Freddie Mercury

Little People, BIG DREAMS

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vergara, Ruby Taylor (Illustrator)

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Freddie Mercury, the trailblazing musician who rocked the world!

Born on the tiny island on Zanzibar off the coast of modern-day Tanzania, young Farrokh dreamt of having a fabulous life.  When his parents sent him to boarding school in India, he discovered his true talent for singing, as well as a love of playing rock ’n’ roll songs on the piano .

By the time he finished school, Farrokh knew he wanted to be a musician. After moving to London, he became the singer of a rock band called Queen ... and the rest is history! Freddie became the biggest glam-rock star ever, touring the world and charming the world with his exuberant zest for life. 

This moving 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 musician’s life.

Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books 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 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.
 
Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Biography, Music, Childrens, Biography Memoir, LGBT

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 7, 2023

Reviews

[Nataliya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Freddie Mercury. The amazing magnificent voice and stunning range, the breathtaking performances — the man was a natural showman with incredible talent. (And yes, I may actually own a Freddie figurine and Freddie socks and may have actually committed the entire Queen Live Aid performance to memory.)

So of course I had no choice but to check out this book. It’s a very short illustrated book that seems to be aimed at children who may know adults who are Queen fans, but honestly it’s probably going to attract curious fans like me.

Yeah, it’s kinda adorable.

Although I’m a bit baffled about why some things were chosen for this tiny book. Like spending a page mentioning supernumerary teeth Freddie had (no, despite what he may have believed, his range was not due to extra teeth). But I did appreciate the inclusion of Freddie’s partner Jim in his life story, as well as not glossing over his death from AIDS.

And now it’s time to listen to a few Queen songs. (As though I ever needed an excuse for that 😅)

3.5 stars.

——————

Also posted on my blog.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved that Freddie Mercury was the latest addition to the Incredible Little People, Big Dreams Series. I knew about him through his extraordinary music and entertaining, but not much else.

He was born in Zanzibar and had the name, Farrokh Bulsara. He always wanted to be a Star and loved music. At Boarding School in India, he took piano lessons and would know all the melodies from the Radio. His favorite type of music was Rock-N-Roll. It was fascinating that he was born with 4 extra teeth and this probably helped him reach the highest and lowest pitches when singing.

When Freddie finishes school, he heads to London, the ideal place for a person wanting to be a Rock Star. He becomes part of a band called Smile, but convinces them to change their name to Queen. Queen became a Sensation when it released “Bohemian Rhadsody”, which was an unusual idea of blending Opera and Rock. It was an instant success and is still popular today. Another very well loved song, is “We Are the Champions”. These are timeless songs and Freddie Mercury will endure as the true genius he is. He was part of Live-Aid, which was one of the greatest shows in Rock History.

Sadly, Freddie develops AIDS which brought down the lives of so many people, and was especially devastating to gay men. He recorded a beautiful song, “The Show Must go On” about this.

This is a terrific story for young readers who aspire to become Musicians and Entertainers. It also is important for someone who might be gay to know that the world can and will accept you. Freddie Mercury encouraged everyone to Live A Fabulous Life. He is such a Unique Performer with an Incredible Voice and Loved to Wear Bold, Exciting Outfits. He was just 45 Years old when he died and is still thought of as One of the Greatest Stars to Shine!

Thank you NetGalley, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for granting me a copy of this book. I always leave reviews of books I read.

[PattyMacDotComma · Rating 5 out of 5]

5★
“…little Freddie—one of the greatest performers of all time—keeps electrifying our hearts with his music, encouraging us to live a fabulous life ... a life as fabulous as we want it to be!”

He was born Farrokh Bulsara on the island of Zanzibar and dreamed of doing great things. At boarding school in India, he studied piano and began singing with the choir.

“Soon he was repeating any melody he heard on the radio, especially if it was rock ‘n’ roll.”

You can see his famous toothy smile in the picture above. The reason it’s such a big smile, is that he had four extra teeth.

“he believed that these teeth helped him reach the highest and lowest pitches of his favorite songs.”

He called himself Freddie when he was twelve and had a band. He was crazy about the English music scene. In 1964, a couple of years after he finished school, his whole family moved to England. London was THE coolest place to be for an aspiring musician.

