I’ve read a lot of these books with my son. Generally we love these books and finding out information on these important people and this book is no different. Well except for one part, I didn’t really want to have the conversation with my son about Marilyn posing with “very little clothes on”. I understand this is part of her history and shows her unapologetic strength. I just don’t know if it’s part of her story for little people.

Little People, BIG DREAMS

This is a good overview of the life of a woman who survived foster care and a too early marriage to become someone many people admired. I had no idea that she had formed her own production company before the age of thirty. As is appropriate for a book aimed to young folk, any disheartening aspects of her life are simply not mentioned.
Like all of the books in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series which I've read, I loved it!
The illustrations by Ana Albero are eye-catching and very well done. The language of the text is suitable for reading to young people and excellent for ESL.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This series of books for little kids continues it's tradition of really nice offerings! I think my favorite thing about this particular book is the beautiful brightly colored, kid friendly, but reality oriented illustrations! They are so relatable/realistic, yet so fun! The text tells about Monroe in a way that kids will understand, & follow along with. Adults will enjoy reading this to the littles! This "Little People, BIG DREAMS" series is really 'top of the line'....& I recommend it to all!
I received a complimentary e-copy of the book for review purposes from the Quarto Publishing Group-Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. These opinions are my own.

Marilyn Monroe
by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

I love these great books for kids! Informative and interesting! I always have been a big admirer of Marilyn. I was so eager to get this book! I was wondering how it would address so many issues. Like all the books in the series, it did it tastefully and in a way kids could understand.

This told the positive side of Marilyn's nature. Her drive to succeed when odds were against her. From orphanage and foster homes, failed marriage, to model, scandal, and finally a star. It showed how she worked hard to learn to sing, dance, and act, and even look the part by coloring her hair. She also changed her name. Once a star, she opened her own studio!

The end shows the real pictures of her and more facts about her life. This is a great book for fans or kids interested in Marilyn. It's geared toward younger kids but I enjoyed it! ;)

The art was pleasant and appealing. It followed the story nicely. I thought the cute little dog was a nice touch.

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this delightful book! The world is a sadder place without the bright and beautiful Marilyn!

Marilyn Monroe is a great addition to the Little People Big Dreams series. I was familiar with Monroe, but not about her personal life and contributions. It was fascinating to learn about her journey to acting. Parents and children will enjoy this one!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books through NetGalley.
Part of the Little People, Big Dreams series. Again, Sanchez Vegara's style is easy to follow for elementary readers. She introduces them to Monroe from her childhood through her acting career. Readers see Monroe's determination and intelligence behind the characters she chose to play on screen. Her childhood was not easy but it helped shape her future self. The timeline at the end includes further information about her life. Sanchez Vegara does not include the darker sides of her life and uses this book to offer readers the chance to see this woman succeed.

This was cute, but it is impossible to truly tell Marilyn's story in a child-friendly way. The tragedies she went through are an important part of her life story, and this could almost be about any actress in the 40s or 50s. In terms of things that could have been included because they're child-friendly, it would've been nice to include something about her allyship for civil rights.

I think this book is about as close to her story as you can get for children. I like that it is just her rise to fame and doesn't cover anything after her first film. I also like how it doesn't shy away from her modeling career. The whole series of Little People Big Dreams is great!

Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute and colorful story about Marilyn Monroe that I thought was very appropriate for younger audiences. I liked that the author focused on Marilyn’s charity work and desire to fit in.

This book is fabulous as a coffee-table book. It's a work of pop art in its own right! However, I wouldn't be in a hurry to give it to my child to read. As much as I admire Marilyn Monroe, I am not convinced that she is necessarily a fantastic role model for very young people. Many thanks for the opportunity to read and give honest feedback.

It’s no surprise that I really loved this book, the Little people Big Dreams books are such a fantastic way for young people to read about the lives of many great people in the world and the Marilyn Monroe edition is no exception.

