the cards can be placed faced down and two turned over at a time. If the cards make a pair, the player keeps them and play continues; if not, the cards are turned over again. This was the version which we enjoyed most! The cards show the amazing woman in two different poses- one a ‘portrait’ and the other showing their ‘Big Dream’ and this inspired a lot of conversation and fun finding out. This game disappeared with our visitors when they went home as it could be enjoyed as a car game, home game, quickly put away and quickly got out…
Both games were a real hit and kept everyone entertained whilst learning about some fascinating historical figures.
Little People, Big Dreams: Who Am I? A Guessing Game
ISBN: 978-0711290310
Little People, Big Dreams: Amazing Women A Memory Game
ISBN: 978-0711287037
Little People, Big Dreams
I love the ‘Little People, Big Dreams’ series. The books themselves are beautifully produced with cloth bound spines and colourful covers and look fantastic lined up together on the shelf. Each title focuses on the life of an inspirational individual from authors to artists, from scientists to sportspeople. The books are so relatable, starting as they do with the individual’s childhood, the big dreams they once had and how they managed to overcome adversity in the pursuit of these.
Four recent additions to the series are Pablo Picasso, Gloria Steinem, Amanda Gorman and Nelson Mandela. Written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, each is illustrated by a different artist and includes a timeline with photographs at the end. These biographies are accessible as well as informative, making an excellent addition to any library offering a wide and diverse range of people. Some- like those on Picasso and Mandela- might support the curriculum whilst others are perfect for introducing children to significant figures they might not otherwise have heard of.
I hope there are many more titles in this series to come!
Pablo Picasso Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Teresa Bellon
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books ISBN: 978-0711259485
Gloria Steinem Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Lucila Perini
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books ISBN: 978-0711270732
Amanda Gorman Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Queenbe Monyei
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books ISBN: 978-0711270695
Nelson Mandela Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Alison Hawkins
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books ISBN: 978- 0711257894