Little People Big Dreams Bruce Lee /anglais

Little People, BIG DREAMS

by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara, Miguel Bustos (Illustrator)

New in the Little People, Big Dreams series, discover the life of Bruce Lee, the martial artist and Hollywood film star, in this true story of his life. Born in San Francisco but raised in Hong Kong, Bruce Lee was a child actor who appeared in many films. As a teenager he took up martial arts and never looked back. He went on to star in smash blockbuster hits, featuring his skill as a martial artist, and he even wrote film scripts himself. Bruce came to create his own style of martial arts called Jeet Kune Do, which also embodied his thoughtful philosophies for life.

â??With innovative illustrations and extra facts at the back, this empowering series celebrates the important life stories of wonderful people of the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Picture Books, Childrens, Sports, Biography Memoir, Martial Arts

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 30, 2019

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

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say upfront that I am a huge Bruce Lee fan. Growing up in the early 70's a lot of AAPI boys who were bullied really looked up to him, and because my dad was not around I looked up to him even more. This is a great series that introduces small children to interesting and iconic individuals.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Quarto’s Little People, BIG DREAMS series for children, and the latest on martial artist-actor Bruce Lee is a great addition.

TROUBLED TEEN
Recounts his raising in Hong Kong, where his father was a film star, and how he was sent to the U.S. after getting into trouble as a teen.

THRILLING NICHE
Lee had difficulty getting roles as an Asian actor, so parlayed his martial arts skills into a thrilling niche. Includes fun illustrations, with a life timeline, super pics and detailed biographical profile. 5/5

Pub Date 30 Jul 2019.

Thanks to Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#BruceLee #NetGalley

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I didn't know about Bruce Lee: he was a childhood actor in China, he was a master at the cha-cha, and he studied philosophy. This is why I love this series. Even as an adult you can learn something.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for 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.
This one is all about Bruce Lee and how he became the king of kung fu movies. It was very nice to learn that he's also very skilled in other arts, as for example the cha-cha-cha dance. I mean who knew? Bruce Lee is truly the perfect example of how dedication and hard work always pay off in the end.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture-book biography of Bruce Lee is just okay. While it taught me a lot I didn't know before about the man, it also had a lot of repetition, and left out the aspect of his life that is almost universally known: his untimely death.

I've noticed this trend with other books in the series. Sometimes they're sanitized to the point that they don't even seem to represent the person in question.

Often, I glean more from the little timeline at the back of these books than from the text itself. In this case, however, a lot of the information in that timeline was just a repeat of what was in the book proper. And when I was done, I went looking for more information, unsatisfied with what I'd read.

The illustrations are cartoon-like and simple, but somewhat appealing. They're not the best I've seen in this series, but they're not the worst, either.

This is just a middle-of-the-road entry in this series for me. I just wish that the author would be courageous enough to include some of the less-positive aspects of these people's lives (including death, especially in cases like this one where it's such a well-known part of the story).

Thank you to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing a digital ARC.

[Karschtl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series of little biographies is intended for small children, but to be honest - I find the books quite interesting as well, and so I read some of them about people that are actually so famous that almost everyone knows their names but further than that know next to nothing about them.

In this one, for example, I learned that Bruce Lee was from a privileged background (and not from a poor slum as I somehow expected), he loved dancing and martial arts but had problems with basically every other subject in school. Ultimately he was sent to the US in order to get out of trouble at home, which was Hongkong.

Nicely done biography that focuses on the part of life of Bruce Lee that its readers are probably most interested in - his childhood, youth and way to fame.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another their great instalment of little people, these books are so inspirational for little and big people, great to read together and sometimes the big people learn too

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Francesca]

Felt like I learned a lot about Bruce Lee that I didn't know before. Nice to see him turn his life around, away from bad influences. Very talented, multi-faceted person to learn about.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is there not to like?

Recommended: yessir
For kiddos, any and all. Also interesting to learn more about Bruce Lee, even as an adult! Great series for a young classroom, or for introducing a child to reading as well as to ideas and pathways available to them in life.

Thoughts:
The illustrations are each a full two-page spread, with bright bold colors and simple design (perfect for children!). The details in each spread bring his story to life, like the photo of his parents on the wall of his acting trailer. Little things like that are how to add character depth in such a short format!

The story itself was engaging, because Bruce Lee is an incredibly person and fun to learn about! Even I had a few moments where I went "Whoa!!" and immediately turned to tell whomever was near me the cool fact I learned (Bruce Lee started off as a master cha-cha teacher?! WHILE HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL???). This has made me want to learn more about him, or go watch some of his movies! The resources and ideas at the end connect it all back to reality with the family photos and ideas for other reading.

Overall, what a great read and series! I'd love to have this whole set of Little People, Big Dreams in a classroom! I think I know what gifts I'll be getting for my nieces and nephews this year. :)

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for a free copy in exchange for 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 little one tells the story about Bruce Lee, the famous martial artist and Hollywood film star. Here we discover new things about this talentous artist, and that was really nice.

