Simone Biles

Little People, BIG DREAMS

by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Nadia Fisher (Illustrator)

In this book from the multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the story of Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts of all time.

Growing up in foster care , Simone’s gymnastics training was an anchor in her life. An energetic child, she loved to tumble and spin in the air at gymnastics class, and began her career as an athlete when she was just 14 years old. Astonishingly, at the age of 19, she had won four gold medals for the USA .

Despite the hardships , she has faced them all to become one of the greatest athletes of all time , and an advocate for mental health awareness. 

Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.

This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets . Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.
 
Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

Genres: Picture Books, Sports, Nonfiction, Biography, Childrens, Biography Memoir, Juvenile

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2024

About the author

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

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful "little bio" with terrific illustrations, photos, and a timeline of the life of Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics and mental health advocate Simone Biles. Should be in every school and public library!

[Saloni Porwal]

This is a super fun and cute book which I loved just like every other in this brilliant series. I didn't know much about Biles prior to reading this and I'm in great awe of her accomplishments and dedication to her work

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars: Simone Biles was a short, interesting child friendly biography in the Little People, Big Dreams series. I really like this series and enjoy reading them with my grandchildren. I found this one to be a bit too brief, skimming over several things. I learned that she was raised by her grandparents who adopted her and moved her to Texas from Ohio. I found the story about how she got involved in gymnastics cute, being picked out of a class fieldtrip when she began imitating the gymnasts. She worked hard and loved it, but the stress put on the athletes by the coaches of the US team and the public became too much for her. Although she won many competitions and medals, she felt a disconnect. After the Tokyo Olympics, she took a two year break to work on her mental health. She and her teammates spoke up against some of the things the coaches were doing. Not only is Simone one of the greatest gymnasts ever, she is also a mental health advocate and a mentor to young girls. I would have liked to see a bit more about her mentoring and advocacy, I felt it was skipped over. The illustrations by Nadia Fisher are wonderful, showing emotions and action, adding much to the book. Another great addition to this series.

[karla_bookishlife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could there be a more perfect time to read about Simone Biles than in the wake of the Paris Olympics 2024, where Biles took home more Gold medals and established herself as the gymnast of our era. This book gives the incredible mini biography of the moments that have made this incredible athlete. What an inspiration for young readers. Beautifully illustrated and ther perfect gift for little readers. #simonebiles #littlepeoplebigdreams #netgalley

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the books in the Little People, Big Dreams series which I've seen absolutely everywhere, but only just started working my way through! (I know ....where have I been!?)

How many other people have heard the name Simone Biles and recognised it, but not realised why!?
Well, I knew I recognised her and am so glad I read this book and learned/remembered why!

My son was a county level gymnast at the age of 8 and we followed gymnastics a lot - always watched the men's and caught a fair bit of the girls - but only now reading this book has it all clicked.

Simone was one of the best all around gymnasts ever and even after taking time out, came back to win yet more medals!
Absolutely stunning!

Knowing how hard it is to follow the training regime even just to county level - I've always been in awe of those that have the discipline to continue this on and become professional.
Sheer dedication, strength and a desire to win and their mindset is definitely one to be admired.

Once again, it's great that these books include some of the person's background and personal life.
Knowing that Simone had mental health issues and also diagnosed with ADHD is so inspiring to others growing up with similar conditions.
Showing how you can still achieve your dreams even though others write you off, will be the biggest encouragement to so many!

This was a super quick read - full of information - but told in a way that was interesting and fun.
The illustrations were great too, with lots of detail to look at and prompt discussion with younger readers.

This series is actually amazing and I really must add more to my tbr - there are over 100 books in the series already and, like this one, many more still being added.

Great for school libraries, classroom learning, home education shelves and for any of us adults who just love reading!

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this "Little people big dreams" concept by Maria Vegara to let children learn about popular personalities. Here we know about Simone Biles, one of the most successful Gymnasts from USA.
I still remember watching her perform in RIO Olympics. Never knew that she was sexually assaulted too by her physician depicting which there was a matter in this picture which initially seemed irrelevant to me (When they bravely spoke up about the things adults in charge of the team were doing wrong, they realized that together they were strong!) but I searched the context and learn about it now. Author seeking her targeted readers being children wrote it ambiguously hidden in her words.

However, One thing is still hideous to me that when all those female sports person were making their career and earning name, fame and money, they bore everything bad but suddenly when things became in their favor they start spoiling careers of their board members. If someone is really that esteemed and value their chastity then why they made career by accepting ugly offers? and even if you did accept then why cry later? This becomes habit now all over the world.

