Another singer that I grew up listening to, once her music crossed over into the English speaking world. As always with this series, the colourful illustrations are a joy - and I loved learning some new things about Shakira - I didn’t know about her foundation for orphans.

I LOVE that Shakira is getting her own book in this series. I think the people that are chosen to get books are always so interesting and I get to learn so much about them that I didn't know. It's a great way to introduce kids to important people and their lives while they are young.

Shakira is such an amazing singer! I grew up with her songs and I'm glad to see this is how children of the future generations are going to learn about her! I love this series and hope children can discove many wonderful people via these books.

Shakira by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is a picture book biography. It focus on Shakira's life growing up. It shows how Shakira never gives up and spreads this story to it's young readers. The author shows how Shakira is a proud Latino. A longer biography is included at the end of the text.

Absolutely beautiful book. I will definitely buy a hardcopy for my girls collection of these books. Would recommend.

I love this series and I love Shakira!

I am very pleased the author decided to do one about her!

It is very interesting and her life goes beyond just music!

Thank you so much!!

Shakira was from Colombia, but her father was Lebanese so she had Arabic heritage as well as Latino. From the age of 4 she was performing. She loved to belly dance as well as write poetry that she set to music. Her parents put her in modelling, singing lessons as well as dance to help her become an all round performer. Once she made it big in Spanish speaking countries, she traveled the world and began writing songs in English as well. She is a well rounded performer who does it all, including writing her own songs. She enjoys mixing Rock-n-Roll, Middle Eastern, and Latin Influences which include belly dancing, playing the harmonica and singing in Spanish. When she was young her parents wanted to make sure she was also a good human being and took her to see orphans who didn't have a lot, including education. As she became famous, Shakira began a charity to support poor children in her own country and other Latin American Countries. As with other books in this series, there is a timeline with actual photographs in the back for more details and a list of books for further research. I enjoyed learning a bit more about Shakira and seeing how this little girl dreamt big and became a star. Laura Diez illustrated this one and although I enjoy the quirky illustrations, Shakira really didn't look much like the one that I have seen perform. Otherwise, the images were cute and gave the book the funky feel I am used to.

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 Shakira, who is a singer, musician and dancer born in Columbia. We are shown her life from when she was a child until she is an adult. She released her first music album when she was just 13 years old and eventually went on to become famous. She also created a foundation which brings education and inspiration to children all over the Americas.

I found this all very interesting, and I enjoyed looking at the beautiful images in the book, as well as the informative text sections and photos at the end of the book.

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

“Shakira“ by Maria, Isabel, Sanchez Vergara with her by Leah Laura Diaz is a non-fiction biography for young readers about the famous singer.

Little Shakira loved to perform. At 14 she recorded her first album in Latin America, and even though it wasn’t a success, she carried on. With her worldwide fame, she started a foundation to help children in her native country of Colombia and other countries.

This series never fails to impress me with the subjects they choose. Shakira’s story is inspiring, and the art is great.

I loved learning a little bit more about this talented star. I just can't get over her hip movements. Her rhythm is so contagious.

Shakira was of course a name I was familiar with, but I knew next to nothing about her life and career so found this to be an enlightening read despite its young target audience! I always like when this series tackles more current people, and this one didn't disappoint! I like how it showed Shakira's early life as well as her career, and did it all in a way which didn't seem rushed despite the books short length. I really enjoyed this new addition to the series and would full recommend giving it a try!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced ebook copy of this title!

Shakira's childhood dreams and path to pursuing those dreams is depicted adorably in this book! What an interesting life she had growing up! I was surprised to learn that she obtained a record deal and recorded her first album when she was just 13 years old, and that this album contains songs she had written since the age of 8. I also loved seeing her humanitarian efforts in this book. Shakira is obviously naturally very gifted and kind.

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

We love Shakira but there was still so much to learn about where she came from. These books are terrific for little ones. And as always the illustrations are wonderful.

Shakira by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara (4⭐️)

‘Shakira’ is a children’s nonfiction illustrated book following Shakira from birth to present times, illustrating her childhood and her achievements.

A great introduction to Shakira, her music career, childhood, and humanitarian work. I love this book series and will be reading as many of the books in it as I can. I learnt a lot of new things about Shakira that I didn’t know before. I like that the author has the more simplified info text with the illustrations and then a couple pages of more detailed paragraphs and a life timeline.

Representation - Columbian; Latinx

TWs/CWs - Death; Death of a Loved One; Motorcycle Accident

Shakira from the age of 4 was a Sensation! She was from Colombia, but her father was Lebanese and her mother Colombian. She loves to perform and the influence of her parents and her community really make her unique. As a child she sings, dances, writes her own songs, and plays musical instruments. She enjoys mixing Rock-n-Roll, Middle Eastern, and Latin Influences which include belly dancing, playing the harmonica and she sings in Spanish.

I didn’t know much about Shakira before reading this book. I really was impressed by her. At just 14, her first album is released and includes the song she wrote at 8 years old, Tus Gafas Oscuras which means Your Dark Sunglasses in English. This is because her brother died in an accident and after her father wears dark sunglasses to hide his grief. I found this so compelling, I looked the lyrics up and read the English translation. This is profoundly moving and incredible a child wrote it.

Shakira has perseverance. She keeps working at her music and her third album, Pies Descalzo sells millions of copies. She decides she wants to sing all over the world. She moves to the US and starts writing lyrics in English. She is enormously successful. I can see why she is known as The Queen of Latin Music.

Shakira decides she wants to give back by helping children from struggling communities by helping reduce poverty and building schools. She wants each child to be educated and have a chance to achieve their dreams, too! She has started a foundation and is really dedicated to it.

This is such a great message for children to hear. Shakira also knows that life is not always easy and it is important to work on making your dreams come true. She is from South America and was making music at a time when having success as a Latina Woman was not usually done. Yet, she made it anyway. This is an especially important message for young Hispanic Dreamers as it is an opportunity to believe in yourself. I love this Series: Little People, Big Dreams as it offers great stories about all different types of people. Children need to know that their aspirations can really happen and reading about role models is a wonderful way to do this.

The one thing that bothered me was I didn’t find the illustrations as exciting as usual. They add so much to the book and especially this one about Shakira who is full of life and passion.

Thank you NetGalley, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, and Frances Lincoln Books for a chance to read this book. I am always happy to leave a review.

I have added this book to my TrueStory Bookshop and recommend it in three categories:
Picture-Book Biographies ~ Women’s History
Picture-Book Biographies ~ Musicians & Singers
Picture-Book Biographies ~ Hispanic Heritage

https://bookshop.org/shop/KarlinGray

With thanks to the author, publishers Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This is another fantastic instalment in the Little People Big Dreams series, which is a firm favourite of mine at this stage.

The story’s message is once again a positive one for young readers , with Shakira overcoming early failures in her musical career to eventually make it bag as a world-renowned artist. She also used that fame to provide education and the chance of a brighter future to young Hispanic all over the Americas.

The mini-biography of Shakira (complete with a timeline) at the end of the book is a great resource for young readers to cement the facts learned in the book, and offers advice on how to learn more about Shakira.

Top marks as always, and I look forward to reading more of the series.

A beautiful book about Shakira's life and musical and philanthropic contributions. Her life is presented simply with lovely illustrations. It really brought the story to life. A wonderful addition to this series!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

I love these books. Shakira is a great role model for young girls, I learned some things about shakira that I never knew.

I recently had a chance to review Shakira the newest Little People, Big Dreams book it’s a series I will continue to recommend, I don’t have kids but love to give them as gifts!

Loved this one! Especially having grown up listening to Shakira. This was a great way to learn about the Queen of Latin music and the amazing things she did for children in Colombia.

Thank you to @netgalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.