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Little People, BIG DREAMS
Ada Lovelace
Meet Ada Lovelace, the British mathematician and daughter of poet Lord Byron. Part of the beloved Little People, BIG DREAMS series, this inspiring and informative little biography follows the colorful life of Lord Byron's daughter, from her early love of logic, to her plans for the world's first computer program.
As a child, Ada had a big imagination and a talent for mathematics. She grew up in a noble household in England, where she dedicated herself to studying. Her work with the famous inventor, Charles Babbage, on a very early kind of computer made her the world's first computer programmer. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical images and a detailed profile of the mathematician's life.
Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore 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 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.
Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!
As a child, Ada had a big imagination and a talent for mathematics. She grew up in a noble household in England, where she dedicated herself to studying. Her work with the famous inventor, Charles Babbage, on a very early kind of computer made her the world's first computer programmer. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical images and a detailed profile of the mathematician's life.
Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore 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 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.
Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
March 11, 2019
Little People, Big Dreams is a wonderful series of short informative books for very young children introducing them to people who have influenced our lives with their inventions, achievements and brilliant ideas.
The book is written in very simple sentences that even a toddler can understand. The pictures are beautifully quirky and go really well with the text. Having recently read another well-researched biography of Ada Lovelace, I do appreciate the way the author condensed the information and presented it in an age-appropriate way. We learn about Ada’s famous family, her love of maths and problem-solving, meeting Charles Babbage, and the significance of Ada’s creation of a code language to program machines.
A great addition to any pre-school or home library.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing group for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
The book is written in very simple sentences that even a toddler can understand. The pictures are beautifully quirky and go really well with the text. Having recently read another well-researched biography of Ada Lovelace, I do appreciate the way the author condensed the information and presented it in an age-appropriate way. We learn about Ada’s famous family, her love of maths and problem-solving, meeting Charles Babbage, and the significance of Ada’s creation of a code language to program machines.
A great addition to any pre-school or home library.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing group for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
July 30, 2018
This storybook is another great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series of the
Frances Lincoln Children's Book.
The story was written by
Ma. Isabel Sanchez Vegara
and illustrated by
Zafouku Yamamoto.
This book narrates the life story of one of the brilliant and important women who changed the world, Augusta Ada Byron or more famously known as Ada Lovelace. She is considered the world's first computer programmer because of her idea that everything could be turned into a number and programmed into a machine. Through her concept, she wrote a new code or algorithm hence she heralded the title given to her.
Ada Lovelace's story is about the power of imagination and perseverance that must be instilled to the mind of young kids. A lovely children's book that will definitely love by young kids and even adult readers who are fond of this kind of books.
This book narrates the life story of one of the brilliant and important women who changed the world, Augusta Ada Byron or more famously known as Ada Lovelace. She is considered the world's first computer programmer because of her idea that everything could be turned into a number and programmed into a machine. Through her concept, she wrote a new code or algorithm hence she heralded the title given to her.
Ada Lovelace's story is about the power of imagination and perseverance that must be instilled to the mind of young kids. A lovely children's book that will definitely love by young kids and even adult readers who are fond of this kind of books.
January 28, 2018
Whatever device you’re reading this review on, you have Ada Lovelace to thank for it. The child of poet Lord Byron and Lady Byron, Ada had big dreams. Although her mother tried to dissuade Ada from her passion of inventing and replace it with her own love of mathematics and logic, Ada was able to combine her mathematical talent with her dream.
She was introduced to Charles Babbage who was working on a machine that could solve maths equations quicker than people could. Ada thought she could make the machine do even more impressive things and so she worked on a code that would tell machines what to do, a code we still use today.
To say Ada was a visionary is an understatement. She became the world’s first computer programmer a century before computers were even invented!
Despite obstacles including illness and simply being a woman in the 1800’s, Ada proved that with determination and hard work, she could achieve greatness in her field. She was so ahead of her time that her work went largely unnoticed and unappreciated during her life, yet her contributions are vital to our everyday lives over 150 years after her death.
If Ada has something to teach us besides girl power, it’s that you should follow your dreams and not allow anyone to squish them.
