Simone de Beauvoir

This book tells the story of Simone de Beauvoir and how she came to be the mother of feminism. In particular, I like the message that her parents sent her and her sister to school so the didn’t have to depend on a husband. It’s cute, sweet, easy to read, and obviously a great book for girls and boys alike!

The illustrations are beautiful! One of the pages shows the famous picture of Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Ernesto "Che" Guevara. I’m not a fan of Guevara, but this might be a good opportunity to explain to my daughter that he was not a good man.

In short, this is another book that I MUST buy from the “little people, big dreams” series.

I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

This illustrated exploration of an important thinker belongs on a number of bookshelves. It’s the kind of text I would use as both a teacher and an avid reader.

The images are attractive and work uniquely, and there is still much to learn from this world-shaking figure.

Simone Lucie Ernestine Marie Bertrand de Beauvoir was a French author and philosopher, and very close companion of Jean-Paul Sartre. She lived through most of the twentieth century, and left a strong legacy of feminism. She wrote novels, biographies and an autobiography, and she made a lasting impression on literature.

Illustrated simply but colorfully by Roussey, this book tells a concise and easy-to-read story of her impressive life from her well-to-do origins, through her family's loss of fortune, to a decent education, to a life spent as a single woman, giving birth to literature instead of children, by her own choice. She pretty much became a feminist before there were women recognized as such (back then they were called trouble-makers!), and a philosopher long before earning any academic credentials. It just goes to show that girl-power isn't a modern invention!

She lived a long and productive life and while I would not agree with the assertion that she "was the first person to write about women making their own choices" (has the author not heard of female authors such as Emmeline Pankhurst, Mary Wollstonecraft and even earlier, women such as Japanese poet Izumi Shikibu?!), she definitely made substantive contributions to what was known back then as emancipation.

I think books like this - part of a series of strong females of history - are highly important for young children - male and female - to read, and this is one more in a series I have been happy to support (with one exception!). I commend this one as a worthy read.

Quite possibly my favourite of the series. Not only is this perfect for the little ones in my life and their budding feminist perspectives, it’s going to be a recommended read for my a-level students who are currently studying gender and Christianity.

Another fantastic book in this series with an incredibly powerful message that has been put simply for children to understand. Lovely illustrations too

Have I mentioned how much I love this series of board books for little ones. The pictures are delightful, and the the very simple text is easy to read, and is a good introduction to kids about famous women.

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-02-at-5.14.57-PM.png" alt="Simone De Boulivard" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4583" />

And, although I knew about Simone’s love affair with John Paul Satre, I did not know that the reason her father encouraged her to be educated was because he could not afford a dowery for her, and figured she would have to support herself in the world.

And as always, there is a little timeline in the back of the book with a little more information.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

I love this! It’s a good time to be raising two daughters because there are so many great books about amazing women that have been aimed at a young age group. I think the book nicely simplified the details of Simone’s life, so that it’s relatable for kids while still being interesting for adults. The girls liked the pictures.

The cultural capital my girls grow up with in regards to women will be so much greater than my generation had access to.

What a great series!

This series is always a joy to read, it’s a really nice introduction to well known women for little children. Of course the plot is always a little bit fast but that’s to be expected and it’s totally understandable.
I know who Simon de Beauvoir is because I've had the chance to read some parts of her famous work "The second sex" and I can say that it was so lovely to read what a feminist Simone de Beauvoir was even as a child. It's really good to know that people like her existed and that they shaped a whole generation and also the ones to come.

This wasn't my favorite book in the series, but I did still enjoy it. The author did a good job of sending a message about gender at the end, but I did feel that Simone's story was told in a slightly choppy manner that made it feel incomplete

The latest in the children’s series featuring introductions to famous women, this entry teaches about a lady whose name is more familiar than her accomplishments.
There’s an interesting dichotomy to her father, wherein he’s very progressive in wanting his daughter to have an education and get a job, but apparently it was all because he was lazy.
“Mind-mate” as well as soulmate. Nice. She didn’t marry that more-famous philosopher, which must have been shocking at the time but is a perfect example of her philosophy.
For those who have read the previous books in this series, it’s easy to notice this is done in a different art style. Everyone’s always smiling, except when her book comes out.
I guess as an introduction it’s okay, and it certainly peaks interest in learning more. “Mother of Feminism” is a nice touch. But I felt there could have been a little more here.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

Simone de Beauvoir is a new young reader book in the series Little People, Big Dreams. Written by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara and illustrated by Christine Roussey, it was released 2nd Oct, 2018 by Quarto publishing Frances Lincoln imprint. Aimed at younger readers, it's 32 pages, perfect for a storytime or classroom circle read. It's available in ebook and hardcover formats.

This series is really amazing for its accessibility and charm. These are profoundly important people who have lived through and experienced deeply difficult lives while affecting billions of people past and present. How do you take hugely important peoples' biographies and condense them down into a digestible and appealing format for very young children (and their caregivers)? I wouldn't have the first glimmer of a clue where to even start. The author of the books starts at the subjects' childhoods and moves on to their later lives and experiences.