He was studying graphic design and selling second-hand clothes when he met Roger and Brian, members of a band called Smile.

“They were looking for a singer. It was the chance Freddie had been waiting for!”

Freddie added Mercury as his new last name, and soon, the world recognised him as the star he always believed he would be.

“Once the band was completed, Freddie convinced them to change their name to Queen.”

Queen was popular already, but when they produced “Bohemian Rhapsody”, the world went wild for their blend of rock and opera. [I think they added to the changes the Beatles made when they used more complex melodies than the three-chord basic rock tunes.]

When Freddie and Queen performed at the first ever Live Aid charity concert in July 1985, 75,000 people sang along in Wembley Stadium.

“…almost half of the planet watched live on television. Years later, it was voted as the greatest show in rock history!”

He fell in love and lived happily with his partner Jim, but his closest friend remained his first girlfriend, Mary. The illustrations include a picture of Freddie and Mary and many ‘photos’ of his menagerie of cats!

When Freddie was diagnosed with AIDS, he stopped touring but continued to record.

“…he recorded the most beautiful song to say goodbye: ‘The Show Must Go On.’”

Freddie’s music lives on, and you can listen and watch in countless places. Audiences love to shout out “We Are the Champions” and try to sing along with “Bohemian Rhapsody”, like the classic movie scene from Wayne’s World. SO funny! I have read elsewhere that Mike Myers showed the scene to Freddie before he died to get his permission to use it, and Freddie loved it.

Here's a head-banging version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” from Wayne’s World:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weUuM...

Experience the original here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rU...

We Are the Champions from the 1985 Live Aid Concert at Wembley Stadium is exactly as illustrated in this little book. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP808...

Thanks again to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s books for my copy for review and for bringing Freddie to life for another generation of fans (as well as giving us older ones a chance to reminisce).

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 5 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.

Freddie Mercury is one of the latest additions to this amazing children's non-fiction series and is more than deserving of his spot in this series. In this child friendly, short biography, children are introduced to the legend who was Freddie Mercury. This is one time I wish I could press buttons on a book to play music lol - Freddie was and still is one of my favourite singers and I still remember the day I heard he had died - I was only 10 and at school - I remember what I was wearing, the weather, my environment around me - as this all stopped when I heard the news. I'd have loved to have gone to one of his concerts. I'm so glad this book has been made for children to continue to learn about this amazingly talented artist and performer. The illustrations are very befitting and the ones of Freddie are so like him! I think he'd approve of this book!

[Sharah McConville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freddie Mercury is another new addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. I really enjoyed this children's book as I actually knew nothing about Freddie's childhood, other than his real name. I did not know he was from Zanzibar (Tanzania) or that he went to boarding school in India before his family moved to England. It just shows how great these educational books are for kids as they are teaching me something too! This book has bright, fun illustrations and is a nice tribute to Freddie. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital copy.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given that I read my last children’s book when I was… well, a child, it’s no surprise that I previously hadn’t heard of the “Little People, BIG DREAMS” series, but you know what? Sign me tf up to whatever list I need to be signed up to to hear more about this.

I’m a big Queen and Freddie fan, so my main reason for picking this up was my interest in how the author and illustrator would tell Freddie Mercury’s life in a way that was suitable for children without leaving out the most important facts and milestones. I was most worried about how they would handle his sexuality, fearing that it would try to undermine his queerness, but I really shouldn’t have worried. It was beautifully handled.

With 30 pages, the book is what I would deem an average length for a children’s book and yet there was all the information in there kids would need to get to know one of the most famous rock stars who ever lived.

It talks about his growing up in Zanzibar, that he was born with a set of four extra teeth which he claimed were the reason for his impressive four-octave vocal range and the founding and success of Queen. It also talks about AIDS as his cause of death, “his first and only girlfriend, Mary” and that once he had met Jim, “they were together forever after” which is simply BEAUTIFUL.

The illustrations accompanying the text are simple but pretty and very colourful. I loved how inclusive they were, too. Whenever there were drawings of his fans, people of all skin colours, shapes, and sizes were represented. The cover speaks for itself, too, showcasing one of Freddie’s most iconic looks!!