[Jo Cameron-Symes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for children as part of the 'little people big dreams,' range. It ended rather abruptly though, (just like Lee's life) and though the message was positive at the end, I think it skirted over his death when it could have been mentioned briefly without being upsetting for kids. Overall though, it's good to see a series such as this being produced to keep alive the memory of talented people such as Bruce Lee and to pass their inspirational achievements on to future generations.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually learned about Bruce Lee while reading this to the kiddos. Another forthcoming book in the Little People Big Dreams series, this one focuses on Bruce Lee. Did you know he taught Cha Cha, or that his father was a famous opera singer? These books highlight working hard and having dreams, they show what happens when you don’t quit. I love reading these to my kids and will continue to do so. I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

[Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this collection so much and again a great book about an important person for the martial art and also pop culture. I love the artwork as well! Good job!

[Dyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imut-imut gambarnya.

[Bashar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the book because he was a fighter

[🌶 peppersocks 🧦 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections and lessons learned:
“He knew that mistakes can be forgiven, if one has the courage to admit them”

I’m not sure why but I showed my children a YouTube video montage video of Lee classic film fights before buying this and they loved it. Some were surprisingly more violent and weapons based than I naively remembered, but I do stand by the old weary argument that it is also part art form, part catharsis, part understanding of a different way of dealing with aggression and quite inspiring. They’ve still not asked to be signed them up for any local associated skills classes, but my son has definitely been wearing more yellow…?

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have these books Little People, Big Dreams in a display at my library. I picked this book because my son-in-law loves Bruce Lee. So full of information and I did learn a few things about Bruce Lee. For example, a nurse gave him the name Bruce. I guess his native Hong Kong name was too much for her. *roll my eyes* I imagine all the books in this series will be the same - full of information and great illustrations.

[jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

So adorable. Lovely images and great little story

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Illustrator: Miguel Bustos
Age Recommendation: Early Primary
Topic/ Theme: Perseverance, Success, Biographic
Setting: America, Hong Kong
Series: Little People, Big Dreams

This gave me plenty of information I didn't know already, but Bruce Lee is not someone I knew a lot about. I wish there had been more context, even for kidlets about the importance of the nurse's actions. There was a nurse in the hospital when Bruce Lee who chose his English name "Bruce" his birth name is Lee Jun-Fan. English names aren't uncommon for the sake of saving butchered pronunciation of Asian (in this case Hong Kong) names. We won't go into the racism in play here, we'd all be here all day.

Sánchez Vegara deliberately stays with his professional life ignoring his personal life and tragic end, echoed of course by his oldest child Brandon (it is worth noting that his daughter Shannon is a very successful woman). I do like this choice. The story doesn't need his family introduced, some stories do some don't. The only time family is discussed is at the start, while talking about his parents. I appreciate the way Sánchez Vegara wides his skills together martial arts, acting and cha-cha, she shows how they made him famous more or less and how they kept on the straight and narrow after a rocky adolescence in San Fransisco. As much as possible the similarities between dance and martial arts. All require elegance, charisma and balance. Adults will see how intelligent this man was, creating his own material art and knowing how to combine his skills.

I'm not a fan of Bustos' illustration style. The colouring is too blocky for my taste, with huge amounts of red or blue on every page. It will be different shades but it's there. I'm not sure if there is a logic I can't see to choosing him for Bruce Lee. That said in some bizarre way the style works, showing his boldness as a man and his difference from others. I'd love to hear explanations from Sánchez Vegara or Rachel Williams as to why Miguel Bustos was chosen. The way, as in the scenes chosen, to illustrate the words is smart. It is just a great compliment to the wording when expectations are removed.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Bruce Lee 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 innovation icons while maintaining an age-appropriate level of detail.

Released 30th July 2019 from Quarto on their Frances Lincoln imprint, it's 32 pages and available in hardcover, and ebook formats.

Written by Isabel Sánchez Vegara it's well written in clear accessible language. There is so much information included in this little book about which I was completely unaware. Bruce Lee was a master of cha cha? He was a western boxing adept? The art by Miguel Bustos is appealing and colorful and supports the text very well. The illustrations are active and kinetic and suit the dynamic energy of the subject.

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. Bruce Lee died tragically young and I'm impressed by the way this series manages to provide age appropriate biography without either emphasizing or glossing over the racism, tragedy, and trouble the subjects lived through. This would make a great starting point for deeper research for young readers who are interested in Bruce Lee's life and legacy.

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

[Myndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review can be found on my blog: Mad Book Love

In this edition of Little People, Big Dreams, we meet the legendary Bruce Lee. While most adults likely know his name and associate him with martial arts movies, there is more to Bruce Lee than many probably realize. For instance, though his parents were from Hong Kong, he was actually born in an American hospital! In his youth, he got involved with some bad people, but he turned himself around, focusing on being a better person. And he shared what he learned with others. While Bruce Lee died unexpectedly at a young age, he helped open the door to Hollywood a smidge wider for other Asian Americans.

This book is a nice introduction to Bruce Lee’s life and contributions. As is always the case with this series, I learned new things. The illustrations were not my favorite but did not detract from my enjoyment of the book.

As ever, I recommend any book from this series.

Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.

[Lou (Lou and Life) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I saw this book on NetGalley, and I wished for it because Bruce Lee was one of the Asians I looked up too when I was a child, and I wanted to see how he was going to be depicted. I was really happy when I got accepted for the ARC because I knew that it would be a super quick read and I could see how Bruce Lee would be seen to children on this generation.

I think that it was a cute picture book. If I had a child, they would be Asian no matter what, and so I would use things like this picture book to show more people like them from a young age. I liked how this book sort of had a plot. It follows Bruce Lee from the beginning of his life to the height of his fame. Depending on the age of the child, I could imagine them then becoming interested in the movies that Bruce Lee is in.

I really enjoyed this book, and the artwork. It was so cute. It's definitely a book I'll buy when friends/family have children and show them the legend that is Bruce Lee.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading books in this series. This one is about Bruce Lee. I had known that he was a kung fu hero and that was it. I learned much more about him after reading this title. Young readers will learn that Bruce was not perfect but he found his way. He lived in both Hong Kong and the U.S. He had talents, including being a child actor, a great dancer and a master of the martial arts but...he was also involved in a gang. Sent back to the U.S. by his parents, Bruce went to school and college and began teaching his style of martial arts. He went on to become famous for his movie, Enter the Dragon. The book concludes:

And by having faith in himself and never giving up, little Bruce became a hero for everyone, and the person he always dreamed he would be.

What a perfect message that is.

Of note are the illustrations in this book. They have a cartoon like quality and fit the text perfectly.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto for this book in exchange for an honest revi

[Anca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I am a fan of the Little People, Big Dreams series, this particular book did not appeal to me. I was very much looking forward to reading it, as my husband is a martial arts fan and wanted him to read it to our son. But I cannot find it inspirational enough.
On the plus side, I think it's important for children to see that one has to have a broader scope of knowledge and skills, in order to succeed. And that you have to persevere, to find your way. This is a good lesson on resilience.
On the minus side, I dislike the use of the "lazy student" label. I find labeling as such a bad habit in the adult's speech, and I certainly do not enjoy seeing it used in a children's book.
Thank you to Net Galley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing me with an e-book copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Bruce Lee' by Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara with art by Kim Hyeon Ju is a picture book in the Little People, Big Dreams series.

Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco, but grew up in Hong Kong. He was a kind of lazy student, but picked up skills along the way, like acting and dancing the cha-cha. He brought those skills back to the States and started a karate school. After the tv series he was in got cancelled, he went on to make iconic movies.

At the end of the book is a timeline of Bruce Lee's all too brief life. The story is a good one about finding your way in the world. I love the bright large pictures. This continues to be a really fun series.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group-Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the male cohort of this series on the increase we turn to… someone who crossed borders as a cha cha dancer. Yes, even with simple short books for the very young like this us adults can learn things. It's a very blunt telling – it ends almost as abruptly as his own life did – but we get the gist of why Bruce Lee was a pioneer worthy of respect, making his own dojo out of nothing and applying the skills he only partly learnt as a street ruffian to a truly balletic cinema career. He only saw his 32nd birthday, but Bruce Lee is still exceedingly well-known and much-loved, so his place in this cycle of biographies is certainly valid. You seldom get the full picture from books as brief as these, but this is a very reasonable primer.

[J. d'Merricksson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sanchez Vegara's Bruce Lee explores the life of one of cinema's greatest martial arts actors. Though born in America, Lee was brought up in Hong Kong, where he was a child actor. Some unwise choice led to his father sending him back to the US. Despite many difficulties, Lee went in to found and teach martial arts in the US, and to star in many blockbuster martial arts flicks like Enter the Dragon. At the end is a section with more detailed information on Lee's life. Inspirational and educational both, this entire series is great, and full of delightful art to engage younger audiences!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always find these little books fun to read and share with my nephew. So when Bruce Lee by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara came available to read I had to request it. Sadly I found this book Dull! The colours were not Bright and the same colours were used throughout. The pictures/illustrations did not grip me like the rest of these books in this series.
My nephew who I share these books with didn't show much interest and he Loves a bit of Bruce lee on the Television.

I usually love these inspirational book in the Little People, Big Dreams series,

Big Thank you to the author's, Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley for the review copy.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to be added to Amazon UK and US on 6th August 2019 - publication day!

This series is always a joy to read and I always keep an eye out for new books being released, they are lovely little introductions to well known people for little children and as a mum I love reading them to my daughter.

This one is about Bruce Lee and how he became the king of kung fu movies and a world wide celebrity. I loved being able to find out more about his background, I had no idea that he was a cha-cha-cha dance teacher and I didn't know he was so prolific as a childhood actor either - even as an adult I love this series and get to learn!

I loved the images and this is another 5 star hit for me!

[Tina Izguerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vegara's depiction of Bruce Lee's life is fantastic. I was happy to see his story added to the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. The story is both thrilling and educational; it will surely captivate my daughter's attention. The illustrations are great as well. I was happy to see that the book focused on his minor missteps and how he turned himself around; it is an excellent lesson for children to learn.