Ernest Shackleton (Volume 45)

Little People, BIG DREAMS

by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara, Olivia Holden (Illustrator)

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Ernest Shackleton, the fearless Antarctic adventurer.

When Ernest Shackleton was young, he longed for a life of adventure. After a career in the Merchant Navy, he joined a landmark expedition to try to reach the South Pole for the first time in history. Although he had to go home early, he never gave up. His own expeditions set new records for the closest anyone had ever been to the South Pole, and he is remembered now as a courageous and inspirational leader. This exciting 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 intrepid explorer's life.
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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!

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens, History, Adventure, Biography Memoir

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2020

About the author

Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, born in Barcelona, Spain, is a writer and creative director perhaps best known as the author of much of the Little People, Big Dreams series. Each book tells the childhood story of one of the world's female icons in an entertaining, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers, allowing them to identify with the characters in each story.


You may find books from the "Little People BIG DREAMS" series on author page - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly done story picture book presenting the life of one of the important historical figures, Ernest Shackleton,the explorer!

This book is so adventurous!

I love the illustrations. It's classic!

I love the historical titbits that are provided in short.

Important timeline:

1914

28 men

69 sled dogs

several pigs eh?!

A cat named Mrs Chippy (wow!)

Antarctica.

The ship named Endurance (even more wow!)

I love how this tiny book represented well this ques, how Ernest led the team and what he did to keep the team motivated.

Adventure is addictive. Now I know!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernest Shackleton is another great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series! If you haven't picked up this wonderful children's picture book series yet, get on it! It's a non-fiction lovers dream!

I hadn't heard of Ernest Shackleton, so this book did it's job! I learned a fair bit and am totally impressed.

The illustrations are wonderful, the non-fiction tales are told in an educational way and the entire atmosphere of the book is full of curious learning.

Four out of five stars.

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

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ARC 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 wasn't very familiar with Ernest Shackleton, but I must say that his story is truly inspiring. During his trans-Antarctic expedition his ship, called Endurance, got trapped in the ice and all the crew had to abandon it. The conditions were obviously not ideal, but thanks to his perseverance, courage and his ability to keep a cool head, Shackleton was able to save everyone and bring all his crew back home. I'm sure that everyone will love to read this inspiring adventure!

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Little People, BIG DREAMS series prides itself on providing child-friendly biographies of renowned public figures and celebrities and in this, the forty-fifth instalment, we approach the incredible life of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. Once again, the author strikes the perfect balance between presenting information children will find interesting but not making it overwhelming or tedious; it’s clear Sánchez Vegara understands the importance of feeding a child’s curiosity in their early years and instilling a passion for books and reading. One thing that never alters depending on wonderful episode of the series you are reading to your little ones is the targeting of imagination and without fail every one of these has culminated in my nieces and nephews asking many, many intelligent questions and as such serves to introduce them to particular famous characters if so desired.

As always, Vegara has done a sterling job of matching tidbits of information about Shackleton with complementary pictures drawn with care and vibrancy by Olivia Holden. From birth to present day, it’s a book that help kids with literacy and fosters a message about the enjoyment of reading. You simply cannot go wrong with this series in general as everything is executed perfectly and tailored beautifully to youngsters. I have purchased rather a few of these for the Little Ones in our family and they never fail to promote an endless fascination. I can not recommend each of these books highly enough and there is more than enough variety in the people they choose to cover to appeal all manner of young ones. Exceptional. Many thanks to Frances Lincoln Children's Books for an ARC.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

Ernest Shackleton is one of the latest additions to this fantastic series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and tells the biography in a condensed format suitable for children about Ernest Shackleton's journey to the antarctic.

This book teaches children to keep optimistic and stay positive no matter how bad things may seem.

As always it is a pleasure to read one of these books in the Little People Big Dreams series as they are each a delight to read.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best of this series that we have read so far. This book really captures Shakleton’s spirit of adventure and builds narrative pace and tension better than some others have.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winning addition to the fantastic series to inform young readers with famous people. The artwork is great and makes the story easy to follow.

A really good one.

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned:
“He was six years old when he dug a hole in the back garden, determined to arrive on the other side of the world. Ernest had the four qualities of a good explorer:
optimism, patience, idealism and courage!”