Overall, this is a good book as what I mentioned in previous para was my calculation based on reality fact-checks I have seen barely happening wrong towards male counterparts or supporting members of organizations be it in sports of media, cinema and corporate world.
No doubt I appraise Simone Biles for her achievements and she really must have inspired many more such Simones in becoming in future.

My NetGalley.co.uk review
My NetGalley.com review

[Brit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing with the sports theme, I decided to dive into the world of gymnastics. This is a sport I personally enjoyed during physical education in high school, especially when it involved the parallel bars. No joke—reading this book made me feel nostalgic, and I found myself wanting to get back on the PE lessons! 😊

Simone Biles is a child prodigy, so talented from a young age that her coach sent a letter to her home, inviting Simone to join the training. This is an extraordinary gesture that you don’t hear about every day. Of course, that was just the beginning of her remarkable journey. She has become a multiple world champion and an Olympic gold medalist, holding several records for both age and skill. Her story is one to read, marvel at, and live through!

The illustrations in this book deserve a special mention. Each book in this series seems to feature a different illustrator, allowing various artists to showcase their talent. For this book, the digital art style, with its pastel backgrounds, beautifully brings to life the story of this courageous and talented young girl.

Once again, I highly recommend this book for young readers and sports enthusiasts! 😊

Thank you so much, NetGallery and Frances Lincoln Children's Books, for this wonderful reading experience and for the ARC copy!

Review in Estonian (Aug 26, 2024): https://brixieblog.wordpress.com/2024...

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

My littles absolutely loved this! They have loved watching Simone’s performances at the Olympics and really enjoyed learning more about Simone’s life and the hard work and determination that propelled her to becoming the greatest gymnast of all time. The illustrations were absolutely stunning and my younger readers and I loved the additional biography, images, and timeline at the end of the book.

As a parent of two littles who are extremely hardworking and sometimes hard on themselves, I was so grateful the author highlighted Simone’s advocacy and prioritization of her mental health and wellbeing. This is such an important reminder for readers of all ages, but I love how this message will reach young readers and help them prioritize their own mental health and learn to communicate their needs from an early age.

Simone’s story is so powerful, inspiring, and hopeful, and I love that this book will encourage younger readers to never give up on their dreams, to use their voices to speak out against injustice, and to remind them the importance of taking a step back and prioritizing their own mental health.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Simone Biles' by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Nadia Fisher is book 103 in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series.

At the age of 3, young Simone went to live with her grandparents. Her raw talent was spotted by coaches on a gym field trip, and they encouraged her grandparents to sign her up. Gymnastics training became a stable point in young Simone’s life. Hard work and persistence paid off, but not without challenges like adversity and mental health challenges. Those are told at a perfect kid level here.

This is an inspiring story and the illustrations shine here. I can’t imagine this not being a hit with little readers.

[Danica is Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I know a lot about Simone, having followed her since she was a young competitor. I thought this one was one of the better ones, highlighting who she is and her accomplishments. I also loved how it talked about her accomplishments in sport and outside it.

Didn't love some of the illustrations here, but overall, a good job by Maria.

[Suhasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOAT!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Simone Biles is a new biography for young readers in the Little People, Big Dreams series. These are all 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 25th June 2024 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it'll be 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

Even before she was the darling of the international sporting community as the vibrant, graceful, and intelligent gymnast who dominated the sport from a very young age, this accomplished young woman had already fought challenges in her own life, living for a time in foster care, being adopted by her grandparents, and the challenges of being a young black woman in a country split by divisiveness and pain, along with the massive stress of performing and sacrificing almost everything to perform at the top competitive level.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's written in clear accessible language. The gentle and sweetly whimsical illustrations are well done. The art by Nadia Fisher is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The art is rich in small subtle details which bear a closer look (like the gym scenes, multicultural children and adults, her teammates, and more which appear throughout).

Well written and appealing, all of these little books are worthwhile and enchanting. This one is a worthy addition.

Five stars. This would make a superlative reading circle book, classroom library book, or gift. Ms. Biles is an intelligent and beloved figure and has become an icon for a more hopeful and cooperative future, always trying to do what's right, as an advocate for mental health and wellness, and this little book is a nice introduction to her life and work for the youngest generation.

