An inspiring and well-done biography in this fun series. The illustrations were cute and the story was well written.

I learnt some details about Biles that I didn’t know before that made me appreciate her journey a lot more. If you’ve read other books in this series, you’ll notice that this one is somewhat more sad in tone, because it’s true to Biles’s life and her struggle and doesn’t soften the narrative (much) for its young audience. She’s a star in spite of her circumstances; that’s both realistic and encouraging.

Many thanks to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and to NetGalley for early access.

Wow, what a fantastic book written about a fantastic individual. I loved that the book addressed the courage it took for the U.S. Gymnastics Team to speak up about the abuse they were experiencing within the organization, and it even stated that that accomplishment was even bigger than all the medals. I learned a lot of new information about Biles. I would love to share this with the children in my life.

This is an inspiring book and my daughters enjoyed reading this. In their words, "we learnt that we can become whatever we want to be".

I love a good picture book biography. This is the perfect way to give students the information they need without bombarding them with too much information. The illustrations are excellent yet simple.

I am excited to add this title to my library!

Thank you to Net Galley and Quarto Publishing Group- Francis Lincoln Children's Books for the eARC!

What a delightful little book about Simone Biles! This charming children's book captures the incredible journey of one of the most inspiring athletes of our time in a way that is both engaging and educational for young readers.

This book does a great topic of covering the life of Simone Biles. It presents what could be heavy information for a young audience in a very clear and concise way without becoming too heavy. A great book for a young gymnast or for someone looking for a fantastic role model.

Another fine offering in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series..... it gives some simple insight into S. Biles' life......I'm not sure how the little ones will understand some of the aspects in Biles' life that are mentioned.... but Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara sure does a good job with these books!
I received an e-ARC from the publisher Quarto Publishing Group-Frances Lincoln Children's Books, via NetGalley, giving me an opportunity to read it & offer my own honest review.

I love Simone Biles, but never really knew her story, so this was an amazing way to learn.
Art was unique, not really my style tho

I can't get enough of this series. Simone Biles, one of America's sweethearts, is more than worthy of her own title in this series and I'm glad she's getting it! We need more representation on our book shelves. I'm glad they did not steer away from the less savory parts of her life, and embraced speaking up for yourself and taking space for your mental health. Beautifully done!

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!

“Simone Biles” is an excellent biography of the greatest gymnast of all time. Written simply so children can easily understand, it reviews the big moments of Simone’s life. It spends a lot of time on when she was a child so others can quickly identify with her, and possibly get into gymnastics themselves!

As an adult, seeing how she handled a mental health crisis with the world watching was a highlight of the book, as it introduces a very complex idea to children appropriately.

The illustrations are well done and aids in understanding Simone’s life.

Great addition to a home or classroom library, especially for a little gymnast or athlete!

Little People Big Dreams is my favorite book seires for kids! Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara really does it everytime!!!

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 which 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.

As an adult, I really enjoy reading these mini biographies. As a teacher, I look forward to sharing them with my students. They might be small but are jam packed with information that is both fun and informative. Add in the great illustrations and these are a keeper. I confess to not knowing much about Simone Biles but after reading this, I feel like a know her a little bit. A great addition to any classroom library.

This is a great age appropriate introduction for children to Simone Biles. I appreciated that the book highlighted the importance of mental health and how Simone is a strong advocate for herself and others. I would definitely purchase this for my nephews!

Gymnastics fans will love to share this mini Simone biography with their friends and young family members. This children’s book includes a subtle nod to understanding right vs wrong and being brave in standing up for your own mental health. There were moments that were maybe a little odd for a children’s book, like the specific inclusion of the Yurchenko double pike vault, but overall a good book for young kids!

What a perfect way to help elevate Simone’s story! Many great lessons can be taken away from this for our children. This will make a fantastic gift for my nieces and nephews!

Another amazing addition to a beloved series!

I’ve grown up knowing and following alongside Simone’s gymnastic achievements, but my two rather rambunctious daughters have not, so this was an incredible introduction into the GOAT of gymnastics! As we prepare for the summer Olympics, it was fun to read this story of achievement both on and off the mat!

Another great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series! I love how respectfully this touched on important hard events Simone went through. I appreciate that they were kept in, but put in ways children would understand.