Aretha Franklin

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.
This book gives a glimpse into Aretha's life and tells the story of her childhood as a gospel singer in her father's church and then of her rise to fame as the queen of Soul. It clearly shows how she became a famous singer thanks to her passion, which is an example everyone could look up to.

I love this series of books, and especially loved being able to learn more about the great singer Aretha Franklin. The illustrations were beautiful and colorful, and would be a great way to teach children of all races about the power of dreams and perseverance.

This book was precious!

I definitely recommend if you are Looking for an inspirational gift to give to the kid in your life.

This collection never stops impressing me.

The illustrations were gorgeous!

Aretha Franklin by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is the latest addition to the fantastic Little People, BIG DREAMS series, and what a charming entrant it is. With beautiful illustrations by Amy Blackwell, we learn of young Aretha's humble beginnings as the daughter of a preacher who used her God-given talent to sing gospel, and eventually soul, bringing joy to everyone who was fortunate enough to hear her beautiful voice. Although these board books are written for young children, I always find myself coming away with at least one previously unknown fact about the spotlighted individual's personal life. These books are simply wonderful, and perfect for sharing between young and old.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books for this ARC.

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 thats because theyre books for children, so its totally understandable.
I think they are a very smart and wonderful way to introduce little children to such important figures.
This one here is about the great Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. I enjoyed reading about her story a lot. She was an incredible singer, with a unique, powerful and moving voice. And she was also a force of nature. I'm so glad children are able to read about her and her achievements.

I really adore these little books and I think they are an amazing way for children, but not only, to learn about great figures that changed our world.
This one about Aretha was truly fenomenal. It really highlightened the main aspects of her life, and the events that led her to become one of the most iconic and important singers of our times.
I also learned a lot more about her life, and some new facts that I completely ignored but I was so glad to come to know. I love Aretha's music and her personality, and I love that children will be able to know amore about this amazing woman.

Also, the illustrations in this one were actually amazing, like in every other book in this series. I can't wait for more.

Aretha Franklin is the newest lead in this latest edition of the Little People, BIG DREAMS series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. This series is such a delight and the perfect way to educate not just kids but everyone about historic and cultural icons.

Aretha Franklin is an influential singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist who is dubbed the Queen of Soul. This book details Franklin's journey of becoming the first female inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to her performing at Obama's inauguration.

Amy Blackwell illustrates this installment and does an fantastic job. Blackwell's art style was so captivating and her art definitely further helped tell Aretha Franklin's' story. This installment easily became one of my favorite in the series. I love collecting these books and am so thrilled to add this one to the rest of my collection.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This series has about as many ups and downs as the scales this subject would have practised using, but this book is one of the better of the more recent ones. As usual we get the bare minimum needed to quality this as a biography, and learn how Aretha Franklin stood up for civil rights, and stood as one of the most well-loved musicians of her time. Part of the series' patchiness has been the standard of illustration, but the style here is nice – glossy, positive and colourful, and not trying to be too arty and overly designed. Not all of its target audience will rate her music (at least until they're a bit older), but these few pages show why Ms Franklin gained the RESPECT she did.

I love this collection of books: Little People, Big Dreams, and this title is no exception. It provided relevant and interesting information about Aretha Franklin, and maintained an appropriate reading level for the audience. It was well written and the illustrations added to the story.

A beautiful book about Aretha Franklin's life and musical contributions. Her life is presented simply with lovely illustrations. It really brought the story to life. A wonderful addition to this series!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

Aretha was the fourth of 5 children. She grew up singing in church and her father took her to many churches to share her gifted voice. Aretha wanted to sing beyond churches. She was eventually offered a recording contract and became one of the most powerful voices in America.

