The artwork is gorgeous and really gives readers an idea of his artistic/painting style. This book gives a good historical depiction of his life, including his mental health. The book discussed how Van Gogh used art as a way to feel peaceful and calming. It's a great book about one of the most famous artists of all time.

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

## Book Review: *Vincent van Gogh* by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara's *Vincent van Gogh* is a beautifully illustrated biography that introduces young readers to the life and legacy of one of the world’s most renowned artists. Part of the Little People, Big Dreams series, this picture book is both educational and inspirational, offering a glimpse into van Gogh’s journey from aspiring artist to posthumous fame.

The book begins with Vincent's childhood in the Netherlands, where his love for art first blossomed. From an early age, Vincent was captivated by the beauty of nature and the world around him. Sanchez Vegara skillfully depicts Vincent's determination to pursue his passion despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks along the way.

The narrative follows Vincent's artistic development, tracing his journey through various stages of experimentation and discovery. Sanchez Vegara highlights key moments in van Gogh's life, such as his time in Paris, where he was influenced by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, and his prolific period in Arles, where he painted some of his most famous works.

Illustrated by Mauro Evangelista, the artwork in *Vincent van Gogh* is vibrant and expressive, capturing the essence of van Gogh’s style and the emotional depth of his paintings. Each illustration complements the text beautifully, bringing Vincent's story to life in a visually engaging manner. Young readers will be enthralled by the colorful scenes and recognizable motifs from van Gogh's artworks.

One of the book's strengths is its emphasis on van Gogh's perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. Sanchez Vegara portrays Vincent as a determined and passionate artist who remained committed to his craft despite struggling with mental health issues and personal challenges. The book sensitively explores these aspects of van Gogh's life while celebrating his artistic genius and enduring legacy.

*Vincent van Gogh* is also notable for its educational value. Sanchez Vegara includes additional information about van Gogh's artworks and provides context for his place in art history. This approach allows young readers to appreciate van Gogh's contributions to the art world and understand the impact of his work on future generations of artists.

The book concludes with a poignant reflection on van Gogh's enduring influence and the universal appeal of his paintings. Sanchez Vegara encourages readers to explore their own creativity and follow their dreams, making *Vincent van Gogh* not just a biography but also a source of inspiration for aspiring artists and art enthusiasts of all ages.

In summary, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara's *Vincent van Gogh* is a captivating and educational introduction to the life and art of one of history's most beloved painters. With its engaging narrative, stunning illustrations, and emphasis on perseverance and creativity, this book is a wonderful addition to any child's library. It celebrates the power of art to inspire, uplift, and connect us to the world around us, making van Gogh's story truly timeless and universal.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book.

A short and beautiful book about Vincent Van Gogh. It's spare on the details of his life but I'm not surprised since it's a children's book.

This is a very good simple explanation of Van Gogh's life and it even includes the troubling parts with his struggles with mental health. They described his style and explained he didn't see great success in his lifetime. The mental health issues were described in an appropriate maturity level but I'm so glad they represented his struggle and didn't leave it out.

I say it every time, but I just adore the Little people, Big dreams series! This book is another corker!!
I knew of Van Gogh's artwork, but I didn't no a single thing about his life story (except of course the ear fiasco!!) and I found this book so interesting. I know sometimes with these books, they 'water -down' some of the more darker moments in a persons life due to the target audience being children - so I'm sure there's a lot more detail to his life story. Nevertheless this book was fascinating.

I loved the artwork, and it was different to the other books in the series that I have read. The illustrates here were like water colour paintings - very fitting for this particular book.

I adore sunflowers, and have a very sentimental attachment to them - to the point where when I saw them in the opening pages of this book it got me all 'emosh'! I just loved the image!

Great book! Definitely one of my favs in the series, and has opened up an intrigue in me to look into Van Gogh's life more.

Little people, big dreams books really are the best children’s books around. In our house we are always eagerly anticipating the next book and who it might be about.

This one focuses on the famous artist Vincent Van Gogh in a way that is accessible to children whilst also being fun and engaging.

The illustrations as always are done in a style which I find endearing.

This one is definitely another winner in our house.

Thank you, NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing this beautiful picture book. I've learned about Vincent van Gogh in a very aesthetic way. The illustrations in this book are very pretty too. He is very inspiring!

Vincent van Gogh is a great biography of van Gogh for the youngest kiddos. I loved the illustrations in this one & all of the nods that were present throughout to Vincent's artwork. It kept a positive tone whilst talking about some really dark subject matter, but still mentioned episodes with mental health struggles such as the ear removal. I think the tone was just right for the age level it was directed at.

I always appreciate the illustrations in the Little People, BIG DREAMS biographies, but these were extra special. I also loved the focus on Vincent's relationship with his brother Theo. Thanks to NetGalley, Maria Sanchez Vegara, and Quarto Publishing for the chance to read and review! My opinions are my own.

