Member Reviews

This is a great book. The illustrations are brilliant. Perfect little books for children to learn about people

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Vegara's Florence Nightingale explores the life of the founder of modern nursing. Shunning the life of luxury she was born into, Florence wanted to be someone who cared for others. She studied nursing, and when war broke out Florence went to the front to be a battlefield nurse. Realising the conditions of field hospitals (and hospitals in general) could be improved, she was instrumental in creating healthcare practises still used today.

The entire Little People, Big Dreams series is an awesome introduction to biographical reading for young audiences. Not only that, but they focus on the most inspirational of people from science, entertainment, sports, politics and more. It's also a very diverse series.

The end of the book contains a more detailed look at life, using language suited for much older readers. Inspirational and educational both, this entire series is great! I read this with my cubs. We love this series! Highly recommended!

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A superb book about an absolutely fascinating woman!

As an adult I really enjoyed the book and my 5 year old daughter loved it and we timed the reading of the book with a visit to London where we saw her statue and St Thomas' Hospital. She is now learning about the Victorian era in school too and was asked to pick a famous lady or man from that era and she chose to do her project on Florence.

The images are wonderful and we loved learning about her life and the impact that she had on the world and the nursing profession

It is 5 stars for this one, very highly recommended!

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It is about time that the Lady of the Lamp took her place in the Little People, Big Dreams series; it is an absolute joy and honour to read her story.

Born into a wealthy family and the recipient of a fine education, it was expected that Florence Nightingale would marry a decent husband and live a comfortable life. But the clever and kind-hearted lady had her own plans. Her purpose in life was to care for the sick and the poor so she followed her passion and learnt all about nursing. When the Crimean war broke out, Florence travelled overseas to help the wounded soldiers and in doing so she would revolutionise medical practices that would help save countless lives…

This is not a rags-to-riches story, more a riches-to-calling story. It would have been easy for Florence to have lived a life of privilege but she didn’t aspire to the life that her family had and instead forged her own path. A path that would see her study in secret, move to Germany and sail to Constantinople to offer her services in the midst of war in the most terrible conditions.

The strong female, with dreams far beyond her comfortable surroundings, would not let family opinions and the expectations of society define her path in life and the world has much to be thankful for. Despite not being encouraged to be one, Florence was a brilliant and pioneering nurse and her story exemplifies that we don’t have to do what others expect of us. If we believe in something else and chase it with all our heart then anything is possible.

The mother of modern nursing revolutionised the medical world with her care and practices and we owe so much to her efforts within the nursing field. She ensured that things that seem simple today - such as good hygiene, sanitisation and cleanliness - were at the forefront of nursing practices. And she understood better than anyone that for patients to get better they needed fresh air, clean linen, food and sunlight - a recipe for good health that lives on long after her death.

In a life full of selfless good deeds, she not only cared for others and nursed them back to health but used a monetary prize from Queen Victoria to fund a hospital and training school. She even wrote a book so that others could follow in her footsteps. Her lasting legacy was to turn nursing into a profession that would be respected.

In light of the pandemic, Florence’s story is all the more poignant and important. It provides the perfect platform for discussing the essential healthcare workers who selflessly act to save the lives of others and who shine a light for us all in dark times. The world needs more ‘Florences’ and her wonderful life story will hopefully inspire future generations of kind-hearted nurses.

Delightfully illustrated with bright and bold artwork and with a story told in short and simple sentences, this is an inspiring read about a lady who was inquisitive and intelligent but above all kind and caring and whose desire to follow her dreams would allow many others to live longer lives. At the back of the book there is a short overview of her life which includes key facts and dates and a historical timeline featuring photographs

With thanks to Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy that was received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for 5+.

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This is one of my favourite series of non-fiction for children. With titles that cover figures from all walks of life, there is something for every topic that might be covered in schools. This one is no exception and would be a great introduction to Florence Nightingale for young readers.

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Another wonderful inspirational tale for children of all ages. Beautiful illustrations accompany storytelling which is age appropriate while staying true to the story. Perfect gift for any little people in your life.

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I really enjoy The Little People, Big Dreams series. They are so accessible for even quite young children but I also love that there is a timeline spread at the back of each book with more information about the particular person who is in focus.

The life of Florence Nightingale is one I remember learning about a school. It struck me back then what a remarkable woman she must have been. At the age of 9 or 10 I didn't think much of it when the teacher explained that she had travelled to Germany on her own to learn about nursing. Reading it now it makes me consider what a daunting and brave journey that must have been for a women back then and how long it must have taken her to get there. The books shows an admirable quality of determination when you have a calling for something.

The images are lovely and really help to bring the words to life and deepen the understanding for a young reader. I really hope to see a Mary Seacole edition written by Maria - it would be good to be able to compare and contrast the lives of the two women who had very similar, selfless goals.

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This is a lovely 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 Florence Nightingale, and it explains, in easy to read words, how Florence grew up, and what inspired her to become a nurse. It also explains how she assisted people during a war, and how she saved many lives. I found this all very interesting, and I enjoyed looking at the images in the book, which showed what life looked like in the past.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This is the biography of Florence Nightingale, the mother of modern healthcare. I was surprised to learn that she had been born into a very wealthy family and shunned marriage and motherhood to help the sick and injured.

These biographies are age appropriate; inspiring and interesting, but not overwhelming. They have bright, beautiful illustrations, striking covers, and look great on a shelf together. I love the diversity of the people featured in this series. Artists, athletes, authors, activists, actors, explorers, entertainers, musicians and scientists.

Thank you NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Fascinating and I can never fault these books or the author…. At this point I’m not sure who enjoys the books more- me or my daughter.
I love though that someone so iconic and a name that is so familiar has been given her story I was proud to share the history with my daughter and learn along the way

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Such a great book to read with my 4 year old on International Women's Day and whilst she has chicken pox! Informative with beautiful illustrations, a great addition to the series.

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Just like the other books in this series I've read. This is short and informative. Well illustrated and perfect for young readers.

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As with all the books in the series the illustrations are beautiful, I love them! I have purchased many of the books in the series for myself, and as gifts for both children and adults I was really looking forward to the Florence Nightingale book coming out as I am former nurse. I knew most of the information included in the book but the drawings brought that information alive. I think also given the times we have been living in, covid, it is important that people know that Florence and her work was the foundation for the health care we greatly receive today. She was before her time and this book celebrates her one at for all ages. I think this book would be a lovely gift to say thank you to any nurses or encourage children into the profession it really captures the difference nurses makes every day in such a beautiful simple way. I read this to my 8 year old niece who is budding Doctor in the making after reading how a simple nurse changed the face of medicine and saved so many lives then and continues to do so she is rethinking her plans…future RN in the making. I believe the way the books tell these amazing peoples stories helps the little people and big people who read them dream big always
Five Stars all round
Thanks to Net Gallery for this book in exchange for a honest review this was my first and it was great book to start my reviewing with

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A lovely way for younger readers to get a taste of a historical figure, with wonderful colourful illustrations. There is further information at the end of the book for the grown ups or older readers.

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This series is always such a treat to read. In this instalment featuring Florence Nightingale, readers get to read about her most admirable accomplishment. More advanced reader would be delighted to do extra research and find out that Florence Nightingale is also a famed statistician. My seven year old loves the illustration and was impressed at how Florence Nightingale helped during the war. Immediately after reading this, he wanted to read more about other outstanding people from this series.

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A great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series of books. Everyone knows of Florence Nightingale and this book tells her wonderful, inspiring story.
Fantastic illustrations bring Florence’s story to life.

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I love this series, and so does my seven year old daughter. In particular I really enjoy the illustrations which keep it a children's book without feeling like they're being taught historical facts. Florence Nightingale is a great addition to this series and I think a great job has been done in putting her actions into historical context.

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A great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series of books. Everyone knows of Florence Nightingale and this book tells her wonderful, inspiring story.
Fantastic illustrations bring Florence’s story to life.
A definite recommendation for younger readers.

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Another excellent addition to Quarto Books Little People Big Dreams series. Florence Nightingale is a pivotal part of our British Women's History and I am so happy to be able to read this story to my child! Another seamless tale of a key figures life - as always the illustrations are beautiful.
Another hardback that will grace our shelves and I can't wait for it.

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I just Love this little books by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, must be one of the best little books to purchase for children, these are the 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.

So, this latest book is about Florence Nightingale is one of the latest of her books and this is so beautifully illustrated from start to end. Growing up in an upper-class family, it was expected that Florence would find a husband and live a life of luxury—but that kind of life wasn’t for her. Her calling was caring for the sick and the poor, so she followed her passion with her whole heart and trained to be a nurse. When war broke out, Florence traveled to nurse wounded soldiers but found that the hospitals were so dirty that they were making people ill! This experience inspired her to lead a healthcare revolution, and she became the mother of modern nursing, introducing care practices still followed today. This inspiring 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 social reformer’s life.

This is one book, you should definitely buy for your little readers so they can learn about Florence Nightingale.
What a wonderful lady what was and never to forget her.

I am so glad these books are being published and I highly recommend all of these books

Many thanks to Quarto’s Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest reviewRuth Bader Ginsburg by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

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