This is only the second book I’ve read in the Little People, Big Dreams series. There’s enough information in them for kids to learn about the basics of the person they’re reading about’s life and their contributions to our society but not so much that they’re bogged down with dates and boring bits.
The illustrations are interesting and have a childlike quality to them but I would have preferred there to be more bright colours and for the peoples’ faces to be more expressive.
While I would have used books like this one for school projects, it wouldn’t have been the type of book I would have chosen at the library to read for fun. I was all about Roald Dahl with his wacky and whimsy worlds and cared little for non fiction, but that’s just me. I definitely appreciate this type of book now and can see how it would have inspired me to want to follow my dreams had I read it as a child.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
She was introduced to Charles Babbage who was working on a machine that could solve maths equations quicker than people could. Ada thought she could make the machine do even more impressive things and so she worked on a code that would tell machines what to do, a code we still use today.
To say Ada was a visionary is an understatement. She became the world’s first computer programmer a century before computers were even invented!
Despite obstacles including illness and simply being a woman in the 1800’s, Ada proved that with determination and hard work, she could achieve greatness in her field. She was so ahead of her time that her work went largely unnoticed and unappreciated during her life, yet her contributions are vital to our everyday lives over 150 years after her death.
If Ada has something to teach us besides girl power, it’s that you should follow your dreams and not allow anyone to squish them.
This is only the second book I’ve read in the Little People, Big Dreams series. There’s enough information in them for kids to learn about the basics of the person they’re reading about’s life and their contributions to our society but not so much that they’re bogged down with dates and boring bits.
The illustrations are interesting and have a childlike quality to them but I would have preferred there to be more bright colours and for the peoples’ faces to be more expressive.
While I would have used books like this one for school projects, it wouldn’t have been the type of book I would have chosen at the library to read for fun. I was all about Roald Dahl with his wacky and whimsy worlds and cared little for non fiction, but that’s just me. I definitely appreciate this type of book now and can see how it would have inspired me to want to follow my dreams had I read it as a child.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
March 13, 2018
A wonderful book about the first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace. I thought that this book was so cute and so well done. It is perfect for kids! I love the way it shows how regular little girls can do spectacular things! I would have liked more details about Ada but for kids, it is perfect. It is a great starting point and I just hope it inspires girls to dream big! I absolutely loved the illustrations. They were so adorable and they really added to the story. Plus I loved the cat!
This book and this series are so amazing. I would definitely recommend this to others. I want to read more in the series!
*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book and this series are so amazing. I would definitely recommend this to others. I want to read more in the series!
*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2019
Love this series - if you know a young girl who is interested in math please share this book with her.
May 28, 2019
2.5 stars. It was good to see that the illustrations in this book were not anachronistic as most in this series seem to be, particularly regarding the clothes worn which gives the reader a visual setting for the time period so is important to get right.
I did find this one very vague, however young the reader might be I don't think they needed to say that Ada was bedridden for several years with an illness. I have no idea why the author didn't say she had measles. Also the text mentions Ada's father loved poetry, I don't know why his name wasn't mentioned or why he was described as someone who loved poetry rather than saying he was a poet.
I prefer the illustration style to some of the more cartoon like styles they have used in this series but these do have the oversized heads and I think oversimplified drawings along with the oversimplified text, leaves the reader feeling they haven't gained much from this book.
I did find this one very vague, however young the reader might be I don't think they needed to say that Ada was bedridden for several years with an illness. I have no idea why the author didn't say she had measles. Also the text mentions Ada's father loved poetry, I don't know why his name wasn't mentioned or why he was described as someone who loved poetry rather than saying he was a poet.
I prefer the illustration style to some of the more cartoon like styles they have used in this series but these do have the oversized heads and I think oversimplified drawings along with the oversimplified text, leaves the reader feeling they haven't gained much from this book.
October 7, 2024
Although this here instalment in the Little People, Big Dreams series, although Ada Lovelace does text wise enlighteningly enough present how the main character portrayed and depicted by author Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, how Ada Lovelace truly was a mathematical genius and yes that she seems to have invented the language that computers use even today, personally, the author's featured narrative is often simply much too basic and juvenile for my tastes (and is in my opinion even at times somewhat of an insult to children's intelligences).