I would definitely read this book to my future nieces and nephews.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic tribute to Freddie Mercury!

Children will learn about how a little Parsi-Indian boy from Zanzibar, Farrokh Bulsara, became the world-famous Freddie Mercury. They’ll discover that Freddie was born with a little bit extra and that special addition is what he attributes to his being able to sing with a range of over four octaves.

It wasn’t long before his parents were aware of his affinity for music and often watched him replicating music on the piano that he’d heard on the radio. You’ll read about how a move to a new country gave birth to his career and catapulted him to stardom. In fact, you’ll want to grab a globe or a map and trace Freddie’s journeys with the children reading this book.

Children will read about a boy who always wanted a little bit more and worked hard to make it happen. Freddie is known for singing until he could sing no more. This would be a good springboard to a discussion about what legacy they want to leave.

Freddie has a legacy as one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll legends and as an incredibly kind person who has been definitely missed in the thirty years since his death.

Congratulations on a great story and fantastic illustrations, big people and little people will equally enjoy this wonderful introduction to a little boy with a big dream.

I was gifted this copy by Quarto Publishing Group, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Courtney Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There never be another Freddie Mercury.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Little People, Big Dreams book series and the new Freddie Mercury volume does not disappoint. If anything, its acknowledgment of Freddie’s untimely passing infuses it with a sweet sadness. The art is great; Ruby Taylor captures FM’s toothy grin and Brian May’s curls. 👑

[Kara Rutledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freddie Mercury (Little People, BIG DREAMS) written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Ruby Taylor is a non-fiction children's book about the singer Freddie Mercury. Told in simple sentences with amazing illustrations, this book is perfect for children between the ages of five and eight. I'd like to thank NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the free, advanced copy of Freddie Mercury in exchange for my honest review.

The author does a fantastic job of telling the life of Freddie Mercury in simplistic terms for children. She does tell about how the musician has AIDS, once had a girlfriend, and ended up with a boyfriend without going into the nitty gritty details that children may not necessarily need to know at their age. I like the fact that it gives parents the opportunity to answer any questions their children may have.

As an adult, I already knew the facts provided in the book, but I love the fact that it introduces such a phenomenal musician to children who may have no idea who Freddie Mercury is. Five out of five stars is what I gave Freddie Mercury (Little People, BIG DREAMS) written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Ruby Taylor. The expected publication date of this book is February 7, 2023.

[Catherine Craig (Angelic Light) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful children's book from the Little People, Big Dreams series, which is an amazing, educational series of books, focusing on inspirational people in the world.

This book focuses on Freddie Mercury, who was a famous musician. We are shown his life from when he was a little boy who was sent from Africa to India to go to boarding school, until he was an adult. When he was at school, he loved music, playing the piano and singing, and when he was twelve years old, he formed a band. After school was complete, he went back to Africa, and then to England. In London, he studied graphic design and sold clothes at a market. He met Roger and Brian there, and he joined their band as a singer, with John joining them later. They changed their name from Smile to Queen, and then they became very famous, and are known all over the world today. Freddie loved his girlfriend Mary, his boyfriend Jim and his cats very much. Freddie sadly died, but his spirit lives on in the hearts of many, and his wonderful music brings inspiration to everyone in the world to this day.

I found this book really interesting, and I really loved looking at the beautiful illustrations in the book, as well as the informative text sections and photographs at the end of the book.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freddie Mercury is an excellent addition to this series, although I feel that this book glossed over a lot of things. More than I noticed in previous books.

Freddie's sexuality, for instance. "Then, one day, he met Jim, and they were together forever after." To me that's glossing over things more than necessary, even for a kids book. Kids can handle mention of sexuality. I know he did not choose to label his sexuality publicly, but it seems fairly well-known that he dated both men and women, whichever label he would have chosen. And yes, you can read that into the wording used here, but it feels like it's also easy to miss it.

That aside, this did provide a good overview of his life and the way Queen was formed. I also like that it does not shy away from including that he died of AIDS. I did find it interesting and enjoyable overall, and learned a few things I didn't know.

I would recommend this to elementary-school kids.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Quarto Books, and Francis Lincoln Children's Books for providing an early copy for review.

