Stephen Hawking

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Feb 05 2019 | Archive Date Mar 14 2019

Talking about this book? Use #LittlePeopleBigDreams #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Stephen Hawking, the genius physicist and author.

When Stephen Hawking was a little boy, he used to stare up at the stars and wonder about the universe. Although he was never top of the class, his curiosity took him to the best universities in England: Oxford and Cambridge. It also led him to make one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the 20th century: Hawking radiation. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the brilliant physicist's life.

Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling 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 hardcover and paperback 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!
 
In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Stephen Hawking, the genius physicist and author.

When Stephen...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781786033338
PRICE $15.99 (USD)
PAGES 32

Average rating from 63 members


Featured Reviews

Another great addition to Little People, Big Dreams. I always like that the include a short, extended bio at the end. It’s nice for the adults and older children who may read this to their toddlers.

Was this review helpful?

Encouraging ~ Adorable ~ Readable

tl; dr: A smart boy becomes the brilliant man everyone knows

This book is a rare non-fiction picture book, one where the images and text are equally good. Writing fewer words is harder. Much needs to be said through the empty spaces and allusions. Sanchez Vegara is a strong communicator. For example, in one passage, she mentions Hawking's average school performance and in the next his university matriculation. The reader understands his brilliance, often outside the bounds of scholastic success, is what prompted Uni acceptances. Rather than say this, Vegara and the illustrator Matt Hunt communicate this through carefully chosen words and rich images. Hunt's illustrations in general do a great deal of the storytelling, in retro, graphic spreads.

This non-fiction series was new to me. Excited to check out more.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I adore the Little People, Big Dreams series of books. They are inspirational and informative. I found this title on Stephen Hawking to be one of the best. As always, the illustrations are lively and appealing and they enhance the text.

Stephen Hawking had a rich intellectual life and also faced unimaginable physical challenges. All aspects of his life, scientific work and diagnosis of ALS are simply but fully covered in this story and in the additional facts section. Hawking's remarkable mind and thought processes are noted as is his groundbreaking discovery on black holes.

My favorite quotes from the book:

"His parents loved science, as did Stephen and his three siblings. They all ate dinner with a knife, a fork, and the company of a good book."

"No matter how difficult life may seem there is always something you can do and succeed at."

Future scientists will be inspired by this short book. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a wonderful new entry in a wonderful series. The opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

The story of one of the great physicists of the 20th century is truly remarkable and awe-inspiring in this another book in the Little People, Big Dreams series by Isabel Sanchez Vegara. Despite having a neurodegenerative disease, this is not a hindrance for Stephen Hawking to stop studying and continuing his life and research. Instead, he took this a motivation to pursue what he wanted to achieve and he got it at the end because of his findings which he transcribed in over 22 books.

Stephen Hawking's life story will impart a lot of lessons to young kids who will read this amazing little book from the series. Achieving success is not offer to you in a silver platter; one must have to work hard to attain whatever you wanted. There will be problems along the way but it should not be an impediment, hence, it should be view as a way for us to be persistent.

Was this review helpful?

I am constantly marveled at the consistent and divine pleasure of these annotated biographies with amazing illustrations. This is another gem in the "Little People, Big World" series!

Was this review helpful?

These books are such a joy to read. Great introduction to real contributors and real legends of our time. Fun , colourful and inviting with a wonderful bio section at the end. I recommend these to everybody of any age

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Was this review helpful?

This series is always a joy to read, it’s a really nice introduction to well known people for little children. Of course the plot is always a little bit fast but that’s to be expected and it’s totally understandable.
I know quite a lot about Stephen Hawking's life but it is always inspiring to read about his achievements considering that most of them happened when his illness had already started taking control of his body. I'm always in awe of such a brilliant mind. This is definitely a nice introduction to the life of one of the most important scientists of our time.

Was this review helpful?

Good artwork, great story, easy to read but not way too easy, informative story about a fascinating man.

Nathan, age 8

Was this review helpful?

This is quite possibly my favourite of the whole series so far. The sincerity and charm in which Hawking’s journey is told is nothing short of heartwarmingly beautiful.
It’s a book that I personally cannot wait to share with my nephew and introduce him to one of my heroes.

Was this review helpful?