For although I of course and naturally was not in any way expecting Ada Lovelace to feature a detailed analysis of Ada Lovelace's often difficult life, her many struggles, scandals etc., I was at the very least expecting Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara to mention, to point out and within the text proper that Ada Lovelace was the daughter of Lord Byron (and not just claim that Ada Lovelace's father and I quote "loved poetry"). Furthermore, albeit I do respect and appreciate that the author demonstrates how Ada Lovelace was from the age of fourteen to seventeen generally completely bedridden due to illness, I really do have to majorly question why it is not then also mentioned that the disease affecting Ada Lovelace for three long years was the measles, why Maria Sánchez Vegara somehow feels the need to keep the type of disease so totally vague (as in my opinion, if in the narrative, if in the story of Ada Lovelace it were distinctly presented that the measles were the cause of Ada Lovelace's bout of very ill health, this would and could be a perfect message to and for today's children and their parents, caregivers, that the measles are not some uneventful and non dangerous malady, that the measles are a disease that has caused can still lead to nasty long term health problems and that indeed, the anti vaccination radicals are thus wrong and naive). Combined with the fact that while I have not aesthetically despised Zafouko Yamamoto's accompanying illustrations (as they do appear as historically accurate enough with regard to in particular period clothing authenticity), I still do personally find them much too cartoon-like for my visual tastes, with especially Ada Lovelace as a child and teenager always appearing with a head too grossly disproportionate for her body, two stars is really all that I can manage as a rating for Ada Lovelace and to once again lament that while the concept and general idea behind the Little People, Big Dreams series is both laudable and positive, the execution, the interaction between text and image often leaves far too much to be desired.
For although I of course and naturally was not in any way expecting Ada Lovelace to feature a detailed analysis of Ada Lovelace's often difficult life, her many struggles, scandals etc., I was at the very least expecting Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara to mention, to point out and within the text proper that Ada Lovelace was the daughter of Lord Byron (and not just claim that Ada Lovelace's father and I quote "loved poetry"). Furthermore, albeit I do respect and appreciate that the author demonstrates how Ada Lovelace was from the age of fourteen to seventeen generally completely bedridden due to illness, I really do have to majorly question why it is not then also mentioned that the disease affecting Ada Lovelace for three long years was the measles, why Maria Sánchez Vegara somehow feels the need to keep the type of disease so totally vague (as in my opinion, if in the narrative, if in the story of Ada Lovelace it were distinctly presented that the measles were the cause of Ada Lovelace's bout of very ill health, this would and could be a perfect message to and for today's children and their parents, caregivers, that the measles are not some uneventful and non dangerous malady, that the measles are a disease that has caused can still lead to nasty long term health problems and that indeed, the anti vaccination radicals are thus wrong and naive). Combined with the fact that while I have not aesthetically despised Zafouko Yamamoto's accompanying illustrations (as they do appear as historically accurate enough with regard to in particular period clothing authenticity), I still do personally find them much too cartoon-like for my visual tastes, with especially Ada Lovelace as a child and teenager always appearing with a head too grossly disproportionate for her body, two stars is really all that I can manage as a rating for Ada Lovelace and to once again lament that while the concept and general idea behind the Little People, Big Dreams series is both laudable and positive, the execution, the interaction between text and image often leaves far too much to be desired.
March 26, 2019
I didn't realize there were two versions of this book. This is the board book, which appears to be a little bit shorter. I don't know if there are any other differences.
The book tells the basic story of Ada Lovelace, although I think it might be a little too basic. I highly doubt that, when she met Charles Babbage, they walked around saying "1+2=3" and "3+1=4" like they were having a stimulating conversation. I'm also doubtful of the assertion that the code Ada came up with for Babbage's calculator "is the language computers use today".
The pictures here are okay, but kind of rough and juvenile. I'm guessing that each book in this series has a different illustrator. The illustrations here just didn't impress me that much.