This book was a delightful read and perfectly age-appropriate. The illustrations were fittingly colorful, and I thought that it was a really smart idea for the illustrator to give the drawings a painting-like finish, to stick with the theme of the book. Additionally, the illustrations were highly detailed and beautiful, just like van Gogh's paintings.
As for the story, it was flawless. Despite there being some rough spots in the general biography of van Gogh, the author included them but made them simple and kid-friendly. Kids will be able to know the entire summary of van Gogh's life without being confused or uncomfortable by any information. Lastly, it made me really happy to see that the author ended the story with a moral/message for readers to carry with them long after finishing this book.
Perfect book; bravo!

Maria Isabel Sanches Vegara's "Little People, Big Dreams" series contains more than 40 books about famous people, both contemporary and historic. Her approach is to tell the stories beginning in each person's childhood, to emphasize to young readers that the lives of famous people didn't begin when they were adults. I'm glad she doesn't portray each of her subjects as having childhood dreams that they realized in adulthood; Vincent Van Gogh is a good example of someone who had dreams and goals that didn't work out for him, and it wasn't until his brother Theo suggested that he learn to paint that he found his life's calling - which is just as important a lesson for children as having dreams and realizing them.

Vergara does not shy away from the unpleasant aspects of the lives she chronicles. For Vincent Van Gogh, that unpleasantness included stays in mental hospitals and his infamous rage where he severed his own ear. She does attempt, however, to frame those aspects in ways that will be appropriate for the children ages 5-9 who will be reading or listening to the books. I'm not a child psychologist, so I'm not sure what the accepted way is to deal with mental illness and violence, but I think what she has written in this book ("his mind was not well") is as good a way to say it as any (in a previous review I criticized her for glossing over some of the more challenging events). I only have a quibble about one fact: she states that Van Gogh sold very few paintings during his lifetime; in reality, he sold only one, and was supported by his brother his whole life.

I'm a retired educator and so I am always interested in exposing children to stories about art, music, and culture (even the pop kind!). I'm pleased to know that this series has been a multi-million copy bestseller, and I encourage parents to use them. I also encourage parents to do a bit of research on each book's subject matter so that they can expand on some of the issues and answer questions.

Thanks to Quarto and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Beautiful (and informative) words and pictures. Another wonderful addition to this series to inspire children. Highly recommend this title!

The Vincent van Gogh Version of Little People, Big Dreams is as amazing as all the other books. It explains the struggles of Van Gogh perfectly for Children without scaring them. I absolutly loved it. Also the chosen Art Style fits perfectly. Would definitly recommend it!

Another great addition to this series of mini biographies of famous people. The illustrations for the story were delightful and were a perfect match for sharing the life of Vincent van Gogh. Although reading these as an adult, I still find this collection a valuable starting point, and think they would be helpful for any children wanting to learn about Vincent. I learnt several new things including that it was his brother who thankfully encouraged him to paint. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for a review.

Free from Netgalley ⭐

Very nice book, nice drawings, simple and effective. Teaches about Vincent's life and painting journey.

From the Little People, BIG DREAMS series, this is a biography of Vincent Van Gogh for children. Beautifully illustrated in the style of Van Gogh, it gives an overview of his life and is comprehensive enough that adults may learn a bit about the artist.

The book approaches the issue of the emotional difficulties Van Gogh experienced in a sensitive manner and ends on a positive note. I liked the emphasis on brotherly love and support and that even when we are troubled, we can find joy.

The back pages have more information and would be suitable for parents discussing with younger children or older children reading and learning on their own. A resource is provided where one can read more information about the artist and, of course, mentions the wonderful Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

The Little People, Big Dreams series always does a wonderful job of not only introducing children to famous people, but also explaining difficult topics (in this case, depression) in child-friendly language.
As always, the drawings are lovely and it was a joy to read the book.

I absolutely love the Little People, Big Dreams series and this book is no exception.
The illustrations are wonderful, and I learned quite a lot about Vincent van Gogh's life. This book makes a great read for children and adults alike.

The author did a good job of writing about Vincent Van Gogh's life and his struggles in a way that works for a children's book. I love how the illustrations match his artistic style. This book is a simple way to introduce children to his work.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

As soon as I saw there was a new Little People, Big Dreams book, I knew I needed to read it!

I loved the illustrations and they fit so well for Vincent Van Gogh. I do like how his struggles with mental health and the fact he did cut off his ear were mentioned, but in a way that worked in a children’s book.

I do wish they would have mentioned Vincent’s sister-in-law Johanna and how much she had to do with his fame after his death.

The life of Vinvent van Gogh was not a very happy one. He was sad most of his life and had to deal with depression as well as bullying. His unique artstyle didn‘t get much praise during his lifetime.

So one must assume that telling children about Vincents life without it being too sad but uplifting and inspiring instead is not the easiest task.

But as she usually does, María Isabel Sanchez Vegara does a very good job in doing exactly that. Without being untrue about Vincents life, she manages to tell the most important parts in a child appropriate way. She tells about his struggles but also his passion in painting as well as his great love and support from his brother Theo.

This book shows that it sometimes might take a while to find the thing you really love and want to do, that it takes failures along the way, but that those should not be as important.

Really nicely done, the words as well as the pictures.