[Yaira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC through Netgalley and this was such a cute read! I was familiar with the series before, so I knew roughly what to expect. It is such a nice and cute way to start learning about famous people, accompanied by lovely, colourful illustrations.

As a big Queen fan, I was very curious about this book. While I knew the facts mentioned in the book, I still enjoyed reading it. And I was impressed by how big topics (AIDS, death) were approached in gentle ways. The only thing I can think of, is that I would have loved to have some song titles in there to connect with the readers.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m like the Little People, Big Dreams series. In only 30 pages the story covers Freddie Mercury’s childhood, forming Queen and performing. I thinks kids would be fascinated knowing that he had four more teeth than normal which he felt helped his singing range. It doesn’t shy away from including his life partner or saying he died from AIDS. The drawings are colorful and inviting. These books are designed for younger readers but I like that real photos and life information are included at the end that would interest older kids if they want to learn more.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Freddie Mercury and this book is an absolutely adorable way to introduce young children to the icon. The book provides a simplified biography cataloging Freddie's journey from Zanzibar to India to London to stardom. The book references that Freddie was gay and died of AIDS (which is more than I can say about a certain academy award winning biopic). I loved the illustrations showing and liked that Roger, John, and Brian were all recognizable.

[Lellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always excited when a new LPBD books comes out! I really enjoy this great nonfiction series for kids. This one is about Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queens. I liked how it handled his life and illness without hiding it but while still being age appropriate.

Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free e-book copy of Freddie Mercury by Little People, Big Dreams courtesy of Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The show must go on - but first, we need to know how it began. Freddie Mercury is one of my all-time favourite musicians, he has a voice and writing style unrivalled to this day and the band Queen is still one of the best-selling bands of all time. When the opportunity came up to read this children's book I had to jump straight onto the chance. Little People, Big Dreams is a series created by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Ruby Taylor (Illustrator) that aims to introduce children to the brilliant minds of the past. Ranging from Coco Chanel to HRH Queen Elizabeth II to Hans Christian Anderson this delightful series gives children an easy-to-follow, shortened version of these famous people's lives.

The tale of Freddie Mercury is no different. From his early life in India learning the piano to the beginning of his music career after immigrating to England, the book leaves no key section out. I particularly enjoyed the casual mention of Freddie's devastating death due to AIDS and his long-lasting relationship with his one and only girlfriend and his gay relationship with his life partner. There is no key focus on Freddie's sexuality which is a refreshingly beautiful thing to see - for many years the topic of Freddie's sexuality has been torn apart repeatedly. This book just goes hey he had a girlfriend and a boyfriend and loved them both no further explanation is needed. Perfect approach.

The story begins with the introduction of young Farrokh Bulsara (pre-name change) and his childhood in India. Whilst the book does not go into the details of the political unrest during this period it is noted for parents in the index pages (very helpful for the big people wanting to know more!), which I think is a very child-friendly historical view. I personally adore the simplified version of Freddie's life with the accompaniment of this animation style. Freddie's famous teeth and that joyous smile are featured on every page.

This book is a delightful read. I may be biased because I love Freddie Mercury, but I would happily pass this on to the younger people in my family and let this rock legend live in our hearts and music library a lot longer.

[Nicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freddie Mercury was an amazing singer and the original frontman of the band Queen. I must admit that I didn’t really learn much from this book, as I’ve enjoyed Freddie’s voice and Queen’s music for a long time, and enjoyed documentaries and the Bohemian Rhapsody film a few years ago. I enjoyed the illustrations and I’m sure families who don’t really know about his life will learn lots about him.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for my digital copy via the NetGalley app.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I know every bit of this? Yes. Yes I did. Do I love that little kids can learn about this legend, yes, yes I do.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really went into seeing what’s inside the throat of a singer with this one! Just kidding.

But there’s also a page showing just that! Find it out when the book comes out. I did laughed out when this page showed up!

The short book shows in brief the early life of Freddie Mercury, how it all started with the bare minimum he could manage and how it all ended well. He did ended up wearing a banyan without a proper shirt on stage. That’s his signature style! How popular stars make the smallest normal things look glamorous. And it all shows in this cute book.

The illustrations are amazing!

How people discriminated him! Check out for the reference page with real pictures towards the end.