I wouldn't mind having a look at the longer version of the book to see if there's anything I missed. I suppose this is okay for a board book, but for anyone a little bit older, it's probably going to seem simplistic and incomplete.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lincoln Children's Books for providing a digital ARC.
The book tells the basic story of Ada Lovelace, although I think it might be a little too basic. I highly doubt that, when she met Charles Babbage, they walked around saying "1+2=3" and "3+1=4" like they were having a stimulating conversation. I'm also doubtful of the assertion that the code Ada came up with for Babbage's calculator "is the language computers use today".
The pictures here are okay, but kind of rough and juvenile. I'm guessing that each book in this series has a different illustrator. The illustrations here just didn't impress me that much.
I wouldn't mind having a look at the longer version of the book to see if there's anything I missed. I suppose this is okay for a board book, but for anyone a little bit older, it's probably going to seem simplistic and incomplete.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lincoln Children's Books for providing a digital ARC.
February 20, 2019
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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've always been fascinated by Ada Lovelace, someone who we must be truly thankful for. She basically was the first computer programmer in history and her works were useful to create what we today call a computer. What an interesting mind and inspiring person that she was. This is a great introduction for children so that they can learn about the early stages of the computer.
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've always been fascinated by Ada Lovelace, someone who we must be truly thankful for. She basically was the first computer programmer in history and her works were useful to create what we today call a computer. What an interesting mind and inspiring person that she was. This is a great introduction for children so that they can learn about the early stages of the computer.
October 8, 2019
Another wonderful children’s book that informs parents as well as their young ones.
Now I am sure some grown ups will have heard about Ada, the world’s ignorance is a reflection on my own lack of knowledge. However, I have heard about Charles Babbage and his work.
Surely, Ada Lovelace has not just passed me by ‘cos she is a women?
We should read these mini biographies to our children and redress our own lack of knowledge regarding scientific talent and women of merit. I can not champion this book highly enough. It is short, interesting, funny and intelligent. The drawings are delightful and contain element of humour and interest beyond the story.
The words used are clear, not overcomplicated but in the process a story that needs telling is told.
Now I am sure some grown ups will have heard about Ada, the world’s ignorance is a reflection on my own lack of knowledge. However, I have heard about Charles Babbage and his work.
Surely, Ada Lovelace has not just passed me by ‘cos she is a women?
We should read these mini biographies to our children and redress our own lack of knowledge regarding scientific talent and women of merit. I can not champion this book highly enough. It is short, interesting, funny and intelligent. The drawings are delightful and contain element of humour and interest beyond the story.
The words used are clear, not overcomplicated but in the process a story that needs telling is told.
January 1, 2019
An introduction to Ada Lovelace for little people. Part of a series entitled "Little People, Big Dreams."
Shows young Ada growing up with a love of math and inventions. Her creativity ultimately led to the first computer programming language on cards. A more detailed story of Ada's life and a small timeline are included at the end of the book as well as titles for further information.
Shows young Ada growing up with a love of math and inventions. Her creativity ultimately led to the first computer programming language on cards. A more detailed story of Ada's life and a small timeline are included at the end of the book as well as titles for further information.
January 25, 2018
I highly recommend this series of books for anyone with young kids (or even an adult who wants a 5 min rundown on a woman who changed the world).
Cute illustrations and written so all ages can understand.
Cute illustrations and written so all ages can understand.
March 2, 2019
Ada Lovelace is a board book addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series designed to be read aloud to babies and toddlers. Although Ada Lovelace is an important historical figure, critical in the development of the calculator, so few people know of her, it’s wonderful she has this introduction to a new generation (as well as to the people who read to them).
Vegara does a good job distilling Lovelace’s story, and the vocabulary involved in her inventions, to a beginning level, and Yamamoto’s illustrations are delightful. Ada’s cat, Mrs. Puff, appears on every spread, and it’s fun to find her in the background. There are also nice details like simple mathematical problems and subtle additions like the 0-1 binary language in a background of a portrait of Ada.
Although I very much like the book and think it is a valuable addition to a young reader’s library, I thought the first pages, of Ada’s childhood, were a little vague, and that the narrative really developed once Ada recognized her talent for invention.