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

The ‘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.

“Instead of looking down at his feet, Stephen decided to look up at the stars”.
This little short book about Stephen Hawking is a sight for sore eyes. The illustration are very beautiful and they enhance the text.
Hawking's life was a kind of miracle. Doctors said he only had a few years to live, but he proved them wrong. He lived a long, full life and turned upside down everything we knew about science.

Was this review helpful?

'No matter how difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at'.

‘Little people, big dreams’ is bound to become my next favourite series. I loved the quirky style of the illustrations- so colourful and engaging. The high quality of artwork is matched by the informative and entertaining text, simple and accessible even to a very young child. I can easily see this inspiring book being read aloud by parents or being used in class as a springboard for discussion on the true meaning of success in life.
Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the privilege of reading and reviewing a copy of this wonderful book.

Was this review helpful?

I love this series! Another great book about an important figure in our society. My kids love science and they enjoyed this book!

Was this review helpful?

I have bought several of the 'Little People, Big Dreams' book series for the school library and would encourage others to do so too. They offer an insight into the lives of people who genuinely made a difference for a variety of reasons. I find the texts engaging and the visual style is perfect to hold the readers interest. The Stephen Hawking text will be loved by my students and I can see it prompting discussion about his life and achievements. I'll be adding several copies to our school library.

Was this review helpful?

Vegara's book on Stephen Hawking was cute, informative, and inspirational for young children who may not know much about him. It fits the Little People, Big Dreams series perfectly. This would be a wonderful addition to any home or school library.

Was this review helpful?

'Stephen Hawking' by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara with illustrations by Matt Hunt is a board book in the Little People, Big Dreams series of board books for little readers.

Stephen Hawking was born in Oxford to an eccentric family. Meals would include a good book being read by everyone. Stephen was never the head of his class, but he was quite brilliant and his curiosity came before schoolwork. He was diagnosed with a paralyzing illness, and that's when he became more focused in his studies.

I'm a fan of this non-fiction series for little readers. This one feels a bit too wordy for squirmy toddlers, but I still enjoyed it. The art by Matt Hunt is just great, and this is another great entry in the series.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

Was this review helpful?

I have heard great things about the Little People, Big Dreams series, so I was eager to read this instalment which features the great scientist Stephen Hawking.

The book covers the major details of his life from birth, a childhood where he struggled in school and yet excelled in questioning and discovering, to his life in university, including the onset of the disease that would so impact his physicality and great discoveries he made. At the conclusion of the story is a slightly more detailed biography, a well as suggestions for further reading. While this story includes enough details to be adequate for young readers foraging into research it is a pleasant story to simply read and enjoy, all the while learning about the great man.

The language used is simple and the storytelling straightforward. The digitally created illustrations are bright and eye catching, bringing the characters to life.

Stephen Hawking is a great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams collection.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog <a href="https://madisonslibrary.wordpress.com">Madison's Library</a>

Was this review helpful?

Love this little collection as always! Loved reading about Stephen Hawking and I think this is perfect for children.

Was this review helpful?

Part of the Little People, Big Dreams series, here comes another wonderful addition: the life of Stephen Hawking, simplified enough for children to understand and yet magical enough to inspire!

This is the life of one of 21st century's greatest minds laid out in simple, yet smart storytelling. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations, this is the perfect way to help children get familiar with Hawking's life and works.

Strongly recommended, this is the perfect book to read out loud with young children.

Was this review helpful?

There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would be requesting <I>Stephen Hawking </I>by Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrates by Matt Hurst the second that I first saw it. I've always loved the man and the contributions he made for science and so to see how he's being introduced to and talked about among the kids of this generation is something I'm definitely interested in. And I'm really glad to have gotten the chance to read this one. Of late, I've seen a number of books out there introducing children to the most important figures of scientific history and it's been such a wonderful thing to see. So much so that I even bought one of them for my niece on her birthday.

I didn't love the artwork in this book, but it was well done and will certainly go a long way in keeping children engaged in the story that's being told. I appreciated the way Hawking was represented and the colors used. Color is one of the most important things in artwork found in children's books, after all, for that is what's going to keep their eyes on the page.