Thank you, Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, for the advance reading copy.

[Monique the Book Geek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up hearing Queen songs almost everywhere I went and have many of them memorized. Freddie Mercury had one of the most amazing voices ever and I really enjoyed learning more about his life in this book, like that he was born in Africa, went to boarding school in India, and his birth name is Farrokh Bulsara.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for lending me a free digital ARC of this book to read and review!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book that explains the life of Freddie Mercury to the younger fans. He was extremely talented and this book tells his story in easy to understand language and lots of illustrations. I like how the story starts off with Freddie as a young boy and tells his story in a way that is inspiring to young people to follow their dreams.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Freddie Mercury 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 icons of innovation while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail for young kids. There are over 100 books in the series at this point and they're all worthwhile.

Released 7th Feb 2023 by Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's presented in clear and accessible language. The gentle and sweetly whimsical illustrations are well done. The art by Ruby Taylor is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look, including many of Freddie's outrageous stage outfits based on real life appearances. I loved seeing his beloved cats making an appearance as well.

Well written and appealing, I am really enjoying all of these little books. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift. Queen and Freddie Mercury were and are an important part of the soundtrack of the world's experience for the last 40 years to and this little book is a nice introduction to Freddy's (and Queen's) work for the youngest generation.

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

[Venky · Rating 4 out of 5]

With exquisitely aesthetic illustrations by Ruby Taylor, "Freddie Mercury" by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, is a breezy introduction to the melodies and magic of one of the greatest ever legends to have graced the domain of rock music. The book is an enticing appetiser to the musically minded young teen who is beginning his/her journey into the world of music. Beginning with the birth of Freddie Mercury as Farrokh Bulsara in a Parsi family, on a tiny island in Zanzibar, Vegara traces the journey of an enigmatic and gifted child from Zanzibar to India before finally settling in the hustle and bustle of London. A London, which during those times was the throbbing, beating and pulsing vein of a myriad notes and genres.

Farrokh studied graphic design and sold secondhand clothes in London before meeting a guitarist named Brian May and Roger Taylor, a drummer and a vocalist. Part of a struggling band called Smile, May and Taylor were looking for a singer and boy, could this young seller of secondhand clothes sing! Very soon, the band was complete with the arrival of John Deacon on the bass. Farrokh convinced his mates to rename the band Queen and called himself Freddie Mercury. The rest as they say is history!

The book also deals in a very sensible and poignant manner on Freddie contracting AIDS before finally succumbing to it. A Freddie Mercury biography reference rounds off a marvelous endeavour!

"Freddie Mercury" - the show will always go on!

Freddie Mercury by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is published by Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books and will be available on sale from the 7th of February 2023

Thank You Net Galley for the Advance Reviewer Copy!

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to Quarto Group - Francis Lincoln Children’s Books for a temporary digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Freddie Mercury’ by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Ruby Taylor.

This is the author’s latest in the highly acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series of illustrated books intended for young readers aged 4-7. Each book introduces its readers to the lives of innovators in various fields. There is always a focus on the subject’s young years and how this contributed to their later life.

Here we follow the journey of a young Parsi boy named Farrokh Bulsara, who at an early age discovered his love of music and that he had an rare four-octave vocal range. At the age of twelve he formed a band, started calling himself Freddie and thought constantly of becoming a rock star. Later his family moved to London where together with friends he formed the rock group Queen. The rest is history!

I have been a great fan of Queen’s music and while somewhat familiar with Freddie’s later life, it was interesting to read about his childhood. I found it admirable that the author didn’t shy away from sharing that Freddie had been diagnosed with AIDS.

As always the book ends with a biographical timeline accompanied by photographs and a suggestion for further reading at an older level.

Ruby Taylor’s artwork was vibrant and I loved her use of colour. I especially liked the illustration that contained portraits of Freddie with Mary, along with his beloved cats.