This particular book and the artist's finesse with settings and postures/expressions is pure charm. Her drawings of Sartre were instantly recognizable and adorable (I giggled out loud) but still managed to convey respect for the subject. Major kudos.

I really love all of these books I've read and reviewed and recommend this one unreservedly. In addition to the biography, there is a short additional bibliography/suggested reading list included at the end of the book.

Lovely book! Five stars

This is an interesting and fun way to learn about the life and times of an extraordinary woman. I hope to see the stories of more such woman brought to life in this format.

I really liked this book and how it shines a spotlight on yet another important, though slightly controversial, figure like Simone de Beauvoir.
It can't have been easy to bring her life's story down to a level that is appropriate and understandable for little children. I think the author did a great job at a challenging task, though I would have liked there to have been a bit more focus on her feminism and a better explanation of why her books and point of view were so groundbreaking and thought-provoking for society at that time.

The drawings are adorable and exude a whimsy and innocence that is very appealing to children and adults alike. I love that the illustrations seem somewhat unfinished at times, like a typical (though talented) child's drawing, with parts of the figures and background seemingly colored in with bright crayons and other parts just decorated with simple lines in a thin black marker.

I love the Little People, Big Dreams series! It's inspired and necessary, even in this day and age.

I love this story of a little girl with a big mind. Even though she knew that she didn't need a man, she found one who "...was not just her soul mate, he was her mind mate, too!"
Yeah, my heart is melting. They didn't marry but had their own love story.

What a powerful story of a young girl who grew into a thoughtful woman.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This charmingly illustrated entry in a wonderful series tells the story of Simone de Beauvoir, an early and great feminist thinker. As always in the books by Vegara, a young girl's story is simply and appealingly told.

Simone began life in a wealthy Parisian family whose fortunes changed. As a result, Simone would not have sufficient money for a wedding dowry, but she did get an excellent education. Simone's academic and writing lives are emphasized and the reader also meets the love of her (nontraditional) life), Jean-Paul Sartre.

Favorite quotes from the book:

"Simone thought this was unfair. She had become a feminist before the word even existed!"

"He was not just her soul mate, he was her mind mate, too!"

"And thanks to little Simone, we now know that we're not born men or women-just special human beings with a life full of choices to make."

This book is a lovely reminder of the importance of girls growing up to be women who are free to make choices. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

This is the second Little People Book I have read and I am now a big fan. I like the message this book sends that no matter what and what the times around you are you can achieve your dreams and become whatever you want. Simone de Beauvoir was a French author. She grew up in luxury and unfortunately it was lost during the war. Even so her parents sent her to a private school. Her father wanted her to learn to earn a living without relying on a man. She met and became soul mates with John Paul Satre, and though they never married they were together in mind and spirit. Simone went on to become the youngest woman to pass the exams on philosophy. She became a writer and philosopher. I also love the illustrations in these books they are fun and there is always something to see. I recommend this book for ages 5+.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

We love these books, clear quirky artwork, lovely well written text, what's not to like? Why not have a bedtime story that teaches you about the world too.

I love the artwork on the page with Simone and Jean-Paul in different flats...

This another is another in this series of beautiful biographies of famous women for children. This book has gorgeous illustrations and is a wonderful book to read to or along with children.

In this series, María Isabel Sánchez Vegara charts the lives of incredible women throughout history from their start as just young children with big dreams, to people who changed the world. Honestly, it is wonderful - we need to show children that they can follow in these people’s footsteps; that they can reach for the stars and become whoever they want to be. And, Simone de Beauvoir, as a pioneer of early feminism and the author of the book that has gone on to form the foundation of contemporary feminist thought, is someone who children everywhere, especially young girls, need to be aware of. She was a trailblazer, a pioneer, a groundbreaker. No matter what we think of her views and her actions now, she was one of the first people to push women down towards a path of realisation, and who made the very idea of having dreams as a female, slightly more plausible.
Read it for your children, read it for yourself - just read it and be inspired.

The Little People Big Dreams series is one I love for non-fiction texts to fill my shelves. They tell many stories of underrepresented people and voices.
Simone de Beauvoir told the story of a woman who balanced a thirst for knowledge, love and independence in a way that inspired and encouraged readers. It will certainly be added to my shelves next month.

The Little People, Big Dreams series from Quarto Publishing has released a children's introduction to the feminist and philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. The book does not delve extremely deep into her beliefs or works, but acts as a brief look for children into a figure many feel is the mother of the feminist movement. 

Little People, Big Dreams: Simone de Beauvoir goes through her childhood, as well as her relationship with Jean Paul Sartre. It briefly touches on the fact that her initial works saying women should be free to make their own decisions came across as scandalous in France after World War II. 

The book is written by Isabel Sanchez Vergara and lovingly illustrated by Christine Roussey. 

Little People, Big Dreams: Simone de Beauvoir is a must read for independent young girls who want to learn about written words that changed the world for women.