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

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

It'd be hard to find anyone who'd argue that Simone Biles isn't the G.O.A.T. of gymnastics, so it was a delight to be able to read this short but informative bio on her. While the details of her life are relatively well known nowadays, I liked how they were presented. No drama, no fuss. We go from her early days of being raised by her grandparents and discovering her innate ability in gymnastics after a random trip to a gym offering lessons. She mimicked those working on routines and thanks to a sharp eyed instructor/coach, was enrolled. An active child with ADHD, this was the perfect outlet for her energy and talents.

This review is about the book, however, so a quick look at what your "LittlePeople, BIG DREAMS" reader will find within. I've grown to admire this series. Not only is the writing succinct and thoughtful, but the illustrations are well-done. I particularly liked the one showing a sort of stop-action look at the various, in the air, body positions of one of her signature moves. Nicely done. The no fuss, no ado over events mode of writing covers her equilibrium issues during the Olympics that forced her to miss most of her events, albeit the book makes a point of showing the support she got from her teammates. It also touches on another serious matter, noting the teamwork and courage of the young women who stood up against adults who'd let them down. Fans surely know what that was about, so perhaps adults should be prepared to answer any questions young readers might have.

Bottom line, her life and life events are handled in a respectful way, all designed for young readers. It mentions her comeback and marriage, I might note, while largely focusing on her childhood dream and ultimate success. I admire her greatly and this book is a worthy addition to the kudos and writings about her. Highly recommended, particularly if you have an energetic young one doing flips off the couch. Grin. Thanks #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #FrancesLincolnChildren'sBooks for sharing this early look at the life of a remarkable young woman. Her dreams have surely inspired many we'll be watching tumble, whirl through the air, and perform moves most of us can't even imagine doing in future years.

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Before you can achieve, you must believe in yourself"- Simone Biles


Out of all the books this is the one that I felt closes to home with. My sister did gymnastics for over 10 years and I can appreciate the amount of hours and dedication that it took for Simone over the years to get where she is today.

It was good that the book included about the importance of mental health and how Simone stepped away when she knew her body needed a break and time to recover.

It was good that the gymnastic abuse was included but unless you know about it, I think it would confusing how it was portrayed as it lead to more questions then answers but it was important to be included for this exact reason for people to speak out and to ask questions. My sister went through similar things with her gym club and since then I know of other gymnasts who have since ended up struggling with mental health and have seek out help.

I think with Simone Biles book it shows that in some cases with this series that you wish the book was longer and went in more depth about her life- especially growing up and moving in grandparents. But this is also part of the point of the books that helps encourage young readers to research more into each person life.

As always I loved the illustrations especially including Biles achievements -first woman in history to land a Yurchenko Double Pike in competition. She is such an inspiration for her determination from a young age and knowing what she wanted to do. To now being one of the greatest gymnasts.

I will be definitely picking up a physical copy of this book to add to my collection.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the book for an honest review.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the "The Little People, Big Dreams" series, the author has provided biographies of various famous people, written specifically for young children. By telling a story that begins with a young child, she grabs the young reader's interest. She shows how that person overcame obstacles, became involved in their eventual field and eventually reached success. This book shows that Biles and her sister were raised by her grandparents. Even though she has a rocky start in life, she found a loving home and when her talent was recognised, she became a successful gymnast. It covers her gymnastic career, including her successes but also the fact that her team spoke out against abuse and that she quit for a while for her own mental health. This helps teach kids to speak up and take care of themselves. Like the other books, there is an afterward aimed at older readers with a timeline that includes a few photographs and more details. The book does gloss over a few issues that are not age appropriate and should have either been explained in the afterward or omitted completely. It mentions that she moved in with her grandparents at the age of three, but kids will want to know why. The fact that her mother could not take care of her, could have been in the timeline. The book also raises the issue that her gymnastics team spoke out about the fact that their coaches were not behaving in their best interest. I am not sure that raising the issues of abuse, even worded so carefully is appropriate for younger readers. I wasn't sure that I remembered events correctly and it took a bit of internet searching for me to find answers to these questions. I think that the book is fantastic, but I wish that the " want to learn more?" section would have included a couple sources for the parent or teacher. This series has used several illustrators. I appreciated the realistic pictures by Nadia Fisher.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simone Biles is one of my favorite athletes and people and it is wonderful to see a book for younger children that tells her extraordinary story. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is definitely inspiring.

