Malala Yousafzai

Whenever I get the chance to read another instalment of the Little People, Big Dreams series, I try to look at the content from a child's point of view, and no matter how much I want to convince myself of my youthfulness, each time I realize how hard it is to put one's self into the shoes of a past, more naive self. With the story of Malala Yousafzai, I was especially curious to see how the grim facts of a contemporary reality might be delivered to young readers, when most of the public figures usually covered by the author are rather historical - but as always, it's an uplifting, inspiring little book, that keeps its colourful cheer despite the bitter truth of inequality that is explained in simple words on these vibrantly illustrated pages.

I am a huge fan of the Little People, Big Dreams series and this book is a beautiful addition to the collection! Malala is such an inspiration for children and adults, and this book tells her story in an honest but age-appropriate way for elementary school children. I can't wait to share this book with my students!

I got this on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I love the story of Malala, so I am already a bit biased but this one was really good! I wish maybe it focused a little bit more on the shooting tho, but understand how that would not be that appropriate in a children's book.
I also love how this series has such a diverse selection of characters that are featured, in terms of gender, nationality and what they are famous for.

That's what i was waiting for my local hero Malala in this series. Thank you for doing this. The illustrations are very colorful which is AMAZING. A must read and a must have to inspire young girls of the world.

— thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for providing me with the e-ARC for #MalalaYousafzai in exchange for an honest review.

actual rating: 4.5 stars.

this was the perfect short story introduction for young children to malala yousafzai, one of the most important figures that deserve recognition and admiration. i really loved the colorful art style and the simplicity of the text, but my only complaint is that it’s too short. even for children, this could’ve been stretched out a little bit more. nevertheless, i’d buy this if i found it in the bookstore for sure because it’s so pretty!

I really like this series. The books have subjects who aren't the usual run of the mill subjects, but have made a contribution. Malala Yousafzai is a little more mainstream at the moment, but this is an excellent beginning biography.

One in a series of Little People Big Dreams published by Frances Lincoln Children Books highlighting the lives of persons who grew up to make a difference.
This delightfully illustrated mini biography is of a young woman who was determined to get an education. She had a learned father who encouraged her and she loved school and learning. After being shot at 14 on the way home from school by hostile forces she was airlifted to a foreign country. Despite the loss of sight in one eye she learned a new language and eventually graduated from Oxford and even became the youngest to be awarded a Nobel Prize. The book is simply written and can be read by children, ESL, and those with other language issues, even grandmothers with no reading problems.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Quarto Publishing Group/Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. THANK YOU.

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 here is about Malala Yousafzai, a girl we should all look up to. She fought so much in her life and she's still fighting for what she believes in: the importance of education. She's such a good example for everyone and seeing her graduate from Oxford just a few months back really made me smile. She's already accomplished so much and I'm sure that what we've seen is just the beginning.

Malala Yousafzai 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.

Malala is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureat. This book follows Malala as she speaks out against the Taliban's prevention of young women's education to getting shot and being the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Manal Mirza illustrates this installment and does an amazing job. Mirza's art style was so captivating and her art definitely further helped tell Malalas story. 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 told Malala's story in a way that was really clear and concise. It didn't sugarcoat anything, but it also wasn't graphic in a way that would upset young kids. I thought the art was wonderful as well.

In the bingo game of "which subjects will this series hit next", this was the most obvious choice. Malala Yousafzai, one of the few entries in this range to almost get enough recognition for their first name alone, is clearly going to hit home as a subject of inspiration for the current generation of youth. This book was able to correct a bit of my memory about it all – I had thought the shooting was a random Taliban attack, but no – Malala had already written for an Urdu arm of the BBC online presence, and she was singled out as a trouble-maker from their point of view. From our point of view, now, this book is almost delirious in fabrics and patterned textures in its artwork, which is one of the more distinctive styles this range of volumes has had recently, and the text does just enough to affirm how Malala is in the right and how prehistoric the Taliban's tenets are. A strong four stars.

Malala Yousafzai by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is the latest addition to the wonderful Little People, BIG DREAMS series. This time, we learn the story of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani woman who fought for her right to an education against the brutal and oppressive Taliban regime. As a young girl, Malala became a target of violence and was shot in the head, eventually waking up to find herself at a hospital in England. Against the odds, Malala went on to pursue her education, and received a degree from Oxford. From a young girl in a Pakistani village to a voice for change the world over, Malala's story is one to inspire.