A wonderful book aimed at younger elementary school children. The book itself is 32 pages with wonderful illustrations and simple text. Children can learn about Simone de Beauvoir's early life and how she had “feminist” ideas before the term was even invented. As the book explains, she was a revolutionary and surrounded herself with others like her who were trying to change the world. A great biography to encourage young minds.

I wish I had a little girl so that I could give her this book! It's a story of independence, openness, intelligence, gender freedom, and being strong-minded even when very young. Also the illustrations are lovely.

I strongly recommend this picture book about Simone de Beauvoir's life. It's accessible, well written, well illustrated and it makes you want to turn the pages to learn more about her. I feel like this short biography gives just the right amount of informations for kids to understand her life and her personality, but also enough of her childhood and life's important moments to understand why she dedicated so much of her time to women's equality. I don't see anything that I disliked about this book. Well done!

While I had never heard of Simone de Beauvoir before seeing this title on Netgalley, I can now see why Isabel Sanchez Vegara felt drawn to educate young minds about her life and work. Simone is a wonderful role model for developing minds, both male and female. Simone was an independent woman who did not allow society's view of and limitations on women to control her dreams or the lengths she went to achieve them. I would definitely recommend this book to all.

Simone de Beauvoir (Little People, Big Dreams)by Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Christine Roussey is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This is a wonderful book especially for girls to be a role model. Simone grew up when girls were thought of as not as smart as men. Simone was smart and her dad said she must have a boy's brain. She was smart enough to get into a school that no other women had ever went to. She was the first to publish a book. All of these things shocked people because she was a women and they thought women weren't smart. But women read her book and and liked what it said. She was the start of feminism. This tells a lot more and has real pictures of her in the end. Nice book!

I have enjoyed the various books I have read from the Little People, Big Dreams series. This particular book taught me about someone that I had not heard of before. Simone de Beauoir was a French philosopher and is often referred to as The Mother of Feminism. Her interest in feminism began when her father sat by and her mother did all the work around the house including preparing all the meals, even when he was not working. As she got older her father told her that "she had the brain of a man" which she couldn't understand why a man's brain was different from a woman's) Just like all the other books in this series, it features stylish and quirky illustrations along with text that describes her background and journey. There are always extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the philosopher's life. This is a child friendly biography that shows a young woman striving to achieve her dream. This book could be used to teach young children how to write a biography, show that it is important to have a dream and strive to achieve it. It would be wonderful to be able to get a boxed set of this series for any school library. The publisher, Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

Vegara's Simone de Beauvoir is part of the young readers series Little People, Big Dreams. Each book in the series explores the early life of a famous figure, with a focus on what inspired them along their paths when they were children. Simone's father sent both her and her sister to school so they could get an education and not need a man to take care of them. Simone went on to go to college, and become a philosopher and writer. Today, she is considered the mother of feminism.

At the back of the book is a section with photographs, and a more in-depth life history. Perfect for young readers interested in history and philosophy. Just one random thing- either Sartre had a lazy eye that moved from one eye to the other or he had a prosthetic eye that was never straight. In every picture, one of his eyes is looking toward the ceiling and the other not. Just sayin…

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

This is a really great little biography of Simone de Beauvoir for early readers - some of the concepts might be a little difficult for them to immediately grasp, but it's an excellent introduction to pique their interest and start establishing some sense of history. The art, too, is just fantastic.

This is another brilliant addition to this series – even as an adult I look out for the next book in the series being released. I love the images in this series and this is a delightful introduction to Simone de Beauvoir.

They are excellent introductions to some of the well-known, and less well-known, characters that have had a great impact in our lives through a variety of subjects such as literature, women’s rights and science.

4 stars from me for this one – a delightful read and one I will be highly recommending!!

The variety of historical role models represented in this children's book series continues to surprise me --- Simone de Beauvoir! Once again an exciting choice of topic, and as always the cutest illustrations (Sartre's face, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah), although I'm not sure that the importance of Beauvoir's work is transported to the target audience through the text. A little more elaboration for the young readers would be great!

I know I never say this, but this book was too short. I wanted to know more about De Beauvoir’s life and the people she met. Or why she was never married or lived with her life partner. This book is a great first look at her life, but I want more.

This series is so delightful! This particular title will be added to my collection and will be used as a starting point so that students may research de Beauvoir's life and work.

This Little People, Big World series is outstanding! I have seen a few Littens on Litsy reviewing these books, and I simply knew I had to check them out. Sadly, my library still doesn't have any of the collection... so you can imagine how excited I was to see this collection continue on NetGalley. I have read many others on NetGalley, and I simply adore them. I went into this book knowing nothing of Simone de Beauvoir, but as always, that's the great thing about the collection. The stunning illustrations, and short text make it easy to get intrigued. I stand by my opinion in stating that these books would be a huge asset in classrooms all over the world. Still crossing my fingers that they show up ion my local library soon!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I truly appreciate it!