Ada faced significant hurdles, including her mother’s skepticism, sexism, and the disbelief of scientists. These are present but played down in the text, though the message that using one’s imagination and being persistent shines through.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group, Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
...aka darzy... | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Vegara does a good job distilling Lovelace’s story, and the vocabulary involved in her inventions, to a beginning level, and Yamamoto’s illustrations are delightful. Ada’s cat, Mrs. Puff, appears on every spread, and it’s fun to find her in the background. There are also nice details like simple mathematical problems and subtle additions like the 0-1 binary language in a background of a portrait of Ada.
Although I very much like the book and think it is a valuable addition to a young reader’s library, I thought the first pages, of Ada’s childhood, were a little vague, and that the narrative really developed once Ada recognized her talent for invention.
Ada faced significant hurdles, including her mother’s skepticism, sexism, and the disbelief of scientists. These are present but played down in the text, though the message that using one’s imagination and being persistent shines through.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group, Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
...aka darzy... | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
February 23, 2019
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 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 book tells the story of Ada Lovelace. I have to admit that I knew very little about her, so I was curious to know more. I've been fascinated by her brilliant mind. She is considered the world's first computer programmer because the algorithm she invented is the one our computers still use nowadays!
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 book tells the story of Ada Lovelace. I have to admit that I knew very little about her, so I was curious to know more. I've been fascinated by her brilliant mind. She is considered the world's first computer programmer because the algorithm she invented is the one our computers still use nowadays!
January 25, 2018
I am a self-proclaimed Ada Lovelace fangirl, and this was very cute and beautifully drawn. I really love this style of art, it's kind of colouring-in for Monet.
Perfect for getting young girls interested in STEM.
Perfect for getting young girls interested in STEM.
April 22, 2019
This is another great book in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I had heard the name of Ada Lovelace before, but had no idea what she had done or what she was famous for. Augusta Ada Byron grew up alone much of the time, but she had a great imagination and maths. In this book we learn about her famous family, her love of maths and problem-solving, meeting inventor Charles Babbage, and her creation of a code language to program machines. Ada has become known as the world's first computer programmer. Her story is about the power of imagination and perseverance. This is a child friendly biography with beautifully quirky illustrations that go very well with the text. It is a story that shows a young woman striving to achieve her dream. This is another in the "My First ..." series geared for young children. These books are a must for public and school libraries. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
January 26, 2018
Ada Lovelace has been my introduction to the Little People, Big Dreams series, books that tell short stories of the lives of people who changed the world for the better.
This is a preschool-level take on the life of Ada Lovelace. We learn about how different (and somewhat absent) her parents were, but that Ada found ways to exercise both her logical and imaginative sides. She was taught math and logic, which was unusual for girls in those days, and eventually met with inventor Charles Babbage, leading her to develop the first computer programming code.
It's a fascinating story that is good for young children but also encourages additional reading about an important historical figure, especially since the text here is sparse. There is a somewhat longer informational page at the end, and also a few book recommendations, which are helpful.
(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)
This is a preschool-level take on the life of Ada Lovelace. We learn about how different (and somewhat absent) her parents were, but that Ada found ways to exercise both her logical and imaginative sides. She was taught math and logic, which was unusual for girls in those days, and eventually met with inventor Charles Babbage, leading her to develop the first computer programming code.
It's a fascinating story that is good for young children but also encourages additional reading about an important historical figure, especially since the text here is sparse. There is a somewhat longer informational page at the end, and also a few book recommendations, which are helpful.
(Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.)
May 21, 2024
This is the story of a woman many have never heard of – Ada Lovelace. Ada, daughter of Lord Byron, dreams of things people have never heard of and embraces reading and mathematics. As she gets older she falls ill with the measles but recovers to meet Charles Babbage. She uses her love of mathematics to create the coding to make a calculator work but it becomes the first stepping stone on the path to the very first computer.