I know these little books are intended for children but I always enjoy them and recommend them to friends with children and grandchildren. I expect that educators and librarians will also find them an excellent way to inspire children and encourage them to read nonfiction.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I watched the Freddie Mercury movie last year, so know a lot about this talented musician. In this book, I did learn a bit about his early years, his birth name and education, but felt that there was a lot about his life that could have been touched upon that would have given the book a bit more depth. Freddie was born in Zanzibar, named Farrokh Bulsara, son of Parsi parents from India. His parents sent him to India for boarding school, where he discovered his interest in music and was nicknamed Freddie. He had an amazing range that he believes was due to having extra teeth. Due to political conditions in Zanzibar his family moved to England when he was in his late teens. He met other musicians and joined their band, The Smiles. Freddie loved clothes and dressing up, selling vintage clothes at markets to earn money. He convinced his band to change their name to Queen and the rest is history. The book didn't talk much about the struggle to make it big, nor his personal life that might have added more to the story. I did enjoy this book and think it would be a great way to introduce Freddie Mercury to a young audience as well as to talk about homosexuality and AIDs in a very basic way. Although Freddie had an underlying talent, it is important to show that he persevered and didn't give up on his dream to be a famous musician. As always there is a timeline at the back with actual photographs and a suggestion of a book to read for more information. Another great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freddie Mercury by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is another release in the Little People, Big Dreams series, which I have reviewed frequently on here. I just love these little books. They are always packed with facts about the person who they are writing about and full of colourful illustrations throughout.

Freddie Mercury was Just one of the greatest people that lived! and he was born on the tiny island on Zanzibar off the coast of modern-day Tanzania, young Farrokh dreamt of having a fabulous life. When his parents sent him to boarding school in India, he discovered his true talent for singing, as well as a love of playing rock ’n’ roll songs on the piano.

By the time he finished school, Farrokh knew he wanted to be a musician. After moving to London, he became the singer of a rock band called Queen ... and the rest is history! Freddie became the biggest glam-rock star ever, touring the world and charming the world with his exuberant zest for life.

I found this little book full of easy to read, with great Illustrations throughout this small book.

I am so glad these books are being published and I highly recommend all of these books especially this book. Freddie was a Legend in Music in my eyes one of the best that was born.......... RIP Freddie Mercury.

Many thanks to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Danica is Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Received for review: I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a good review, nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review.

Why did I decide to turn the pages? I have enjoyed this series. When presented with the opportunity to review it, I jumped at the chance.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I learned a lot through reading this one that I hadn't known before. Queen is so popular, but too few know the story behind the band. There were a lot of interesting themes addressed very quickly in this one. Not too quickly to be problematic, but quickly enough to alert the reader to what happened without a deep dive. This book does mention Freddie's bout with AIDs and his relationship with his partner in a very age-appropriate way.

I enjoyed how Maria distilled the information so quickly and expertly.

So why 3.5 stars? I learned a lot, and I think kids would, too, which pumps this up to a 3.5. An enjoyable series. I'll continue to keep an eye out on this series.

Pages: about 32.

Reading age: 4-7.

Love,

Danica Page

[MissyLynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The majority of the world with access to music has heard of the famed British group Queen, led by singer Freddie Mercury.

Freddie Mercury by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Ruby Taylor is an easy but fun way to introduce the next generation to Freddie Mercury. The writing style is simple yet informative. The illustrations that accompany the text capture the spirit and image of Freddie, his bandmates, and his entire story.

You follow Farrokh Bulsara, a young Parsi boy, from Zanzibar to India and then to England. Changing his name to Freddie Mercury, he becomes more involved with music until he finally meets his bandmates, who eventually form the group Queen. With his music, he and Queen find huge success and become one of the top music groups of all time. Freddie finds love with Jim, and the author leaves it at that. No need to go into anything more. Just like any other person out there, he found love with another person, his just happens to be a man. Even with AIDS in the end Freddie kept on singing until the end.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of many books from the Little People, Big Dreams Series and this one focuses on Freddie Mercury the lead singer of queen. It is a brief overview but tells a complete story with brilliant pictures. It is short into the point and I totally enjoyed it. I absolutely love these books for children and I love that they cover every aspect of history, celebrity, artist, the infamous ET see if they did a great respectful job for Freddie Mercury. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to engage theire child in reading and I think Freddie Mercury is a great place to start. There’s so much to be learned from one of these books and then Freddie Mercury we learned about his love for music and although they skirt heavy issues they definitely point out important parts of the legends life. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.