All in all, the story the book tells is a good one. It goes over the life of Stephen Hawking, discussing his illness as well as his amazing and profound achievements. I loved that the book included his family, though I do think they painted it in a light that glossed over a lot of the truth behind his familial life. I notice this a lot in kids books and I know many people seem to think that children aren't ready for such truths, but at the same time I feel as though it's unnecessary to hide everything.

<i>Stephen Hawking</I> was definitely a good start and introduction for kids into this amazing man and I would definitely suggest checking it out.

<I>I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Was this review helpful?

A thoughtfully written and illustrated biography of Stephen Hawking designed for little learners. I have previously reviewed other books in the "Little People, Big Dreams" series, and I equally enjoyed this one! Stephen Hawking's story is inspirational for everyone! It clearly would work well in an early childhood classroom, and I think I can use it as a bell ringer activity on "grit" and perseverance (or other core learning skill) in a middle or high school classroom; not just his ALS but the fact that he was not considered to be a strong student yet loved learning. I continue to look forward to reading others stories about famous people in history! Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #LittlePeopleBigDreams by Isabel @sanchezvegara

Was this review helpful?

I've seen books from this series pop up from time to time on my Goodreads feed, but I'd never tried one before. This particular book is about the British physicist Stephen Hawking.

As a biography aimed at kids, it's pretty good. I didn't learn anything I hadn't known before (since I've seen The Theory of Everything, the biopic based on the memoir by his wife) but the book laid out his life and accomplishments in a nice, easy-to-understand format. There's a timeline in the back that offers a little more biographical information about the man and his disease (referred to only as ALS; this is a children's book, after all). Hawking had so many accomplishments that it must've been difficult to decide what to focus on. This book mainly talks about his discovery of Hawking radiation and glosses over most of the rest of the things he did.

I suppose this book is a good place to start for kids who don't know anything at all about the physicist. Luckily, there are some books listed at the end for additional reading, which is a nice touch. If this volume is indicative of the quality of simple, kid-oriented biographies in the rest of the series, then I hope to read some more of them in the future.

Was this review helpful?

Dopo un atleta, una grande mente che non si è fatta scoraggiare dal fatto di abitare in un corpo segnato dalla malattia, ma si è espansa fino ai limiti dell'universo.

Un altro esempio di quanto si possa essere grandi, e fedeli a se stessi, e dediti agli altri, in ogni campo.

E una conferma delle meraviglie che questa piccola grande collana riserva.

Was this review helpful?

Stephen Hawking's story is the first one of the Little People & Big Dreams series that I've ever read. The illustrations are absolutely darling. I kept flickering back to the pages because they were drawn so wonderfully quirky and adorable. As an adult, the given information was known to me, and I think they were explained easily enough for children to grasp an idea of what Mr. Hawking did. The timeline at the end was very informative as well. What a splendid little book! Absolutely charming!

Was this review helpful?

I was not disappointed by this book! It's just another wonderful book from the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. The book is filled with stunning illustrations and Stephen Hawking's life is very inspiring indeed. I highly recommend it!

I received an eARC of this book from Quarto Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

Was this review helpful?

This short book is amazing for kids to get interested in cience and in becoming your best self even in difficult times.
The illustrations were beautiful!
Loves Little Stephen!
I wish it was bigger!

Was this review helpful?

Four and a half neutron stars.

This is part of a series that has survived for years now without introducing its young readers to any male people of note. Now, two men have encroached – Muhammad Ali and Stephen Hawking. It's a perfectly reasonable primer to the man, with the script barely featuring more than two sentences per spread. The simplifying of things does make a little of the text at the level of platitudes ("Instead of looking down at his feet, Stephen decided to look up at the stars. Maybe he couldn't control his body, but in order to study the universe, all he needed was his mind.") but that's not really a major fault. The artwork is pretty decent, too, and likewise well-judged for the target audience. The book's benefit, of course, is the incredible inspiration of the man and his mind, both condemned to death as they were decades before he moved on. And while the young can't really grasp Hawking Radiation and all that that entails, they should easily gain from his life and works.

Was this review helpful?

Short, age appropriate biography for younger elementary students. The artwork is well done and enriches the accompanying text. The more extensive, two page biography at the back is a nice touch and gives more information regarding the events happening in the main, more picture book style portion of the book, which helps extend the age range for this book, and series.