I admit it – I saw the cover and thought “Hmm, not liking the cover”! It’s a given that on so many occasions we do judge a book by its cover and on this occasion, I’m glad I read the book anyway! I honestly thought that this was going to be another biography with too many details, not enough engagement – and dare I say I thought the illustration on the cover was odd. As I started reading the book though, with the little knowledge I had about Ada, I begin to actually like the quirkiness of the illustrations – they were fun, engaging (gotta love the cat!)
This is a great book on many levels for classroom use.
I admit it – I saw the cover and thought “Hmm, not liking the cover”! It’s a given that on so many occasions we do judge a book by its cover and on this occasion, I’m glad I read the book anyway! I honestly thought that this was going to be another biography with too many details, not enough engagement – and dare I say I thought the illustration on the cover was odd. As I started reading the book though, with the little knowledge I had about Ada, I begin to actually like the quirkiness of the illustrations – they were fun, engaging (gotta love the cat!)
This is a great book on many levels for classroom use.
January 28, 2018
This series of books, "Little People, Big Dreams" is so wonderful. In introduces children, with very simple pictures and stories, to people they might never have heard of otherwise. In this case, Ada Lovelace is, as the book says, the first computer programmer, before their were even computers.
She is someone who is cool to know about, and this book makes her easy to understand.
And the illustrations are a delight. Here is one where she is trying to write the programming language.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
She is someone who is cool to know about, and this book makes her easy to understand.
And the illustrations are a delight. Here is one where she is trying to write the programming language.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
March 16, 2019
Part of the Little People, BIG DREAMS series, Ada Lovelace is a wonderful addition. I enjoyed the story of Ada’s life through this picture book full of wonderful illustrations. It is fairly short with few words on each page. Very easy for preschoolers to follow. I just love this series!
Thank you so much to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for this review copy.
Thank you so much to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for this review copy.
April 16, 2019
Just stop it Little People. There is no reason to take an already good book and simplify it even more for board book form. You could just print the entire book in board book form. When you do this it makes the story to simple to really tell anything about the person highlighted. Ava Lovelace wrote the first computer code. We get it. But the original book did such a better job.
January 26, 2018
This was beautiful! The illustration style is gorgeous and I actually would love to own copies of these books to read to my son when he's a little older. (Read 25th January 2018 but it's so short I'm not sure whether it should count towards my reading goal...)
February 13, 2018
I so loved this book, the illustrations are just beautiful and the addition of a cat makes it magical. I really enjoyed the simple language and my girls were all inspired by the story, it's so important to identify the power of thinking and dreaming alongside hard work and determination.
March 28, 2018
“Ada Lovelace” is a great role model for girls, especially with the emphasis today on STEM topics. I wasn’t a fan of the illustration style myself, but I enjoyed the illustrator’s creative additions to each page.
April 15, 2018
Was a cute read. I like how it's historical and educational. I like the raw illustrations as well. Beautiful artwork. Will be passing onto my niece to enjoy.
March 15, 2023
Reflections and lessons learned:
“Left alone, Ada's imagination took flight. She started to dream of machines with wings that could move in any direction”
Did Lovelace bring something to the world that’s marvellous or the biggest threat to humanity that’s self created? Ooo, I love it really but I’m still always going to be wary of maths and it’s potential evils… why count when we can simply experience? What have you got? Some beans…
As ever a lovely book though that illustrates that discovery can be made by anyone at any age with enough imagination
“Left alone, Ada's imagination took flight. She started to dream of machines with wings that could move in any direction”
Did Lovelace bring something to the world that’s marvellous or the biggest threat to humanity that’s self created? Ooo, I love it really but I’m still always going to be wary of maths and it’s potential evils… why count when we can simply experience? What have you got? Some beans…
As ever a lovely book though that illustrates that discovery can be made by anyone at any age with enough imagination
July 23, 2022
When my husband and I picked up a stack of these books at the library, he looked at the covers and asked why Lovelace drew the short stick with illustrators. Her tiny eyes don't indicate much of an expression, and on the cover her infinitesimal eyebrows give her a nearly apologetic look, a face I can't imagine Lord Byron's daughter making easily.