That said, I have mixed feelings about the way that the author portrayed some of the difficult times in Simone’s life. Is it enough to say that at age three she went to live with her grandparents? Or that she spoke up when “some adults were doing something wrong”? How would a parent answer questions about these things? I’m glad that they are included - her actions with her teammates were very important. But is glossing over these challenging times makes it sound like everything was positive when it was not. I take particular issue with the description of the description of the illness that caused her to drop out of the Olympics. It was an illness that required a great deal of physical therapy to heal - it wasn’t just “stepping back” with a mental problem and coming back “when she was ready.”

I’m not a child psychologist and so I don’t know what is the most appropriate way to share difficult issues about a celebrity while still emphasizing their greatness. I’m just not sure that hedging the truth is the best way to go.

Thanks to Quarto and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simone Biles
by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Pub DateJun 25 2024
Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books |Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Biographies & Memoirs| Children's Nonfiction| Sports


Simone Biles was provided to me for review by Quarto Publishing Group-Frances Lincoln Children's and NNettle:


This is part of Little People, Big Dreams, a bestselling biography series for children.


Growing up in foster care, Simone's gymnastics training was her anchor. During a field trip to her local gym, she tried out the sport for the first time. After years of hard work, her coaches recognized her natural talent, and she began winning world championships and Olympic gold medals. Known as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, Simone has also advocated for mental health awareness, withdrawing from the 2020 Olympics to put her health first. Children will be inspired to follow their dreams while taking care of themselves in this picture book that tells her heroic story.


Thid book features a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed biography of the gymnast at the back, along with stylish and quirky illustrations.


I give Simone Biles five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

[Joey Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Quarto Kids/ Frances Lincoln Children’s and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

I’m a huge gymnastics fan and a big Simone Biles fan but I honestly didn’t know her story at all, so this was really interesting learning about how she began and how she got to where she got too in her career.

She’s such an inspiring person, for her gymnastics and how she will and does always push herself, to further herself. She has shown so many young children that they can do it if they dream it and work hard at it. She also is wonderful for helping share about mental health to raise awareness of it, which is so vital and important in this particular day and age where people of all ages are suffering with it. She’s such an inspiration to all.

The illustrations in this were really cute, I loved seeing little Simone and the other girls from the US team. This was a really great book and a great read for children interested in gymnastics as they’ll see how Simone managed to go from the bottom to the top of her league all by working hard on her skills.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simone Biles by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegarais one of the best books by Little People, BIG DREAMS and they are the best-selling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists.

Within this book we discover the story of Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts of all time.

Growing up in foster care , Simone’s gymnastics training was an anchor in her life. An energetic child, she loved to tumble and spin in the air at gymnastics class, and began her career as an athlete when she was just 14 years old. Astonishingly, at the age of 19, she had won four gold medals for the USA .

Despite the hardships , she has faced them all to become one of the greatest athletes of all time , and an advocate for mental health awareness.

This book was beautiful throughout with beautiful illustrations throughout that will engage any small child and show them they can do anything to make their dreams come true,

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simone was a wriggly busy girl with an interesting childhood. She discovered gymnastic while watching others and took her natural abilities to the highest level with good Olympic training and became the winner of many medals. But at one point the fame and expectations of other became too much to bear so she dropped out of competition for a while. When she felt ready, she returned to the limelight and was spectacular once again!
The illustrations are fun, simple, brilliantly colorful, and delightful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Quarto Publishing Group/Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
@QuartoKids @CBCBook @Frances_Lincoln #LittlePeopleBIG DREAMS @sanchezvegara #Gymnastics @TheQuartoGroup #ADHD #PositiveMentalHealth

[Kate Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series - I say it time and time again - it's such a special lot of books.
I jumped at the chance to read an early copy of the Simone Biles book as I've followed her career through the years - and I did wonder if any of her campaigning on the gymnastic abuse would be mentioned (as it is targeted for children after all!)
I have to commend the Little People, Big Dreams team for dealing with such a delicate situation and not shying away from it - but including it within the book. It was expertly handled and think it would be a good talking point/starting point for young people.
The only downside for me - is the illustrations. I usually love the illustrations - but felt like it really did not look like Simone Biles at all! Would have preferred something that resembled her a bit more!

But overall this is one of the better books in the series - everyone should know Simone Biles!