This was my first interaction with the Little People, Big Dreams series, and I look forward to reviewing more of them.

Was this review helpful?

These books are great! Stephen Hawking is here to show young readers that no matter what challenges life throws your way, you can change the world.

Was this review helpful?

How lovely that there's this sweet little book in remembrance of Stephen Hawking now. One that doesn't leave out the sad parts of this true story and, despite that, manages to deliver a message of pure positivity. And very easy to follow even for kids, I believe. Probably one of my favourites from the series!

Was this review helpful?

I adore this series of books and Stephen Hawking is no exception.

This tells the story of his life, his health, his sheer determination and his science in such a charming way with beautiful naive illustrations. Children and adults alike will love the rhythm of the story and will learn something too.

“No matter how difficult life may seem there is always some you can do and succeed at”

Was this review helpful?

I‘ve been fascinated with Stephen Hawking ever since I was a child. He had a brilliant mind and never let his disability stop him, so it made me really happy to see a children’s book about his life.
The art for this book is simple yet beautiful and the language is suitable even for young children.
I’m sure this book will inspire many children... or at least teach them about a famous scientist.

- I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. -

Was this review helpful?

I've read a few in this series and this one is just as good as the rest. A brilliant introduction to the life and works of Stephen Hawking, with beautiful illustrations and enough text to tell his story without becoming too wordy. A lovely book.

Was this review helpful?

This definitely was a very simplified version of Hawking's life, but I thought the book did a good job of making his story understandable for children and of giving it a good message.

Was this review helpful?

The Little People, Big Dreams series shares the lives of extraordinary people through adorable, quirky illustrations and simple language. Each person represented has had an incredible impact on the world, but started life as a child with a dream.

"Instead of looking down at his feet, Stephen decided to look up at the stars."

This brilliant and moving addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series tells the fascinating and remarkable story of Stephen Hawking. Recounting his early days in school in Oxford, England, to his diagnosis while at university, it details his study of physics and the universe, particularly Black Hole theory. This book, although simple, evokes the message that determination and resilience are some of the most important tools one can use in achieving one's dreams.

"...little Stephen made an amazing discovery: no matter how difficult life may seem, there is always something that you can do and succeed at."

Was this review helpful?

This was my second in the Little People, Big Dreams series, and it was much more rounded and developed for a young reader than the first I read (Rosa Parks), which I found too simplistic. It was a good primer with lovely illustrations to introduce Stephen Hawking, his career, contributions, and biography to a young person and I would recommend it. (It also has a nice section at the end with more information about it that helps add context.)

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

Was this review helpful?

As a huge science-fan when I saw this one on NetGalley I simply had to download it! This is exactly a book I would love to dive in with my kid (once I'll have one)! It's very short, with very simple and short text - well, it's a picture book. It's definitely suitable for only very little kids, toddlers. In itself, at least. I can imagine telling a more detailed story about Hawking to a bit older child - I think when an adult reads it with them, adds things, and it's possible to discuss, than it could be quite enjoyable for even 5-6 year-olds. I find it very important to give role models to kids, ones who'd done something in their lives worth mentioning, especially in this age when all these celebrities and influencers are thrown at us who have never done anything useful that would earn them respect. These little board books (I've downloaded like 4) give help with that from a very early age, and that's wonderful!

Was this review helpful?

This is a wonderful children’s book on Stephen Hawking’s life. It gives you a glimpse into his childhood before he was diagnosed with a debilitating disease and shows readers how he continued to look to the stars even when he wasn’t given much time to live.
This is an easy to read little children’s book. I plan to have my homeschooler read it tomorrow and hope to track down the entire series, I just love it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto for this e-copy, my opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

'Instead of looking down at his feet, Stephen decided to look up at the stars. Maybe he couldn't control his body, but in order to study the universe, all he needed was his mind.'

This short story is inspirational for children growing up. Despite Stephen's early diagnosis of ALS, he threw himself into his studies, determined not to be defined or restricted by his illness.He wasn't the smartest student, but his curiosities and hard work were enough for him to solve mysteries in the world. This is a brilliant message for children (and adults) about never giving up on your dreams. The illustrations complement the story well and are great for engaging the reader. It is a book I will definitely read with my child in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

We love this one, it’ amazingly illustrated, super clearly laid out and surprisingly emotionally affecting. Great stuff. Love the premium feel of this series, and what an expansion into following men’s stories this is too....

