Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley is such an important figure in the history of literature, so I’m happy that there’s now a book in the Little People, Big Dreams series about her.
The illustrations were a bit more gloomy here than they were in the other books in this series, but they were still really cute.
The language is simple enough for even very young kids to understand.
Overall “Mary Shelley” tells the inspiring story of a great author, and I’m sure many kids will be happy to read this book.

I love this series of books of famous women. It is such a good way to introduce children to different historical figures.

This one has a good overview of Mary's life, and writing. The pictures are bright and colorful, and the different versions of Frankenstien's Monster.

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mary-shelly.png" alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5365" />

Hopefully this, like the other books in the series, will make children more interested in Mary Shelley's life and her book.

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

Mary Shelley is the mother of modern science fiction. And the creator of one of the most well know monsters ever written.

I loved the eerie vibes from the illustrations. The sorry was really interesting. It’s really neat to see inside the brains of famous people in history.

Another wonderful book in the Little People, Big Dreams series. These books are so perfect to teach your kids about people in history and their contributions. The artwork in this really fit the vibe of Mary Shelley as well.

I received an e-arc from net for review

I love this series, it's always a joy to read about someone who I may a lot, a bit or nothing at all. The art style is pleasing to look at, these are books would be a great addition to many elementary classrooms.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This little book is a great intro to Mary Shelley's life. I think kids will really enjoy the illustrations.

I was so delighted in reading this book. I love this series, it is such a fun way to teach children about the greatest figures in human history. I love Mary Shelley with my whole heart, she was such a strong young woman and I've always admired how she stood for herself.
Her intelligence was beyond measure, considering she wrote her masterpiece when she was only 16. I loved how all of it was described in this book throuth little texts and amazing illustrations.
I can't recommend it enough, it was a joy to read, I'm completely honest. I've loved every second of it.

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.
Mary Shelley's life isn't new to me, but it's one that I always find very fascinating. I love the story of how Frankenstein came to be. This book shows how she overcame the adversities in her life and how she did everything to follow her passion and also for what she loved. The illustrations were truly well done and perfectly captured some of the salient moments of her brilliant life.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Beautiful illustrations make this condensed biography of Mary Shelley come alive!

I love all things Mary Shelley, and was excited to see this on the children's nonfiction shelf! The author does a great job at telling a short biography of the life of Mary Shelley and it also includes lovely (non scary) illustrations on each page. Mary Shelley lived a haunting life and most books reflect that darker element in imagery, which tends to freak out my skirmish kid haha! However, he enjoyed this book as much as I did and we plan on reading more of the Little People, Big Dreams biography series!

Mary Shelley by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is another strong addition to the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. This is the true story of how Mary became known as the mother of science fiction with the creation of her timeless and iconic monster, Frankenstein. I always adore the illustrations that so succinctly bring these stories to life, and this one, in particular, seems to capture the very essence of the era to perfection. Long may this enlightening and charming series continue to both educate and entertain.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for this ARC.

Another empowering book,this time presenting the life of the author Mary Shelley.

I did not know much about the life of this woman and I got so intrigued by the illustration and the life facts at the back of the book.

Loved the use of darker colours to create the atmosphere!

Another great addition to the family!

Fascinating! I had no idea the history of famous writer Mary Shelley. I love how the author told her story in a simple, age-appropriate way. The story is certain to inspire new little authors everywhere.

A very good entry to this series, which has at times struggled with its biographies for the very young, but here we get the perfect balance of detail on one hand, and simplicity and concision on the other. So we see how her mother's own writing inspired Mary, how she eloped to Europe with the dodgy married poet, and at least we read that she didn't just do "Frankenstein". The artwork has a bit of the trendy wonky lack-of-perspective style about it, but seems to get things right. This is definitely one for the school libraries. A strong four stars.

I absolutely adore these books and Mary Shelley is one of my favourite authors, a trailblazer in science fiction and female authors, a wonderful read, one I will definitely share with little people to inspire them and show them what can be achieved and dreamed. These books are so inspirational

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Another fantastic edition to the Little people big dreams series! Mary Shelley is one of my favourite women as the founder of science fiction and to have one of these cute books showcasing that is so important! The facts are quick and accessible to children while still providing things I didn't necessarily know!
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with and ARC for an honest review! :)

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this books in exchange for my honest opinion.

This little series doesn't stop surprising me.

I have read quite a few of them and I think they are all amazing!

Everyone has, of course, heard about Frankenstein or watch the movie but I had no idea who wrote the original Frankenstein book! It was such a surprise to know that it was Mary Shelley!

I liked to know a little bit more about her life, her hard start in life, really. It was interesting to know about her love story and it was very cool to know how and when she wrote her most famous book!