[Shan · Rating 3 out of 5]

#SimoneBiles #NetGalley

Compact story of an amazing woman. This book does sugarcoat most of the trials of Biles's career. This might be because the book is aimed for children. If so, there are a few pages I have issue with... The mention of the "abuse" in gymnastics would confuse any reader that doesn't know about it and/or conjure up questions for younger readers. The short two-page bio timeline in the back of the book would bring up even more questions about her family life (mother not being able to care for her/foster system) and her ADHD diagnosis.
I view these Little People Big Dreams books as more of a "keepsake book" for those fans rather than children's books, per se. For example, I have the Prince one but it would be difficult for a little kid to understand/appreciate but a perfect collectable for a Prince music fan.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing group for the digital ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I just discovered the Little People, Big Dreams book series and find them a great way to introduce non-fiction to the younger set. I wish this series had been around when my kids were little, as well-written early reader books about real people are hard to come by.

Simone Biles has been through trials and tribulations in her life, but this book doesn't touch on them too much. It mentions moving in with her grandparents and enjoying it so much that she stayed without going into details about WHY she ended up with her grandparents. The book mentions "abuse" regarding people involved in gymnastics, which could open up a good discussion with a little person about protecting one's body from others if they wonder what the word abuse means.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books through NetGalley.
I continue to be impressed with this series by Sanchez Vegara. She pulls readers in to learn about lives and offers inspiration for readers to succeed too. In this book, we see Simone Biles as a young child and follow her journey to becoming one of the top gymnasts in the world. The author does not shy away from her mental health struggles at the Tokyo Olympics nor the bravery to speak up about the abuse within the gymnastic system. Both are handled sensitively and at a level for younger readers. Since the book was published before the 2024 Paris Olympics, it offers readers a chance to do further research on Biles continued career. A definite addition to elementary level libraries.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

This was a book that focused on a famous Olympian athlete and sporting legend - the GOAT of gymnastics - the wonderful Simone Biles.

In this book we get to read a little about her early life and her determination to succeed from a young age when she was spotted by coaches at the age of 3. The book touches on her struggles with her mental health and also the abuse that she, and her fellow gymnastic students received from a former coach and the strength that it took to report them.

She is a real role model with some superb determination and a brilliant drive to succeed. Simone is a true inspiration and it is a pleasure to watch her perform and complete her routines.

Lovely images and another great addition to the series - it is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!

[Tracy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Little People, BIG DREAMS series of books which give just enough information to spark younger readers interest and encourage them to investigate further themselves. The books also help parents and grandparents to gain some basic details about their children's favourite celebrities and athletes.

Simone Biles is a unique, barrier breaking gymnast, but as this easy read shows, she is far more than that. These books not only show the reader the details that make their favourites extra special but also how far determination and clear goals can take you.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Quarto Publishing Group, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is an excellent addition to a lovely series.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there is an athlete who deserves to have children read about them in picture book format, that's Simone Biles. As I've come to expect from this series, the illustrations are amazing. Biles' story is told from her fostering by her grandparents, through her talent being discovered and various moments from her career. The aim of this book isn't only to lionise Biles as the incredible gymnast that she is but also to show the moments where she advocated for herself and others.

The only issue I have with the writing is that at times it's extremely vague, sometimes to the point of censorship. When recounting how Biles and her teammates spoke up against sexual abuse the book the text says "they bravely spoke against the adults in charge of the team were doing wrong".

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent pocket biography of the pocket wonder (she's four foot eight), that shows as is typical with this series that a paragon we can all look up to can come from the humblest of origins. Here it is a mother who put her four kids in care, and how Simone was eventually brought up with her grandparents as de facto parents. We get the standard progression through her career, and as usual here a bit of avoidance – the book walks on eggshells to cover Biles' Tokyo Olympics. Still, as usual there are few pages to cater for any negativity, and the positive message of Biles' inspiration is the rightful focus. As a result, there is little to quibble with here.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Little People, Big Dreams series is one of my favourites. I love that there are more current women being featured, as in my opinion they're a little more relatable to our own little people. I loved the Taylor Swift edition of this book and pre-ordered it immediately, and while I likely won't pre-order this one, I'll definitely add it to my purchase list for my girls. Beautifully illustrated, Simone Biles' story is made age appropriate while not taking away from her accomplishments. I especially liked that her break from competition was mentioned, with the importance of honouring your body stressed. 10's across the board for this one!

[Ande Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another adorable entry into the Little People, BIG DREAMS series! I loved the art style and Simone's story. I really appreciated that this book did touch on her struggles with mental health and the abuse from her coaches. These were short mentions, but parents should be aware their kiddos might have some questions for them after reading her story. I would still definitely recommend it though!

The only issue I had with this book, is that some of the gymnastics illustrations looked a bit awkward, and it was difficult to tell what Simone doing.

Thanks to Net Galley, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, and Quarto Publishing for giving me the chance to read an advance copy and review!