Role models for children come in all shapes and sizes, and although not one that I took much interest in as a kid, explorers are so key in illustrating what can be done if you can dream it. One Shackleton book bought early for my daughter sparked a passion for her, continued in school topics for both my children. In a world where technology and AI seem to be seen as the way forward, this is an important reminder that we still have things to discover in the wider natural world surrounding us

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ernest Shackleton is another great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series! If you haven't picked up this wonderful children's picture book series yet, get on it! It's a non-fiction lovers dream!

I hadn't heard of Ernest Shackleton, so this book did it's job! I learned a fair bit and am totally impressed.

The illustrations are wonderful, the non-fiction tales are told in an educational way and the entire atmosphere of the book is full of curious learning.

Four out of five stars.

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

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 one here is about Ernest Shackleton, an Irish Antarctic explorer. Sadly, I wasn't familiar with him and his story, therefore now I'm really happry to have discovered such an ispiring figure. His Antarctic adventure is something really incredible and now I so want to learn more about it!

[daniela sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little big book. This collection has been arousing my interest for some time now. It is undoubtedly a collection for the youngest, but it is indispensable for the oldest. This kind of book is easy to like, by the way, there's no way you can't enjoy an extra dose of knowledge. I really recommend, in a simple and direct way, it gives us the story of Ernest Shackleton, which I did not know. Here is the great advantage of these books: we got to know the history of people who easily get lost in years of history. A collection that I would like to do in the future.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books through NetGalley.
Biography of Shackleton for elementary level readers. The book takes readers from his childhood through his South Pole exploration. The illustrations show readers his strength and perseverance as he kept his crew encouraged and alive until they were rescued and went home. Timeline of his life included at the end of the book.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little bio of Ernest Shackleton is my favorite so far in the acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series. His story should encourage any reader to keep going no matter the obstacles. His expedition to cross Antarctica from sea to sea, with all its trials, is the most inspiring adventure I’ve ever read about. Highly recommended for both children and adults!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 01 Sep 2020

Thanks to the author, Quarto Publishing Group - Francis Lincoln Children’s Books, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#ErnestShackleton #NetGalley

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

After successful hits in this none-more-varied series, we get a bit of a dud. I did think beforehand, having read adult books about the whole "Endurance" saga, that a quick and primary-school friendly biography such as this would not succeed in portraying the whole drama, or why it should matter to pioneering explorers of the future. This was by no means dreadful, but I do think it was always on a hiding to nothing when it needed to convey the distances, the cold and the torturous want for healthy food, warmth and a change of company all the men must have suffered. True, we're geared more to a thumbnail sketch of Shackleton himself, but it's not just about how his leadership skills and strength and determination saved the day. Plus, if those indeterminate animals in the artwork are polar bears, as they appear to be, then someone needs a new job.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ‘Little People, Big Dreams’ series always lives up to expectations, this book being no different. Telling the story of Ernest Shackleton, it focuses on his travels and one incident in particular where he and his crew were on a boat stuck in ice for nine months. Modeling how to deal with a crisis, Ernest stays calm and leads his crew to eventual safety. Great lessons to be learned from this book for young and old. The illustrations also beautifully framed the narrative.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to be added to Amazon US and UK on 1st September 2020 – publication day!

I love the books in this series and always find something new in them.

This was a book that focused on a famous explorer – Ernest Shackleton and we get to read a little about his early life and adventures in his quest to explore!

Lovely images and another great addition to the series - 4 stars from me for this one

[clivey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been intrigued by Shackleton, and the amount of info the author packed into this short, simple book shows how it doesn't take much to tell a good story. Glad that young readers can catch a glimpse of how choosing to care for and encourage others can help you succeed in extraordinary things. Not many explorers chose that route.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant illustrations and simple text make this appropriate for the youngest biography readers. The message, that optimism and teamwork are important characteristics of good explorers, is a good one. A good choice for little adventurous spirits.

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know that I have much to say besides I enjoy this series and I am always glad to see new people featured in it. They are wonderful introductory biographies with beautiful illustrations.

[Jessica Haider · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the newest additions to the popular children's picture book series Little People BIG DREAMS is this little book about Ernest Shackleton. The biography is concise and written in a way that is appealing to young children. Each page is illustrated with colorful drawings of Ernest at momentous moments in his life. We learned about how he wanted to be an explorer ever since he was a small child. As an adult he was part of a crew on several journeys and then decided to form his own crew to go to the South Pole.