The art work is amazing! I can't even draw a star, so for me, anything is fabulous but these book's illustrations really are.

Like always, I really recommend these books!

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest.
Perfect short storybook illustrating the life of writer Mary Shelly who wrote the famous classic Frankenstein. I didn't even realize a woman had written it. I liked how short and simple the writing was. Perfect for kids.

It is tough to write a kid's book about Mary Shelley, because her life was full of decidedly not picture book friendly events. I thought this book did a good job of presenting the heart of her story without making it too dark for young kids.

I'll root for any book in the Little People, Big World series. This is a favorite series of mine. A Who Was for the younger set.

This was a short and sweet book about one of my favourite authors, Mary Shelley. I loved the illustrations and how the story of her life was told.

I liked that the illustrations conveyed the Gothic story that Mary would come to write. They stuck to a muted colour pallet and helped to tell the story effectively.

The story was a good introduction for young children but slightly older readers might want more.

L Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Francis Lincoln Children’s Books for granting my wish for a copy of ‘Mary Shelley’ written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Yelana Bryksenkova in exchange for an honest review.

This little picture book is intended for children aged 4-7. It is Book 37 in the publishers acclaimed ‘Little People, BIG DREAMS’ series that introduces young readers to the lives and works of significant people via books and educational games.

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara has contributed a number of titles to this series. It’s an informative, well illustrated book. She has sketched in a few pages details of Mary Shelley’s life and the genesis of Frankenstein. The art work is striking and well illustrates the period with some Gothic flourishes.

Care has also been given to present the more scandalous aspects of Mary’s life in an age appropriate fashion. I am a great admirer of Mary Shelley and I hope that this picture book biography might sow the seeds of interest in her life, ‘Frankenstein’, and science fiction in young readers.

I would have loved to read this book (and others in the series) when I was this age. I would certainly recommend it to parents, librarians, and teachers.

True to form, this little book about Mary Shelley, author of the classic Frankenstein that many consider as a starting point for sci fi, has a muted colour palette that could be straight out of a Tim Burton Movie. Of course I approve.

As the title of the series is little people, big dreams, we meet Mary as she still is a child, and see how she grows up to achieve her dream of telling stories. We are told that she had to publish under a man's name, and also that her mother was a famous feminist, so this book would be a great entrypoint into the history of women's rights and why feminism is still important for children.
At the end, at the recommendation of the rest of the picture book series, we also have recommendations of other books about Mary Shelley, directly after the time table that gives more information on her history.

No mention of Percy's calcified heart, though.

This is one of the most goth picture books I ever had the pleasure to read.
Be warned that reading one book from this series makes you want to all the rest as this makes learning fun.

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

The story of Mary Shelley is a complicated one for young readers/listeners. Mary's mother died when she was eleven days old. She had a wicked stepmother. She fell in love and left home to be with a married poet. And, oh yes, she wrote a horror story that conjured a scary future.

Somehow the author of this continuously excellent series, manages to make this all understandable. She also acknowledges the talents of Mary's parents and the circle of which Mary was a part. As always, there is a helpful timeline at the end of the book. Kudos to the author for doing all this in a short, illustrated book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a quick read, intended as an introduction to Mary Shelley, the mother of modern sci-fi/horror. It features atmospheric illustrations that really encapsulate the information in the text perfectly and I think it's beautifully done.

This is a wonderful series of children's books. I particularly like this one, not only because I'm interested in the subject myself, but I also have a 4 year old who's fascinated by all things spooky.
He already has a toddler version of Frankenstein that he really enjoys and I think this book would be a perfect supplement to that. I'm really looking forward to him learning about the author herself, who's a fascinating figure in her own right.

~ Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this title ~

I love this series and how it features famous women, I think it is such a good way to introduce children to different historical figures and I am really looking forward to being able to read them with my daughter.

This one has a good overview of Mary Shelley - her life, and writing, the most famous of her books being Frankenstein.. I thought that the pictures were bright and colourful, and I liked the layout too, the pages are all easy to read.

It is 5 stars from me for this one - this would be a brilliant introduction to this fabulous author and hopefully will encourage children to want to find out more about her.

Another great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series, somehow manages to wiles down Mary's extensive history into a short, concise picture book perfect for kids without being too scary or too morbid.

A nice addition to everything written about Mary Shelly. Clean cut ideas and a dark art style make this a great children's book.

'Mary Shelley' by Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara with illustrations by Julie Morstad is part of the Little People, Big Dreams series.

Mary Shelley was born curious with parents that encouraged that. After losing her mother and getting a new stepmother, Mary spent a lot of quiet time writing. When she grew up, her interest in science informed her most famous work: Frankenstein.

