I was recently introduced to the Little People, Big Dreams series and I’m hooked! They make for such entertaining reads and Rafa’s story was another great entry. This book will inspire many young athletes and the lesson of dedication and perseverance is an important one. As with the other books in this series, the illustrations are charming as ever.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Received for review: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Why did I decide to turn the pages? I love this series. Most of the books are very informative, and I love the diverse representation in the series. So when I was given the chance to review it, I took it.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I always enjoy this series, and this one was no exception. It can be difficult to distill a person's life down into a children's book with so little text and so few pages, but Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara does a great job. I have liked almost every book in this series. This one has a great message of working hard to acheive your dream and great illustrations.

Pages: 32

Reading age: 4-7 years of age.

Love,

Danica Page

I did not know the story of Rafa Nadel, but Little People, Big Dreams does an amazing job of giving you the highlights of his life. Rafa is a world-renowned tennis player. As a child, he enjoyed both soccer and tennis but ultimately pursued tennis. He suffered many setbacks with injuries along the way but made a name for himself in the world of tennis. This book is great for all ages, but especially young kids looking to enter and play tennis.

Another addition to the great series for kids. I didn't know much about Rafa Nadal so the background of how he came into sport, and tennis was interesting.
This really is a lovely series for children.

Rafa Nadal shows kids how hard work and persistence can help them achieve their dreams. He never forgot where he came from and gave back to his community. Another great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams collection.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this Arc.
I absolutely love this series! It's such a wonderful children's book, perfect for learning about amazing people from around the world and the impact they've made. It's simple yet beautiful, and would make a fantastic gift for kids too!

A cute biography of one of tennis's greatest living players. I liked that it made him human - the fact that he's afraid of the dark will appeal to lots of kids who feel the same!

This is super cute and I chose it out of curiosity because my mother is a HUGE Nadal fan! The book pairs the athlete's life story with bright artwork, creating a fun read for little tennis fans! I'm also glad a few real photos were included at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

"...Rafa remains what he's always been: a humble champion and an exceptional human being."

Yet another wonderful addition to the Little People, BIG DREAMS family. Rafa Nadal has had an incredible career and still continues to prove his worth. Anyone who picks up this book will not be disappointed.

This is such a good read for elementary level kids. My kindergartner was able to recognize some words and it was nice to co-read. The book is vibrant in colors and love the story line, he is brave and willing to compete with older athletes but also shows weakness and kids can relate when he shares some of his fears.

I love that it shares at the end how he was willing to help his community and although he’s “made it” he gives back.

As a professional educatory of young children I absolutely love the Little People, Big Dreams series. The Rafa Nadal book didn't disappoint just like none of the others have in my opinion. The book is very colorful and the illustrations are perfect. The book gave details into Nadal's life and allow you as the reader to answer many questions you may have had about him. Thanks NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for this ARC.

Another gorgeous book in the series.

Beautiful bright colourful illustrations accompany just the right amount of text information.

Despite being in my 40's I learnt some stuff about the amazing Rafa Nadal

Here is another entry in the delightful biography series for children. It is sure to be enjoyed by young tennis fans (and their adults).

Rafa Nadal is one of the best known and most successful tennis players ever but how did he get there? Well, for one thing, he was a hard worker. Find out more about Nadal in this engagingly illustrated story that has additional resources at the end of the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

This is a fun children's book discussing the story of the tennis player, Rafa Nadal. The illustrations are very cute and eye-catching. I think children will absolutely enjoy this book and learn something about this athlete. This is part of a series of biographies written by this author that are well researched and engaging.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a story about a young boy who loves football and tennis. His uncle was his tennis coach. He worked hard until made it to the championships. This book proved that with determination, you can reach your goals. The illustration helped visualize the struggles he experienced along the way. Highly recommended to be read to toddlers and inspire them to take up the sport of tennis. Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group-Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for sending this book for recommendation. All opinions are my own.

I love the 'Little People, Big Dreams' series. I have read 'Steve Irwin' before (that I also got on NetGalley. I love the illustartions - they are absolutly adorable. Each book is written so well, insipartional, quick and easy to read - it's perfect for kids to learn about famous and important people and to get inspired themselves. I will absolutley be reading more from Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and this series.

This is another lovely Little People, Big Dreams story with beautiful illustrations. This is a particularly inspirational story and includes many facts about Rafa Nadal that people may not be aware of. I love how it illustrates that hard work pays off, and it demonstrates the integrity Rafa has shown throughout his career.
My little girl's main takeaway was if you suffer an injury, you should pick yourself up and keep going.
This is another story I would include on the library shelves.

Another great installation of the Little People, Big Dreams series. I did not know much about Rafa Nadal aside from just recognizing his name as a famous tennis player. I really appreciated the story of his life in a digestible manner for young kids. The focus on not just his talent in tennis, but also his work ethic and the charity work that he does helps to portray a well rounded person making an impact on and off the tennis court.

The illustrations are great in this story - really well executed and they help support the story that's being told in the text. The timeline at the end of the book focuses on key highlights of Rafa's life and give additional detail to support the story that's told earlier in the book. I think this is a great addition to the series and also will be very attractive to kids who are interested in sports and/or who enjoy reading about talented individuals who are making a broader impact in their community.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book to read and review!

I truly enjoyed this ARC because Rafael Nadal is my favorite tennis player. I enjoyed the art and the information provided at the end of the book. The book itself was adorable and well written for kids to understand and I cannot wait to buy a copy for my friends with kids because they should know about one of the tennis greats early so they can be inspired to work hard at their goals like Rafa.

Our library (and classroom teachers) really loves non-fiction picture books! This book tells the story beautifully and also has good real photos and information in the back. We tell our students that all (hopefully) good non-fiction books have their sources and additional information found in the back of the book. This book checked that box for sure! Also, we have a good population of students that play tennis, so I believe this book will be a hit. Can’t wait to see it in person on our shelves!