As always, these books help spark inspiration and an interest in history in kids. We had just been talking about if we would want to travel to Antartica so the timing of this book crossing my path was perfect. I highly recommend this mini biography for any young explorers in your life.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I have learned about another person from history that I previously knew nothing about. Thank you Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book and giving me the opportunity to learn about Ernest Shackleton. Ernest shows us that with determination, thoughtfulness and hope you can overcome many obstacles.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ernest Shackleton // by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara // illustrated by Olivia Holden

"Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all."

Ernest Shackleton is a name that I did not immediately recognize. His story though is more familiar. This is another fantastic addition to Vegara's Little People, Big Dreams series. She tells the story in a way that's easy to understand but that still conveys the lessons of the character that the book is about, which in this case is perseverance and optimism. Olivia Holden's style of illustration works great for the time period and adventure in this book as well.

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Illustrator: Olivia Holden
Age Recommendation: Early Primary
Topic/ Theme: Exploration, biographic.
Setting: Antarctica
Series: Little People, Big Dreams

I like this addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series. I appreciate the colouring and way it carries it story and presents its message. It does choose to include the traits of the best explorers "optimism, patience, idealism and courage!" It felt like an unusual choice but I like that too. Ernest Shackleton focuses heavily on Shackelton's ill-fated 1914-15 Antarctic voyage. Given this is the most well-known voyage and the one that best exhibits his admirable qualities this makes sense. I can see this easily being used as a read to in a classroom or as a book for a parent/ guardian to read to a child. There is plenty of opportunity to bulid suspense in this one. While it is undoubtedly sanitised for young readers it reads well. And the additional provided resources at the back (there are 2 in this one) provide places to find more information.

The art in this is cute. I like the age progression on Shackleton himself. We meet him as a child as is normal. But he progresses in the vein of becoming a babyface adult. It's more than simply making him bigger, he does get older but in a distinctive and easily recognisable way. When he arrives at the whaling station in he's not clean-shaven honestly it was an important and well-done detail. There is a lovely detail that turns up periodically throughout, that detail is also on the front cover. What I'm assuming is a sail in a little boat, that detail makes up the last illustrated page. The end pages are beautifully illustrated pieces of Antarctica ice masses, animals and a ship. I recommend this for those with an adventurous spirit or a love of Antarctica.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know anything about Ernest Shackleton. His name was not familiar to me so I was pleasantly surprised to find out who he was. In 1914 he lead a team of men to Antarctica. The board book introduces you and your child to Ernest as a young boy with a longing to explore his world. Ernest put a post in the paper asking young men to come to Antarctica with him. It was an ad that did not sugar coat the peril of such a journey but the hope of success was enthusiastic Ernest brought his men together as a team as they took their journey thru many hardships.

A book to help children build the character of curiosity and the world.

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

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's lots of adventure in this addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series, which looks at the life and accomplishments of Ernest Shackleton, who made three Arctic expeditions. While he never reached the South Pole, his expeditions set new records for the closest anyone had been to the Pole, and became known for being the person you wanted leading you if you were in a difficult situation. Another inspiring addition to this series!

#ErnestShackleton #NetGalley

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I've conflated my Antarctic explorer tales. I was thinking more of Mawson and dog livers, than Shackleton's adventures. So this seemed rather tame by comparison. That is not the books fault of course. No mention of shooting Mrs Chippy though (the ship's cat).

And dear god why did they let the illustrator include polar bears??

[Esther Hong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always wanted to read one of these! This is a good one on teamwork and optimism ⛵️ 🐋 🐧

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for providing me with the book.

As always, I love this series of Little People, BIG DREAMS. And as usual, I started the book out of curiosity, not knowing who Mr. Shackleton was. Making one's biography readable and interesting is the idea of the author, I suppose. The books are always a marvel to read.

Here I learn about Mr Shackleton, an adventurer and a sailor, also a survivor. When you don't expect the story turns out like this, his story encourage me to do more, to be patient and resilient.

[Sharah McConville · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite Little People, Big Dreams books so far. This story recounts Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic adventure. The book contains wonderful illustrations and teaches children about determination. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

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

Due out 1st Sept 2020 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language. The gentle and vibrant illustrations were well done. The art by Olivia Holden is appealing and colorful and supports the story very well. The illustrations are bold and simple.

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

Four stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift. Shackleton was obviously a brave and incredible explorer, but the book also highlights his accomplishments as a leader and optimist and hero to his men. This book is a tribute to an icon who still represents the ideals of exploration and discovery. It's nice to see him being introduced to a new generation of kids.

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