Thai story talks us through the life and works of Marilyn Monroe with beautiful illustrations that have diversity of skin tone and representation something so important in books for young readers.

The story is easy to follow and deals well with the calendar scandal event in Marilyn’s life giving a message of integrity and also shows how woman can gain a position of power to make change where change is needed.

As with all Little People Dream Big books, the timeline at the end of the book shows real life photos and a timeline of events with dates for reference.

I also love the additional reading listed at the end of this book for interested readers to delve further into the life of Marilyn Monroe.

I honestly find these books so inspiring, I’m always happy to share them with my 8 year old and she is always bright eyed and engaged in the story. A great source of inspiration and a fabulous resource for reference

Thank you to Netgalley and to Frances Lincoln for supplying me with an ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review, I can’t wait to read more in the series.

Little People, Big Dreams by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara concentrate on past and present people who have made an impact on the world in one way or another.
They are perfect for whetting the reader's appetite and giving them a snapshot of the icon's life story.
I use the Little People, Big Dreams in my KS1 classroom and Marilyn Monroe's story will be no exception. There are so many lessons you can use these books in - English, History and PSHE.

The illustrations are beautiful and they depict Marilyn well. The story covers certain aspects of Marilyn's life =- how she was discovered and how her dreams were made a reality. The timeline in the back of the book is a great addition as it gives further detail and the book recommendations also provide the reader with further information of where they can read more about Marilyn Monroe.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The ‘My First Little People, Big Dreams’ series provides informative and inspirational biographies about people who left a mark on this earth, no matter what difficulties they have encountered.
These stories are very short, but that’s because they’re books for children, so it’s totally understandable.
I think they are a very smart and wonderful way to introduce little children to such important figures.
This little book tells the story of Marilyn Monroe. the iconic movie star. It was a joy following her rise to fame and all the things she achieved.

An inspiring story about embracing your dreams and throwing everything behind it! Loved Marilyn's story.

This is a short summary of Marilyn Monroe's life and legacy for children and Middle Grade readers. I like the idea of this and showing the most human parts of her that so many in literature continue to deny her.

That was too short!

I love this series so much. For this one, I like the contents. The cover isn't as appealing as the illustrations inside.

I feel the book is just half done and there's another half coming.

But well, that's it.


Thank you, author/artist and the publisher, for the advance reading copy.

This entry in a favorite series tells the story of how Norma Jeane became Marilyn Monroe. Of course, adults know how complicated Monroe’s life was but this entry for children tells her story in a way that is appropriate for them.

Children learn that Norma Jeane’s mother was ill so young Norma grew up in an orphanage and with foster families. Her early love of going to the movies, her first marriage at a young age and other details of Norma Jeane’s life are matter of factly told.

Children see Norma rename herself Marilyn and become a movie star. Marilyn felt that she was realizing her big dream. Yet she did more. Marilyn was a trailblazer when she started her own production company.

This entry in the series nicely tells Marilyn’s story. The illustrations beautifully accompany the text.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

(finds out that Marilyn Monroe was not actually Marilyn Monroe's real name from a children's book)

Well, you never stop learning, huh. Lovely, positive, inspiring!

I received an advance copy of, Marilyn Monroe, by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. This is a very good story for kids about Norma Jeane/Marilyn Monroe. Landing in an orphanage at age 7, getting married at 16, and them wanting to be a movie star.

Marilyn Monroe is one of my favorite icons of all time. This children’s biography of her paints an extremely sanitized and rushed version of her life. The book mentions that Norma Jeane grew up in foster care because her mother was sick in the hospital for most of her childhood (she actually had severe mental issues). The book also mentions that she married her neighbor at 16, but leaves out that it was really only to escape the foster care system in which she had been abused. I understand that the story is made more palatable for children, but I feel like if you can’t honor her by telling her whole story, don’t tell it at all. Also, she never said that quote about it being better to be ridiculous than boring.