Was this review helpful?

I have a growing fascination with Stephen Hawking and his scientific views. Obviously, his science doesn't play much of a role in this book. It's more about overcoming adversity, defying expectations, and achieving in spite of limitations. Hawking is the example that your body doesn't really matter, that we are our minds and our souls.

Was this review helpful?

Full of fantastic facts and information that will engage children from beginning to end. Another great edition to a great series.

Was this review helpful?

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Stephen Hawking is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and I'm always impressed and enchanted by how much detail they manage to include in these little books in an age-appropriate and accessible manner.

Released 7th Feb 2019 by Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language. I really loved the illustration (p. 4) of the whole family with Stephen and siblings reading at the dinner table and talking. The art by Matt Hunt is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The illustrations are rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look. I like that his neurological health issues were mentioned, but not dwelt on, and that they mentioned his relatively normal family life (he married, had 3 kids and a wife).

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars.

Was this review helpful?

I love this series. Every single book that I have read and reviewed from it is inspirational, information and perfect for that targeted age group. I love to highlight them whenever I can because I want to encourage you to have a collection of these stellar books.

Stephen Hawking was born in Oxford to a very eccentric and intellectual family. " His parents loved science, as did Stephen and his three siblings. They all ate dinner with a knife, a fork, and the company of a good book."

When he was a wee boy he used to stare out his bedroom window up at the stars and ponder the universe's magnitude and hidden mysteries. Although Stephen was not the smartest in his class his peers dubbed him "Einstein". Why one day he built a computer from clock parts and an old telephone as his assigned science project. He put curiosity ahead of his daily school work and his mind was always buzzing with possibilities. He attended Oxford and Cambridge Universities and he longed to solve the mysteries of the universe.

Unfortunately he was diagnosed with a paralyzing illness and his whole world drastically changed. He came to terms with his physical ailment and was determined to use his mind to reach heights that had never been reached before. He worked hard, studied hard, got married and fathered three children. He lost his voice, but that did not deter his pressing on and with a new robotic one he dictated books and interactived vigorously with the scientific world. He went on to make one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the 20th century: Hawking radiation. He was an inspiration to humanity on so many levels.

This board book contains high quality illustrations that are colourful and engaging. They enrich the text for young readers to get a visual understanding of Stephen Hawking's life and achievements. The author has included a more thorough biography and timeline of Stephen's life at the end of the book.

This book would be a lovely addition not only to read in a home setting, but in a classroom and to place in a school library also. In fact when I was an elementary school librarian I would have ordered the entire series to adorn my shelves. This book is highly, highly recommend. I will wrap up with my favourite quote from the book:


"No matter how difficult life may seem there is always something you can do and succeed at."

Was this review helpful?

This series never fails to get me interested in the life of an influential figure in history. Stephen Hawking certainly does not disappoint, especially as I read it during our school science week.

With clear pictures and uncomplicated vocabulary, this book introduces young readers to the life of the determined scientist who did not let his disability hold him back.

I adore this series and love the now familiar format of an illustrated biography of key professional and personal events in the life of the subject of the book to whet a reader's appetite and suggestions for further reading. There is also a short history with some photographs taken throughout their life.

I will be recommending that we purchase copies of this whole series for our school library and use in English and Topic lessons.

I received a review copy of the eBook from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Lincoln Children's Books of the Quarto Group.

Was this review helpful?

The Little People, Big Dreams children's series is primarily full of famous women from history. However there are a few noted men included; and instead of being Presidents or your average successful white male they chose some people that I think are more inspiring for children. In this edition we get Stephen Hawking.
Hawking is a man I have untold respect for. To live your life with virtually no ability to do anything yourself and yet still be able to show others that you have abnormally high intelligence is difficult. Most people would see Hawking (if they didn't know him) and immediately dismiss him because of his inability to physically move. He sure proves them all wrong!
I really like how these books are easy to follow. Good starter reading for kids. A Grade 1 student learning to read, for example, could learn new words and discover a new hero from them. Isabel Sanchez Vegara has done a good job of taking a lot of complex moments in Hawking's life and bringing them down to a child's level. My hope is that kids will read this book and want to become scientists or at least learn that the universe and space are mysterious and worth studying.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a beautifully illustrated book telling the life story of one of the most seminal scientists in the last century. It does not shy away from the difficulties he suffered but still keeps the book age appropriate. Another wonderful addition to this selection of books.