The book indicates that Lovelace invented binary code, which she did not. It predates Lovelace by a century or so. Vegara writes, "Ada didn't know it, but she had just invented the language that computers use today." The illustration shows rows of 1990s style computers with binary code. Lovelace is an important figure in the history of computing, but the illustration for that spread gives entirely the wrong sense of things, and overstates her contributions.
Not the greatest way to introduce young readers to Lovelace, but not horrible, either. The book manages to capture something of her spirit, and includes her cat on almost every page. At the end, more titles on Lovelace are recommended, and I think I will seek further picture book satisfaction there.
The book indicates that Lovelace invented binary code, which she did not. It predates Lovelace by a century or so. Vegara writes, "Ada didn't know it, but she had just invented the language that computers use today." The illustration shows rows of 1990s style computers with binary code. Lovelace is an important figure in the history of computing, but the illustration for that spread gives entirely the wrong sense of things, and overstates her contributions.
Not the greatest way to introduce young readers to Lovelace, but not horrible, either. The book manages to capture something of her spirit, and includes her cat on almost every page. At the end, more titles on Lovelace are recommended, and I think I will seek further picture book satisfaction there.
February 22, 2018
This is a wonderful and informative children's book about Ada Lovelace, the woman who came up with the process of computer coding. As a child, Ada was fascinated by the ideas of interesting inventions. As the daughter of a mother that was interested in mathematics, she was encouraged to learn math. The combination of her developing math skills and inventive ideas helped her as she worked alongside mathematician Charles Babbage, who was in the process of creating the calculator. Ada Lovelace then used mathematics to teach the machine how to do other things as well. This is a wonderful story that shares the story of an inspirational lady, a woman largely responsible for the beginning ideas on how to program computers, which helped facilitate the development of the computers we use today. I look forward to sharing this remarkable story with my daughters! This book would be a wonderful addition to any library!
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced reader's copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced reader's copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for my honest review.
February 21, 2019
A book for the very young that may actually be over-simplifying things for the junior, junior reader. Part of a series of inspirational tales from the lives of famous dead people, we see Ada (and her cat) working on being an adult and getting a code for a huge calculating machine, and therefore inventing computers. But it's almost impossible with so few words to get across the import of what she did, and I don't think this book does. The artwork is specifically designed to be child-friendly, as in it looks like what a child might do (is that a space rocket? No, it's a blackbird). In much the same way as another book in the series, concerning Stephen Hawking, couldn't really get primary school aged readers interested in extra-black hole radiation, so this has been pushed back for an even younger audience, and I think too far into the realm of the basic. Yes, there's the beginning, middle and end of her story, and it's nice to see her meet with a laptop at the end, but this book is concerned with saying so little, it's really saying too little.
February 12, 2018
5 stars for this children's biography of Ada Lovelace.
This is a very good concise children's biography of Ada Lovelace, widely regarded as the world's first computer programmer. Ada's life and achievements are told simply and clearly, and I like that there is an emphasis on the importance of 'dreaming' and cultivating the imagination as well as recognition of her studies and hard work. The illustration by Zafouko Yamamoto is delightful, and the presence of the cat Mrs Puff throughout the story is a lovely touch.
I really appreciate that the book ends with a two-page synopsis of Ada Lovelace's life together with four photographs. Plus there is a section giving suggestions for further reading. I like this evidence of how well the book has been thought out, and I look forward to exploring more books in the 'Little People, Big Dreams' series.
I received this ebook free from NatGalley in return for an honest review.
This is a very good concise children's biography of Ada Lovelace, widely regarded as the world's first computer programmer. Ada's life and achievements are told simply and clearly, and I like that there is an emphasis on the importance of 'dreaming' and cultivating the imagination as well as recognition of her studies and hard work. The illustration by Zafouko Yamamoto is delightful, and the presence of the cat Mrs Puff throughout the story is a lovely touch.
I really appreciate that the book ends with a two-page synopsis of Ada Lovelace's life together with four photographs. Plus there is a section giving suggestions for further reading. I like this evidence of how well the book has been thought out, and I look forward to exploring more books in the 'Little People, Big Dreams' series.
I received this ebook free from NatGalley in return for an honest review.
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