As an educator, I would recommend this book as a part of classroom library or as part of a unit on biographies, or even as a part of Black History. I enjoyed this book about Aretha Franklin and I think it could help inspire a younger generation.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This picture book biography of Aretha Franklin is a wonderful addition to a great series. It shares her story in simple and child-friendly terms while still covering the main events of her life, and the vibrant illustrations are well-suited to a singer with such a passionate voice. The biography also strikes a good balance between focusing on her accomplishments as an African-American and as a woman. She was the first woman ever conducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and broke both racist and sexist barriers in the industry.

The author's note shares some additional details about her life, and four photos. This is a great book for children who are learning about significant historical figures, are studying black history, are interested in music, or want to learn about ground-breaking women. It's also an appealing quick read for adults, and I greatly enjoyed it.

I really enjoy this book series, and I love that every book has art that fits really well with the person! I feel like I learned a lot about Aretha Franklin that I didn't know about, and I think it really highlights relevant topics and experiences. These would be perfect to use in the classroom, especially since there is a wide variety of people featured!

Another great edition to the Little People, Big Dreams series by Maria Isabela Sanchez Vegara. This latest book is about singer Aretha Franklin, the Queen Of Soul. It has some lovely illustrations and information about a strong woman growing up in America during hard times. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

In this installment in the Little People Big Dreams series of picture books, the reader learns about Aretha Franklin. The book spans from her childhood in Detroit to her musical career. We learn of her friendship with Martin Luther King Jr and her pride at singing at President Obama's inauguration. We listened to some Aretha songs after reading this book so the boys could put a voice with the face.

This is a good quick-read picture book to teach kids about a musical icon.

Once again, Vegara creates a good introductory book for Aretha. The visuals are unique and have lots to discover upon re-reads, the sentences are concise, so the kids can join in on reading, and that moment near the end with Franklin singing at Obama's inauguration is pretty awesome.

I think it does more than enough to stoke interest in Aretha's music, if just listening to her in the first place wouldn't do it.

Great book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the advance read.

A fantabulous overview of Aretha Franklin's larger than life voice and music. I could hear her songs with every turn of the page.

As typical for books in this series, the artwork is engaging and the writing is simple and effective. I'm glad that Aretha Franklin was chosen as a person to be highlighted as she had such a huge impact both on music and beyond. It would be great to have some music-related activities or listening suggestions at the end.

This recent addition to the little people BIG DREAMS series features Aretha Franklin and her love of music while not shying away from her involvment in the civil rights movement, culminating with her performance at Barack Obamas inauguration.

First, we have the story, starting with Aretha as a small child, and after the story, there is a timeline which tells you the milestones of her life. There are further reading recommendations - both about Aretha and other installments from the series.

I am still amazed at the author's ability to tackle heavy topics without dragging the mood down. It's a gift. Certain topics need to be adressed, but introducing a toddler to how grim the world can be simply won't do to tickle their curiosity. Well done. Again.

I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

The book is full of pictures and the illustrations is something people of colour can identify with. I would love if the book had bigger text and more to share about her struggle. I believe children also need to know the bad with the good. Aretha Franklin is a fine example for little singers that if they want to achieve something they surely can and no privilege can stop them. The pictures are very eye catching and want you to read. It's a book I would say especially for children as small as 3 years old.

The illustrations in this book are gorgeous and joyful. Aretha Franklin is a wonderful addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series. I highly recommend this title for your classrooms and libraries.

Learn about Aretha’s upbringing; about her love of singing gospel in her church. Her dad was a minister and musician and brought Aretha along to sing. She gained popularity at a young age. Overcoming some life difficulties, Aretha moved to New York City at the age of 18 where she got a record contract. She was eventually given the nickname “Queen of Soul” because of her emotive singing.

When Aretha recorded the song R-E-S-P-E-C-T, the song became wildly successful. After winning multiple awards for her music, Aretha was the first woman inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Amy Blackwell’s illustrations are stellar. Do not miss this important book that celebrates the musical contribution of Ms. Franklin.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

The joyous cover says so much.  Here is the story of a woman who loves to sing.  As is always true, this entry in the Little People, Big Dreams celebrates a life and tells a story for young readers in an engaging way. 


Readers will learn that Aretha grew up surrounded by music.  She sang in church before moving on to a more secular stage.  Aretha sang for Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama. She wrote her own music and, of course, became known for singing R E S P E C T.  What a value to teach our young!


Many thanks to NetGalley for this gorgeously illustrated title in exchange for an honest review.

An excellent nonfiction title that will entertain readers and educate them on the queen of soul that reigned with dignity and grace for over 60 years.

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book via netgalley!

What a wonderful book! lots of beautiful and colourful pictures that illustrate the incredible journey of Aretha! It touches upon lots of important topics in a very easy to read way for younger kids. My daughter even wanted to hear RESPECT after reading the book to hear Aretha’s voice!

4.5★
“Aretha used a secret recipe when writing her songs: They had to talk about everyday ups and downs. That’s what soul was all about!”

This is another of the wonderful series of books that features people who’ve excelled in life through talent and hard work. Of course, I especially enjoy seeing girls featured, since so many of them beat the odds to succeed. As for girls who aren’t classic blonde beauties, they’re up against even greater obstacles on their road to success.

There is no question that Aretha Franklin was born to sing! Her mother was a gospel singer, father was a preacher, so she started singing in church from a young age.

My Goodreads reviews includes an illustration captioned: Aretha as a little girl, singing in the bathtub

Of course she would graduate from singing in the tub to singing in the church choir, where her voice was obviously special.

My Goodreads reviews includes an illustration captioned: The choir enjoying Aretha in full voice

Eventually, she accepted an offer of a recording contract, and her songs began capturing a whole new audience.

My Goodreads reviews includes an illustration captioned: Aretha and her fans in the Swinging Sixties

Her big jump to fame came with the song “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”, written by Otis Redding, that “sounded brand new in Aretha’s voice. Suddenly, the words of a tired working man became an anthem for African American women demanding equal respect.”

My Goodreads reviews includes an illustration captioned: Aretha, at the piano, belting out “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”

She started writing and producing her own songs, and that’s when she explained that soul was about everyday ups and downs. She was so successful, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

My Goodreads reviews includes an illustration captioned: Aretha the trailblazer in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with BB King, Elvis, and Chuck Berry

She sang for her friend Martin Luther King, Jr’s funeral, and she sang at Barack Obama’s historic inauguration as President of the United States in 2009. This book includes both an illustration of the inauguration outfit plus a real photograph at the end, along with some photos and more details of her life.

My Goodreads reviews includes an illustration captioned: Aretha, singing “My County ‘Tis of Thee” at the Obama inauguration

My Goodreads reviews includes an illustration captioned: Photo of Aretha at the inauguration

Yes, that’s Hillary Clinton behind her on the right. Bill is hidden by her. She sure came a long way from the family bathtub.

As usual, there are some real photos and more information plus suggestions for other books to read about Aretha. It’s a wonderful series, and I always look forward to their new additions.

Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the preview copy from which I’ve selected illustrations.

This new title in the Little People, Big Dreams series tells the story of Aretha Franklin. The story has beautiful illustrations and serves as a good introduction to Aretha. The book also has back matter with further biographical information including a timeline.

I requested and received an e-ARC of this book from Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Quatro Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I love the Little People, BIG Dreams series. I love that these books introduce kids to amazing people and this one did not let us down. Reading the last two sentences in this book made me tear up; Aretha Franklin was awesome!

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Another beautifully condensed biography for children about yet another amazing and inspirational person for them to be inspired by.

The illustrations in this book were beautiful and the child friendly information about Aretha Franklin was beautifully put together.
I love these books and find them a joy to read.

I love the time-lines at the back of each of these books which give a little extra information especially for older children.

Arethas' story shows that through love, passion, faith and determination you can fulfill your dreams.

Aretha Franklin is another fantastic book in the Little People, Big Dreams series from Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. The Little People Big Dreams series is the most beautiful set of non-fiction children’s books I have ever come across. Each gorgeous hard cover book is a child-friendly biography of a significant person from history. There are so many inspirational men and women to choose from.

Each book focuses on one individual from history. Many are quite recent, bringing history from living memory to life for children. The stories are very relatable, starting with when the individual was a child (just like the reader). The development of their passion and dreams for the future are clearly explained in an accessible but detailed manner. There is so much to learn from each biography! The books focus on positive traits, creating wonderful role models. Resilience, hard work, determination, a positive attitude and a sense of what is right play centre stage as children see that anything is possible if you follow your dreams. The wide range of role models allows children to expand their worlds. With such a broad series, there is something to suit every child and every interest.

The books are brightly coloured and so appealing. They have a feeling of quality inside and out. With a manageable amount of text on each page and engaging illustrations, the reader is drawn into the fascinating facts and stories of overcoming obstacles and achieving great things. They can’t help but be inspired!

Aretha Franklin was born to sing. When she was young, she learned from the music all around her. Gospel music inspired the power of her voice. As she grew older, she wanted to take her voice outside the churches and into people’s homes. She found fame because of her incredible voice and the fact that her songs talked about the everyday ups and downs of life. This amazing woman was a trailblazer for black and female artists.

These fantastic books would be at home in any primary classroom as well as on a bookshelf at home. They deserve to be read over and over again as children get to know the wonderful people within.

Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for this wonderful book! It will be published in August 2020.

What an amazing addition to an empowering series. Not only are the illustrations inviting and colourful, it is also a great introduction of Aretha Franklin' life and the power of music.

This story of Aretha Franklin is a must for all libraries for littles! It explores why the Queen of Soul wanted to sing, and how she came to sing numerous genres. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and you can see and feel the music dancing on pages. This story draws you in. It is also a great book to help diversify your library as it speaks on Black rights and equality, even more so for Black women.

Received e-arc for honest review.

Amazing series .I just love this series .Informative and inspiring.Just a wish if we could add more Asian personalities in it like AbdulSattar Edhi,Malala etc

"Aretha Franklin" beautiful addition to the wonderful Little People, Big Dreams series. Much like the other books in this collection, the book tells the story of Aretha Franklin's life with beautiful illustrations and approachable language so that all readers are inspired to dream.

The Little People, Big Dreams Series is one of my favorites, and this picture book bio of Aretha Franklin is just lovely. It takes us from Aretha's childhood in Detroit, where she sang for her church choir all the way to the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, where she sang for America. The illustrations were lovely. I especially enjoyed the drawings of her album covers in one picture and the depictions of 1960s dance floor fashions in another. A beautiful little book.

Little People, Big Dreams is by far my favourite children's book series! I absolutely adore these little non-fiction journeys showing us behind the scenes of many famous people. This time around it's Aretha Franklin! This is one famous lady with lots of talent that I honestly didn't know that much about (despite the fact I am willing to blast out a tune at any time by this fabulous lady).

This book is quite short and only gives a little bit of background into Aretha (not much more than I already knew), but it's still quite the gem! It's a great way to introduce the Queen of R&B and Soul to children.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

This is a great book. It is about Aretha Franklin and how she achieved her dreams. I think this book will be very inspirational for young children.

We have read a couple of the Little People, Big Dreams series and each one has been utterly inspirational, including this new addition about the Queen of soul, Aretha Franklin.
Written by @mariaisabelsanchezvegara, the book begins with Aretha's childhood in Detroit, where she started singing in a gospel choir at the church where her father was a minister, before telling how she secured a record contract, sung, wrote and produced incredible songs, and became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I'm in awe of how Maria tells Aretha's story in such a wonderful, uplifting way (it must have been so hard deciding what to include without this being 5,000 pages long!) and @amyjpeg's illustrations are emotive and beautiful (the Respect page is particularly wonderful!). 
Aretha was an incredible musician and reading her story, like those of other incredible people in the series like Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, and Alan Turing, can only help to inspire our little people to chase their dreams and achieve amazing things.

Great books, wonderful illustrations. I find enjoyment of these books varies and this one is wonderfully done

Another good addition to this great series. The illustrations are vibrant, reflecting the lively passion of Aretha; her story is told well highlighting a few facts even adults might not realize. All in all an enjoyable and enlightening read.

I really liked this little biography of Aretha Franklin. She is such an inspirational figure. It's important to show little ones that people in all kinds of professions can make a difference. I also liked that this book showed how much joy audiences felt while hearing Aretha Franklin sing.

*eARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

'Aretha Franklin' by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Amy Blackwell is a biography of the famous singer told for little readers.

Even as a child in Detroit, little Aretha loved to sing. Her mother was a gospel singer, but left when Aretha was little. Aretha sang in her father's church, but wanted to be heard outside the church. The rest is history.

I love this series, and I love the music of Aretha Franklin, so this is one of my favorites in this series. I also really loved Amy Blackwell's fun illustrations here.

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

This book is a great primer for kids who want to learn about the mega voice behind R E S P E C T. There is just enough interest to pique someone’s interest. I do wish they had more on her work with Dr. Martin Luther King but otherwise a great read.

Aretha Franklin was born to sing. With the support and love of her family, Aretha's voice moved people to believe in something greater. Her music career started at her father's church and she went on to be the Queen of Soul. I would have loved to hear little Aretha sing.

This children's book will inspire passion. The illustrations are kid friendly and the life of Aretha Franklin is reflects her music and message.

A special thank you to Quarto Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

My favorite series of picture book biographies. I love the story of Aretha Franklin and I can't wait to share this book with my students!

Another great addition to this wonderful series of mini-biographies for very young readers. I find it inspiring that the famous people this series focuses on came from all walks of life and became role-models for millions of people. It was great to find out more about the life of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, an incredible singer and amazing woman.
The text is conscise and accessible and can easily be followed by young children, while the artwork is elegant and vibrant.
Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Aretha Franklin is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I've reviewed a number of these titles and all of them are delightful and exuberant little books which cover the lives of famous cultural, science, arts, and innovative icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Due out 4th Aug 2020 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language. The gentle and vibrant illustrations were well done. The art by Amy Blackwell is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The illustrations are rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look. (Many of her outfits in the book are taken from photographs of events at the time, for example).

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition. I also appreciate that there are suggestions for further reading in the back of the book with the timeline of Aretha's life.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift. Aretha was an intelligent and accomplished woman and this book is a nice tribute to an iconic entertainer.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Aretha is one of those people I knew of without really knowing much about. I didn't really know much about her life apart from her music. Even if' I'd been intimately familiar, though, I'd have enjoyed this book. While it rather brushes over difficult subjects, it tells the story of her life clearly and concisely. The illustrations are especially strong, really complementing the text. Simple lines and clear emotions but allowing for a degree of complexity. Definitely one I'd purchase.

What a fun way to learn about the Queen of Soul. Wonderful and quirky illustrations along with facts that kids will enjoy reading. Good read.

This continuing series of acclaimed and noteworthy women is a fabulous addition to any child's book case. I love that the range of women spans history and time, as well as genres of activity, including entertainment like this one.

I didn't know much about Aretha Franklin previous to this but this wonderfully illustrated run down of her life and accomplishments is really interesting. It's colourful, engaging and easy to understand. Big thumbs up.

A gorgeous book and a great addition to the Little People Big Dreams series! I'm loving how diverse and how wide of a range this series offers! What a great way to start introducing important figures to little ones!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review :)

Great picture book biography for young readers about the great Aretha Franklin. I love the way the author and illustrator worked together to tell the story of Aretha’s life to young people. The illustrations were wonderful too!