This series continues to impress with inspirational stories to educate and motivate the youngest of readers.

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

My daughter loved this book. She has read many books on Malala, and she still found this insightful, informative and engaging. Highly recommend!

A great addition to this series. Having read Malala's memoir, they did a decent job distilling her story down to the main points. I especially like the illustrations in this one--so vibrant and richly patterned.

**Thank you to NetGalley, author Maria Isabel Sanches Vegara, and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**

This is a wonderfully informative, kid-friendly book that tells the beginning history of Malala Yousafzai. The writing for this is definitely directed towards young readers, as the more difficult topics (i.e. gun violence and Malala being shot) are kept general while celebrating what she accomplished in more detail.

The illustrations complement the story beautifully. They are colorful and bright and help bring to life the words on the page.

I love that this series brings recognition to amazing women in past and recent history written in a way that is understandable and engaging for young readers! I also really enjoy the addition of the timeline and highlighted a quick biography at the end. It can help show young readers that these stories are about real individuals who have done amazing things.

Another great addition to the Little People Big Dreams series! Malala is such an important person to teach young kids and especially young girls about! For many she is a household name about resistance and that importance of education and her legacy should be taught to the next generation. I also loved the art in this one after not being a fan for the last couple of books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

Oh my goodness, what an amazing and inspiring young woman Malala is, and certainly very deserving to have one of these educational books dedicated to her.
Love the illustrations and the simplicity of the text, would be perfect for using KS1 pupils

What a beautiful introduction to the power of Malala's life and voice. Whenever my girls complain about school, I gently remind them how good they have it here in the United States, where girls are free to learn and go to school. We still have a long way to go toward global equality, though.

This book is beautiful -- I love the color palette chosen for the illustrations and the timeline at the end.

Great book for kids
I love the bright colourful illustrations that show the story.
Malala is such an inspiration that her life should be celebrated and learned about more.
Wonderful book

While wandering around NetGalley, I stumbled across this awesome new board book series for babies and toddlers. The vibrant, yet simple, covers displaying historical women that I have grown up learning caught my eye, and it instantly drew me to pick up a few of these books off the shelves. To be totally honest, I was so intrigued by these books that I ended up sitting right down to explore this new nonfiction board book series.

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Through my reading and my post-reading research, I have learned that Little People, Big Dreams is a new series that focuses on introducing the youngest of readers to amazing, wonderful women that have influenced the world. Each book is purposely designed in order to highlight one woman who has made a difference in the world. It tells the story of that women's dream and how she was able to make her dream come true despite the biggest of obstacles.


I loved the simplicity of the design of the series, Little People, Big Dreams. The authors and illustrators who have worked on this project clearly understand their audience, and they have made each of the books reflect exactly what they want their youngest of readers to be exposed to. Designed for babies and toddlers, Little People, Big Dreams uses simple text and engaging pictures to tell the story of each woman in a kid-friendly manner.

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Often times, my biggest complaint with board books is that they lack plots or messages. Even though board books are purposely designed for babies and toddlers, I absolutely believe they still need to be strong examples of books that contain both strong plots and messages. All age levels of children need to have access to great text.


I loved how Little People, Big Dreams designed their biography series for baby and preschool readers. There are not many nonfiction book series out there. This series is absolutely helping to pave the way to push the norm for what we typically think of when we think of baby books. Little People, Big Dreams series is a positive example of how even our youngest readers can read and learn from awesome books!

This book is gorgeous! The detail in the drawings is fabulous. The story of Malala is sensitively handled - not hiding away from the truth of what she experienced, but carefully balanced with all of the good that she has done. I love the 'tonal' colouring of the book, and the layout is perfect - a section of text with an illustration that can be 'read' and discussed. I love the feeling of hope that runs through the book, with a timeline of the main events in Malala's life so far, and references to her own books. I will be adding this to my personal and classroom collection as it is one of the best retellings of her story so far that I have read.