Was this review helpful?

I adore this series - such a fantastic way to introduce history and spark further discussion and learning!

Was this review helpful?

The Little People, Big Dreams series is always a joy to read. It is a great introduction to well-known people for young children. Most of the books in this series highlight women, but there are a few great male role models included, Stephen Hawking being a great choice. It was inspiring to read about his achievements considering that most of them happened when his illness had already started taking control of his body. This is definitely a nice introduction to the life of one of the most important scientists of our time. Stephen Hawking's achievements are not the easiest to explain or understand, but Isabel Sanchez Vegara has done a good job taking a lot of complex moments in Hawking's life and bringing them down to a child's level. I love the quirky style of the illustrations, which are very colourful and engaging. The high quality of artwork is matched by the informative and entertaining text, simple and accessible even to a very young child. This would be a good beginning reader book for young children, especially those reluctant readers who tend to gravitate to non-fiction. For those older readers, there is a more detailed biography and timeline found at the end of the book. A wonderful addition to this series that I recommend be in all public and school libraries

Was this review helpful?

Stephen Hawking by Isabel Sanchez Vegara is part of the Little People, Big Dreams series that looks at famous people and how they made a difference in the world. I loved that Hawking's family all read while they ate and it wasn't seen as being antisocial. I after read while eating. Well… I read as often as possible! This story shows the progression of Hawking's disorder- ALS- and how the doctors only gave him two years to live. I didn't know he went on a zero-g trip. It must have felt wonderful to be free of the wheelchair for the first time in decades. And he was 65 when he did it! The end of the book has a more detailed timeline of his life, written more for older readers. I read this with my cubs. We love this series! Highly recommended!

***Many thanks to Netgalley & Quarto Publishing for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is another brilliant addition to this series – even as an adult I look out for the next book in the series being released. I love the images in this series and this is a delightful introduction to Stephen Hawking, one of the most amazing minds we have had.

They are excellent introductions to some of the well-known, and less well-known, characters that have had a great impact in our lives through a variety of subjects such as literature, women’s rights and science. Stephen is an inspiration to me and his story should be shared with children to show what he managed to achieve even though his health deteriorated he was still an eminent figure in his field and had some astounding scientific breakthroughs.

5 stars from me for this one – a delightful read and one I will be highly recommending!!

Was this review helpful?

Stephen Hawking had an intriguing character and equally intriguing life. In this edition of Little People, Big Dreams, we learn about the type of household Stephen grew up in, his education, his curiosity and intellect, and his perseverance in the face of a devastating illness. Young minds will read this and learn a little something about the wonders of the universe, about a man who would advance science further than most could ever imagine, and who didn’t let the failings of his body prevent him from pursuing his dreams.

Was this review helpful?

I am always excited to read the books in the "Little people. BIG DREAMS." series, and this book wasn't an exception.
The storytelling is beautiful, and very few words are used. Instead the illustrations are used to tell the story as well, which is a huge plus, as that makes it easier to understand, and it gives a better experience when the words and illustrations tell the story together, compared to the illustrations just showing what the words already tell you.
This is a perfect introduction to Stephen Hawking toddlers or young children, but it's also a book many adults will be able to enjoy.

Was this review helpful?

Do your child/children (and yourself) a favor, and buy this entire collection! It is educational without feeling like learning is being shoved down their throats. Very, very nice books!!

Was this review helpful?

This is an excellent series. The people written about in the series aren't your run of the mill children's biography subjects. But they are all intriguing people and make for interesting reading. The illustrations are going to appeal to the kids as well. These books are a good way to broaden their horizons.

Was this review helpful?

I received an e-arc from net for review

I love this series, it's always a joy to read about someone who I may a lot, a bit or nothing at all. The art style is pleasing to look at, these are books would be a great addition to many elementary classrooms.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: