Rafa Nadal

Learn about the incredible life of Rafa Nadal, the dedicated sportsperson who's tenacity and drive has inspired young athletes across the world.

Little Rafa was born in Majorca, Spain. Encouraged by his two uncles, he started playing football and tennis, but found that he particularly excelled on the court. His uncle Toni became his coach and Rafa soon dreamt of winning tournaments. He was fiercly dedicated and worked hard at his technique and stamina - always being the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave. Then, at just fifteen years old, he became a professional, and seven years later was the number one tennis player in the world!

His journey has not been without challenges - he has faced several injuries and experienced losses - but each time he has come back stronger and more determined than ever to keep living his dream. Despite having won 22 Grand Slam titles, he remains humble and his perseverance and determination are the keys to his success. Today, he is considered one of the best tennis players in history.

This powerful 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 tennis player's life.

Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling 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!

Author: Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Ltd
Published: 06/04/2024
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 9.53h x 7.72w x 0.39d
ISBN: 9780711298613
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 06/01/2024 pg. 68

About the Author
Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, born in Barcelona, Spain, is a writer and creative director in constant search of new concepts for children's books. In 2014, she created a book for her two twin nieces for their birthday, which shortly thereafter became the first book in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. This multimillion-copy bestselling series of picture books explores the lives of outstanding people. From Mahatma Gandhi to Aretha Franklin, to Prince, Sánchez Vegara researches complex careers and makes them accessible to young children, with her unique and mindful style of writing. She works with a diverse team of illustrators to make each book lively, eye-catching and motivating. Working for more than fifteen years for clients in top advertising agencies, her books combine creativity with learning, aiming to establish a new and fresh relationship between children and pop culture. ​

Rocío, also known as Ro, was born in Galicia, in northern Spain. Growing up, Ro enjoyed many rainy days that were perfect for staying inside and spending hours creating imaginary worlds. After graduating with a degree in Advertising from Vigo's University, she worked as an art director in the advertising industry. In 2015, Ro decided to make a change and moved to Barcelona to become an illustrator. Since then, she has illustrated commercials, magazines, and picture and educational books for clients all over the world. Ro mostly works digitally and loves drawing for children's books. They allow her to create humorous characters, play with bright colors, and challenge her to find the best interpretation of the text.