Brave. Strong. Inspirational. Determined. I could easily fill this whole review with words describing what an incredible woman Malala Yousafzai is. Malala is the latest person to join the Little People, Big Dreams series, which celebrates amazing individuals, from musicians to activists, sports stars to scientists, and I couldn’t think of anyone more worthy to be part of the collection.
The book tells Malala’s story of growing up in Pakistan, of how the Taliban took control of her valley, and, when she spoke up for the right’s of girls to have an education, how they shot her. After recovering in England, Malala went on to set up a fund to help girls go to school, she earned a degree at the University of Oxford, and she became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala is a truly amazing person, and someone many children will look up to and admire after reading her story.
As she has done with the other books in the series, @mariaisabelsanchezvegara paints a picture of Malala’s life - her tragedies and triumphs - in a way that is concise and accessible, whilst still retaining the power of her story, and leaving readers big and small feeling utterly inspired by her. Accompanied by illustrations from @manal_mirza_ (you HAVE to check out her instagram for more of her stunning work), this is a fantastic addition to a truly brilliant series.

This is incredible.
I didn't know more specifics than that Malala was shot by the Taliban and refused to hide but spoke up and recieved the Nobel Prize for Peace. I didn't know from before, that her father was the director of a school for girls, or from the after, that she has a degree from Oxford of all places.

But what strikes me that again, this is suitable for children. They don't go into detail about Malala's injuries, and they don't need to to convey the point. It's enough. And in the way this is told, it is inspiring even to me, and I am having a major depressive episode.

This is why the series is so important: Stories have to be told, not hidden, so people can learn from them. Of course you can try to keep negative things from your offspring, but should you? Won't the shock be harder if you thought all your life that such things don't happen?
I believe that children should be taught about bad things, but in an appropiate manner. And this book would be one way to do it.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

The illustrations in this book are phenomenal! So colorful and bright which is helpful when presenting such a heavy story to young girls! I am once again left in awe of Malala and all her bravery.

Free ARC from Netgalley.

Little People, Big Dreams are a series biographies for children.

This one is about Malala Yousafzai and her fight for girl's right to an education. This one was really beautifully illustrated! So much bright colors. And of course Malala's story is really important and inspiring.

#MalalaYousafzai #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series, and I enjoyed this book very much.

An inspirational story, and as always the illustrations in the book are lovely.

Definitely recommend!

Another wonderful book in the ‘Little People, Big Dreams’ series. The perfect introduction to younger children to the story of Malala, from her birth through to graduation from Oxford University. It tackles the subject of the Taliban and her injury carefully prompting my 6 year old daughter to ask questions but not get upset by the content. Beautifully illustrated. I often find the artwork in this series of books just stunning and the pictures definitely draw my young children more into the stories.

4.5 stars

Malala is an important figure in recent history, and children of all ages should learn about her experiences. This book is a great addition to a series that highlights a diverse range of stories in interesting ways. The text addresses Malala’s story in an age-appropriate way; I was impressed with how the writer handled sensitive content by including mention of violence without either glossing over it or fixating on it. In addition, the illustrations are beautiful pieces of art that add something meaningful to the story. I will definitely be buying copies of this book for friends’ children once it’s released.

The latest entry in the Little People, BIG Dreams series focuses on Malala Yousafzai with characteristically wonderful images and text. The book helpfully concludes with a timeline to trace Malala's life.

According to the publisher description: "This empowering series 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 versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. Boxed gift sets allow you to collect a selection of the books by theme. Paper dolls, learning cards, matching games, and other fun learning tools provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children."

It is this sense of empowerment and storytelling in relatively simple text, but in an appealing combination of word and artwork, that makes this book series such a welcome range of books to include in a classroom library (for all ages) or on a shelf at home.

Highly recommended reading.

I absolutely love this series. The picture books are fantastic and are informative in an age appropriate way. It hit on all the information about Malala, but left just enough out so the reader would want to do more research.

Thank you Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for the digital advance reading copy of this book.

I love the Little People, BIG DREAMS series written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and this book is no different. Malala's story is so important and I am glad it is being told to a young audience. Malala's courage and tenacity are impressive, I hope that this book inspires a whole new generation of strong and courageous children.

All these times, what are considered important to us include gadget, money and family. Not so many people think how important education is, until the story of this courageous girl. I learned that having education is one of your asset. How much you are willing to fight for it is an indicator of how your future will be. Living in a peaceful country and able to get good education should be profited, not seeing it as a hindrance to play more games.

Malala Yousafzai is possibly my favorite in the Little People Big Dreams series! This is such an inspirational story accompanied by gorgeous illustrations. I would recommend this book for early to middle elementary school aged children because of the violence Yousafzai suffered. This book will surely inspire children and adults alike to speak out when they encounter injustice.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

We love the Little People, Big Dreams series of picture books. Each one focuses on a real life person who has done something inspirational in their life. This new book in the series focuses on Malala Yousafzai. Malala grew up in Pakistan and loved attending her all girls school. Then the Taliban took over the region and shuttered all of the girls' schools and implemented other rules that seriously restricted what people could do. Malala spoke up about the rights of girls to attend school. This angered some in the Taliban and Malala ended up getting shot but she survived and continued to fight for access to education.

This is truly an inspirational story and we especially loved it because my boys are half Pakistani so they liked learning about someone from Pakistan. As always, the books if overflowing with colorful illustrations and has additional learning resources at the end of the book. Highly recommend!

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

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 one here is about Malala Yousafzai and I completely loved it! The illustrations and the colours are so beautiful and her life is of great inspiration.

Adults would know Malala from her works. They might have even read her autobiography "I am Malala" that details out her entire life from birth in Pakistan to almost-death under the Taliban to rebirth in the Western world. However, to young children, the perfect starting point to know the brave young girl would be this book.

I loved how the authors took Malala's complicated life story and simplified it to essential basics in this little gem. The illustrations are gorgeous. I was a bit apprehensive of how Malala's shooting at gunpoint would be depicted, but there's nothing scary or gory at all. This is a perfect book for young readers to know the importance of education, of bravery, and of standing up to what is right.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. It was a delight to read.

There has been no shortage of books on Malala, but I don’t think you’re ever too young to learn about such an amazing young woman.
Everyone should have the right to an education, and Malala with a supportive family, went to school, even when girls could not, under the Taliban rule in Pakistan. A direct result of this desire for an education resulted in an assassination attempt on 2012, but Malala survived and she wasn’t silenced…instead she became stronger, and her voice louder, and she became an activist for the education of girls around the globe.
As an adult reading this book you will know that Malala, along with two other girls were shot by the Taliban in retaliation for her activism. Perhaps not something you would want to talk about with your very young readers, rest assured that this incident it not described in any detail in this book. It just states that she was injured, spent time on hospital and recovered. As a parent or teacher, this allows you to go into as much or as little detail as you want to with your readers.
I especially love the illustrations in this Little People Big Dreams title, the colours are rich and bold, and I think they suit the story perfectly.

The drawings were beautiful and the story was told in a way that could help children understand but also not terrify them too much. Must have for every picture book collection.

"Malala Yousafzai" (Little People, BIG DREAMS) by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Release Date: 3.9.2021


"Malala Yousafzai" is the latest installment in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. This is such an amazing series, and as always, the illustrations are colorful, and the information is concise and pertinent. Malala is such an inspiration for children and adults, and this books shares her story honestly. This book is a must have and will inspire young girls around the world.

I love this series and add every title to my library's biography collection. These are enjoyed by my afterschoolers and teachers alike.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books, for the opportunity to review this title.




#bookstagrammer #bookstagram #2021bookreleases #netgalley #netgalleyreviews #netgalley #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreads littlepeoplebigdreams #mariaisabelsanchezvegara #biographiesforkids #kidbiographies #malalayousafzai #malalayousafzaibiography

Malala Yousafzai is an outstanding biography targeting young children, ages 4-7. Written by Barcelona author Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, it tells the story of the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner from her childhood in Pakistan through her graduation from Oxford University and her continued fight for children’s rights. Central to the book are Malala’s eagerness for education at a village school where her father taught, the girls’ use of their voices and pens to convey their message to the world after Taliban takeover of their town, and Malala’s continuing work, including world travels, after recovering in a London hospital following her shooting by the Taliban.

Although I was initially skeptical of the age group for a book involving the Taliban and Malala’s shooting, the author handles the issues in such a way that the age group seems entirely appropriate. I would suggest extending it through age 8 or even 9 with the possibility for parents of teachers to elaborate a bit more as they deemed appropriate for their older children or students. Additional information and a timeline of photos of Malala from 2009 through 2019 would make a good starting place.

Manal Mirza’s colorful illustrations supplement Sánchez Vegara’s narrative throughout. The use of geometric and floral patterns in nature, on clothing, books, wall hangings, walls, and other objects create a cultural atmosphere for the story.

The latest volume in the Little People, Big Dreams series, it makes me believe that the many other volumes in the Sánchez Vegara’s series are equally worthwhile, covering the childhood dreams and later accomplishments of diverse people ranging from Mother Teresa to John Lennon, Amelia Earhart to Alan Turing, Mahatma Gandhi to Rosa Parks, and Jane Austen and Maya Angelou to Stevie Wonder and Elton John.

My thanks to NetGalley, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, and the author and illustrator for an advance reader copy.

The newest addition to the Little People : BIG DREAMS series, the story of Malala Yousafzai lays out this well-known world changer’s recent history in a clear, child-friendly way. There is a hopeful focus on Malala’s perseverance, focus, and bravery in the face of incredible obstacles. Every child must know her story!

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

Malala Yousafzai is another amazing addition to the Little People Big Dreams series by critically acclaimed author Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara.
Almost everyone has heard of the bravery of young Malala who is such an inspiration to girls and women across the world. Malala fights for the rights for all females to have the right to an education and even though she was severely hurt by the Taiwan, she still fights for this to this day. I'm sure this won't be all she does in her lifetime too!
These books are such great biographies for children - all are short and compact but fantastically written so young children can understand them. I always enjoy the timelines at the back of the book too.

Malala Yousafzai, thank you to Frances Lincoln publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Such an important person to be included in the little people big dreams series.
Malala is the youngest person to have won the Nobel Prize. This book tells her tragic, courageous, determined and inspiring story in a way that allows young children to comprehend the enormity of her achievements.
The colours of this book are gorgeous and add a cultural context to the text. The patterns and colours give opportunity to talk about around the text and learn more about the context of the book.

There’s just the right amount of text and information imparted to make this book informative but not too, ‘heavy’ for its young audience. It deals with describing the issues faced in Pakistan in a truthful, and understandable manor, without including information which may scare younger audiences.
I feel this book is a great introduction to exploring the issues experienced by all children in Pakistan and offers an inspirational look at what children are capable of achieving with their voices and opinions.
Another wonderful and crucial addition to the ‘little people, big dreams’ series.

This is another fabulous biography in the Little People Big Dreams series. The illustrations are gorgeous and the story covers Malala’s life so far clearly and simply enough for the youngest readers without skipping the heavier parts.

I'm a huge fan of the Little People, Big Dreams series. This title on Malala Yousafzai is a great addition to their amazing lineup of biographies for children. Prior to reading, I was familiar with Malala's story, but didn't know all the details. I love the way this book gives a succinct biography, short enough to keep a child's focus, yet long enough to learn about Malala's incredible story. The illustration style and color scheme is stunning as well! Would definitely recommend!

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group + Frances Lincoln Children's Books + NetGalley for an advance review copy of "Malala Yousafzai", a new addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series.

Malala is a beacon of hope, inspiration, and courage for all and I am so grateful her story is being told to so many. I'm very excited for this book to be out in the world.

This series is one of my favorite and this book is fantastic. The story is condensed for children to understand and the illistrations are beautiful. Malala quest for an education and going against the Taliban is very inspirational. Her story is so important and this book is a great way to get it across to children and the adults that read them. Fantastic book to add to the library.

I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books through NetGalley.
Sanchez Vegara continues to provide biographies for elementary level readers that capture their attention and offers them a first look at important historical people from all over the world.
Malala Yousafzai is a hero who stood up for education for girls and women. This book provides her background from young childhood through her current platform. Sanchez Vegara sensitively handles the senseless violence she endured when the Taliban tried to kill her for her stance. A timeline provided at the end offers further informative text about her life.

I was wondering when Malala Yousafzai will be added to the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. Maria Sanchez Vegara adds Malala to her inspiring series with her beautiful accompanying illustrations.
As I am already familiar with Malala's story, I thought Maria did a stellar job at conveying her spirit, her story and her activism to introduce her to a younger audience who may have never heard of her or know much about her.

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

What a lovely book! The story was clear and precise, just enough detail. The illustrations were incredible, truly beautiful. The subject matter is a bit heavy, it’s interesting to see such serious content in a children’s book but it was explained well. I think this book could open great discussions!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. I truly appreciate how the author took a tragic event and was able to write about it in a child-friendly way. The full-page illustrations are colorful, detailed, and add to the biography. Malala's biography is well-written for a young audience, factual, and helps girls see their potential to achieve great things. The timeline and photographs at the end of the book make for an excellent educational guide to be used in the classroom as well. What I love most is how the book focuses on the positive aspects and bravery, instead of elaborating and accentuating negative aspects of culture in Pakistan. I can't wait to order this for my school library.

This book is simply stunning. Between Malala's moving story and the gorgeous illustrations, this book is the perfect addition to any library. Whether you already have a collection of Little People, BIG DREAMS books or are just starting don't miss out on this book when building an inspiring and diverse library for little ones.
Many thanks to Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I’m in awe of the author’s ability to tell the story of this horrible event on the level of small children. Malala’s work and strength shines through in a way even young readers can understand. This is one of my favorites in the series so far.

A Book That Will Inspire Little Ones With Power of Words

Book Review: Malala Yousafzai

"Maybe the Taliban had bombs and guns, but Malala and her friends had books and pens to fight back with. They decided to raise their voices and speak up about how important it was for their future to attend school". – From Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzi was just seventeen years old when she won the Nobel Peace Prize. She began her activism when she was 11 with her father’s encouragement.

The latest work from the creators at “Little People, BIG DREAMS,” is a gorgeously illustrated story about Malala’s life. For children ages 4-7, the book is part of a series that shows how even those who have achieved incredible things began life as a child with a dream.

Cultivation of a Hero

How did Malala achieve so much so young?

In 2008, Aamer Ahmed Kahan of the BBC and his colleagues proposed a novel way to cover the Taliban’s growing influence in the Swat District of Pakistan. They decided to ask a schoolgirl to blog anonymously about her life there. They were reporting the violence and politics in Swat but didn’t know how ordinary people lived under the circumstances.

They contacted Malala’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, a local schoolteacher, asking him to propose a student. A 15-year-old agreed to write a diary, but her parents stopped her, fearing Taliban reprisals. When no one else stepped forward, Ziauddin proposed his daughter, 11-year-old, Malala.

Taliban militants led by Maulana Fazlullah had taken over the Swat Valley, banning music, television, girls’ education, and women going shopping. Malala blogged about her experiences under a pen-name for two months.

"It seems that it is only when dozens of schools have been destroyed, and hundreds others closed down that the army thinks about protecting them. Had they conducted their operations here properly, this situation would not have arisen". -- Malala Yousafzai, January 24, 2009, BBC blog entry

After the BBC Diary ended, the New York Times approached Malala and her father about filming a documentary. During the Second Battle of Swat, Malala’s family was displaced and separated. While her father went to Peshawar to protest and lobby for support, she was sent into the countryside to live with relatives.

"I have a new dream ... I must be a politician to save this country. There are so many crises in our country. I want to remove these crises." -- Malala Yousafzai, Class Dismissed (documentary)

Malala’s father continued to criticize militants at a press conference and received death threats from the Taliban as a result. Malala became deeply inspired by her father.

She began to give national and international media interviews and appear on television to advocate for female education.

For two years, she chaired the District Child Assembly in the Khpal Kor Foundation, a non-governmental organization and UNICEF partner, which serves children affected by years of conflict in Swat, Pakistan. The District Child Assembly provided an “opportunity for young people to voice their concerns about children’s rights issues, and to present solutions to address these concerns.”

Following this, she received the International Children’s Peace Prize and Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize. Further, at her request, the Prime Minister of Pakistan directed authorities to set up an IT campus in the Swat Degree College for Women. She began making plans with her father to organize the Malala Education Foundation to help poor girls go to school. She was only 15!

At this point, a Taliban spokesman said they were “forced” to act. In a meeting in the summer of 2012, Taliban leaders unanimously agreed to kill her, and on October 9, 2012, a Taliban gunman shot her and two class-mates as she rode home from school on a bus.

Miraculously, all the girls lived to tell the tale. Once Malala recovered, she tirelessly advocated for educational rights for every child all around the world, from the White House to refugee camps.

On her 16th birthday, she spoke to the United Nations, with an audience of over 500 young education advocates from around the world. She called for worldwide access to education.

"The terrorists thought they would change my aims and stop my ambitions, but nothing changed in my life except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born ... I am not against anyone, neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban .... I'm here to speak up for the right of education for every child. I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all terrorists and extremists." --Malala Yousafzai

In 2014, she was announced as the Nobel Peace Prize’s co-recipient when she was just 17 years old.

A Book to Inspire Little Ones

The Little People, BIG DREAMS book tells Malala’s story in simple terms, but it doesn’t sugarcoat the hard parts. It teaches about the bad things in an age-appropriate manner.

"(F)or the Taliban, there was nothing scarier than a girl willing to speak up. One day, Malala and two of her friends were shot on their way back home from school. Malala was very badly injured. When Malala woke up.... (s)he had been taken to a hospital …But children all over the world had written get well wishes." -- From Malala Yousafzai

It is an uplifting, inspiring little book filled with vibrant, colorful illustrations throughout to balance the difficult subject matter. The focus is on the positive, and hope permeates the text.

Malala did not just get better, but stronger and louder. She knew her story was the story of millions of other girls, too. With her father’s help, she created a foundation to improve their lives and their education. -- From Malala Yousafzai

This delightful mini-biography is a perfect short story introduction for little ones to an important, contemporary source of inspiration. Also, if your kids complain about school, this is a good reminder of how some children fight for education.

Malala Yousafzai is 32 pages and will be released for sale on March 9, 2021.

References

Malala Yousafzai, Wikipedia

Khpal Kor Foundation, Wikipedia

#MalalaYousafzai #NetGalley #Books #BookReview

This review first appeared on NewsBreak:

Title: Malala Yousafzai
Author: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Illustrator: Manal Mirza
Publish Date: March 9th 2021
Downloaded from: Netgalley; free review

The age range that these are meant for is young — the text would be something secondary to the kids. A read aloud with a family member or a teacher learning about inspiriting people.

The artwork? IMO fantastic for this age range because that is what is going to draw the kids into the story. This brings us to the story and allows the kids (4-7) to see her life unfold in front of their eyes and why she’s someone that is being written about.

I do love that these always have real photographs of the people they’re covering so students / children can see what they look like IRL.

It was only a matter of time before the incredibly motivating Malala would get her own mini biography!

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara has one of my most favourite children's series of all time. These non-fiction biographies are a must for little learners seeking to educate themselves about many famous and inspirational people.

Malala's story is a tough one but this book does it justice. The illustrations only add to it as they are beautiful and colourful. She wanted rights for women but the Taliban thought otherwise. She didn't like being trapped in her village and unable to learn or live. She started protesting which changed her life forever. After the events, she healed and became one of the most young, influential women (in my humble opinion). She's just a girl trying to be herself and stand up for her (and others) rights.

If you want to learn something new, whether you are an adult or a child, grab this book. These stories are told in an amazing picture book format but make the learning far more enjoyable than a lecture. I highly recommend adding these to your book shelves.

Five out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Frances Lincoln Children's Books and Quarto Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

This is the third book that I have read in this series. I have enjoyed them all. This book is about Malala, a young girl that stuck to her guns and went against the Taliban. During her time, girls were not allowed to read, go to school, and had to cover themselves completely. Malala started a group with other girls to show that they wanted an education. This is such an amazing true story of a young woman who helped others even though she was hurt. I loved that at the end, it showed pictures and a timeline of the real person.

This is yet another beautifully illustrated and well written entry in this long running series. This time the story of Malala is simply and honestly told, including her having been shot. Malala’s wish for an education for her and all girls is nicely and inspiringly explored here. She has traveled far and accomplished much and was the youngest winner of the Nobel prize.

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

Malala Yousafzai by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara is a perfect addition to the Little People, BIG DREAMS series of books.

Children can discover the inspirational life of Malala Yousafzai. It is told in a sensitive, age appropriate, informative way and includes beautiful illustrations by Manal Mirza. The book is engaging and will leave children, and adults alike, in awe of Malala’s incredible bravery through her historic and ongoing fight for the importance of girls’ education. Along with admiration of how Malala came to be the youngest ever Nobel Prize Laureate.

The back of the book provides further educational information in the format of a biographical timeline, photos and a detailed profile of the activist, Malala Yousafzai.

I highly recommend this book, it is an ideal way of introducing younger children, age 4-7, to Malala Yousafzai and will undoubtedly set an interest in future research and discussions about her life.

Thank you to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books - Quarto Publishing Group and Netgalley for the AVC of Little People, BIG DREAMS: Malala Yousafzai.

Little People, Big Dreams: Malala Yousafzai is excellent! It’s obviously a short picture book, but it is really well written and the illustrations are gorgeous. I think it’s written in a way that children can really grasp, while not leaving out some of the more brutal (and important!) parts. I’d definitely purchase this for my nieces and nephews. Highly recommend!

What an inspiration this young girl is and what important lessons did had to teach to young people of today, and older people too. We can all learn a lot from her example. This is a much buy for every classroom on the planet.

Excellent Book! Little People, Big Dreams Always does the Best Job describing Incredible People. This is about Malala Yosafzai. She is just a young girl from Pakistan who wants to go to school and get an Education. However, the Taliban comes in and takes all her rights away including music, reading, and most important she can not go to school anymore. She is supposed to be clothed from Head to Toe, Seek a Husband, and Can’t Leave her Home Alone!

Malala is just the type of girl that will not be silent. She speaks up about her right to an education. This results in her getting shot. Amazingly, she lives and is in London. She keeps Speaking Out and that Wins Her the Nobel Peace Prize. The World is behind her Bold Strength.

Malala graduates from College and continues to fight for the rights of all girls today. She is such an amazing role model. As always, the illustrations by Manuel Mirza are Spectacular and are done in a way to show what is happening, but not in a frightening way. They add such value to the book.

This book should be in every school, library, bookstore everywhere. Can’t recommend Enough!

Thank You NetGalley, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for an ARC of this book.

Another extraordinary entry in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series of short bios for kids. This time we meet the courageous Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for girls' education and the youngest Nobel Prize winner ever.

She loved getting an education and when the Taliban came to power, girls were banned from school. When Malala spoke out publicly, she was shot in the head in an attempt to silence her. She survived and after multiple surgeries in England, committed to champion education for girls globally.

Anyone, child or adult, reading Malala’s story will be inspired to never give up their dreams. Highly recommended for children who love to read and adults who love to read with them.

5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 09 Mar 2021
#MalalaYousafzai #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What an inspiring story of a young girl who understood the importance of education! This short illustrated book told Malala’s story in a very succinct and age appropriate manner. I love this series!

I love the Little People, Big Dreams series and Malala Yousafzai is another wonderful book to be added to this collection by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. Malala is a well known young woman who has overcome hardship and is an inspiration to all. I love the illustrations in this book as they contain pink-based tones (my favourite colour) and think young girls will enjoy this story and illustrations as much as I do.

Great colorful illustrations that connect with the lyrical rhythm of the verse.. An easy read for the younger readers who will be inspired by what Malala did as a child and to know that she experienced and still did not give up. I have enjoyed other versions of books about her and this one is also one that I will cherish; it was easier to read to my kids without having to skip around pieces that might not seem as kid friendly. I received an advanced electronic copy from Netgalley and these are my words and thoughts.

This Picture book was so stunning, When I heard about this I was very excited because Malala is such an important person in our history and this story was a very digestible way to learn about her and her story for woman rights and violence.

Malala's story is both heart-breaking and incredibly hopeful. This is a beautifully illustrated edition from the Little People, Big Dreams series. Malala is a current activist in our world standing up for the rights of children and the importance of education for all. Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrator Manal Mirza created a wonderful edition of Malala's story for a younger audience.

I am grateful to be able to read a digital ARC of this story and would highly recommend copies for all children, libraries, and educators. Thank you Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest opinion.

Little People, Big Dreams: Malala Yousafzai by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Publishing on: March 16, 2021
Rating: 5/5