I love this series and read all of them that I'm offered. The brief bios are well done and some times I even learn something new. The illustration style this time around has a darker color palette and it felt like the figures were all leaning to one side, but I liked the style.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

I have read many of the books in this series and enjoyed them. However, this installment was quite disappointing. While it covered how Mary Shelley met her husband and why she began writing Frankenstein, there was nothing about who she was as a person and what her inspirations were.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The ‘My First Little People, Big Dreams’ series provides informative and inspirational biographies about people who left a mark on this earth, no matter what difficulties they have encountered.
These stories are very short, but that’s because they’re books for children, so it’s totally understandable.
I think they are a very smart and wonderful way to introduce little children to such important figures.
This one is about Mary Shelley, an amazing woman and writer, who, against all social rules, wrote "Frankenstein" and gave officially birth to the first modern science fiction.

Mary Shelley is one of the Little People, Big Dreams series. I have only read a few of these books but think they are a fantastic series to inspire children to aim for their dreams.

This story is quite dark compared to others I've seen but I think it was done in a good way as it shows that although Mary's life was difficult and challenging as a child that she still found a way to follow her dreams and put herself first when she might have otherwise been expected to follow a standard path for the time. I think Mary is a great character for the children to see as she is shown to be so strong and fearless and she didn't give up even when society insinuates that she shouldn't be doing certain things as it's not the norm.

The illustrations in the book are lovely with lots of darker shades and colours in a cartoon style. With the darkness of the story, this works perfectly with the book and it's great to see how Mary's life changed from when she was a baby right up to her as an adult and the details in the illustrations really helping us understand how she might've felt.

The page at the back of the book describing her story and some photos is a great way to remind the children how though it's written like a story, that it's very real and is a great way for adults to get a general or broader idea of the story before reading. This is a really lovely book on Mary Shelley, an inspiring book for children and great fun to read.

Thanks to the publishers for sharing this one. It's a good short intro to Mary Shelley's life for kids. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

Just like the other books in this charming series for children, this biography about author Mary Shelley focuses on her childhood and how her first success - writing "Frankenstein" - came about. The illustrations are all very fitting.

I just wondered if young children - the target group for this book - have even heard about "Frankenstein" at all. Mine haven't, and I'm not likely to read it to them anytime soon. But on the other hand is this book not about Frankenstein, but about "Little People having Big Dreams", and working hard to make these dreams come true.

Just in time for Halloween month - and to prepare for the Frankenstein tour I'm hopefully taking in a couple of weeks! A truly gorgeous, dark romantic illustration style to match Mary Shelley's life story - although the fact that she eloped with a married man might be an aspect of it that children should best ignore, haha. Still, a lovely little book!

Mary Shelley is a nice illustrated book for children that quickly introduces Mary Shelley’s life and achievements. The text is solid enough, decently varied and successfully pitches its tone and vocabulary to its target audience, though I wouldn’t say it stands out in any way, either with startling imagery, metaphor, or lyrical language. The illustrations, however, are a definite strength, nicely mirroring the gothic imagery of Shelley’s novels, as when her father holds her as a child in front of her mother’s grave, stark leafless trees in the background. The author of course retells the famous night at Byron’s involving the ghost story contest that birthed Frankenstein, but what I really appreciated was that she also relates (and shows via illustration) how Shelley was inspired by her scientific curiosity/knowledge. While the author does mention Shelley wrote other works, I wish she would have given some of their names so Shelley isn’t considered a one-note, even if her first was obviously her most successful and significant. The book ends with two more dense paragraphs to give some historical context. Recommended.

Another fantastic book from this series! I didn't know much about Mary Shelley but my 5 year old and I enjoyed learning about her while reading this. I love this series!

This latest in the Little People, Big Dreams series brings Mary Shelley, the creator of Frankenstein, to life. Mary lost her mother young but did not lose her mother’s love of books and reading. Then, at one of her father’s house gatherings, she met and fell in love with Percy Bryce Shelley. From there it was a relatively short path to Byron’s challenge to multiple house guests to write a horror story. And from this challenge arose the monster, Frankenstein.

The edition I reviewed was the children’s board book edition, simplified for younger readers but still with beautiful and colorful artwork The longer book edition, intended for older young adult readers expands on the board book edition and also has more historical and biographical information.

This is an excellent addition to a wonderful series that I recommend highly. Take a look at the books and I’m quite sure you will find something perfect for the young reader in your life.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I'm loving this series of biographies for kids. Easy to read and fun illustrations.

I love a lot of the books in this series, but this one was a disappointment. The artwork is muddy and not very pleasant to look at, and I don't think it would appeal to children (or to adults reading this book to them at bedtime). Mary Shelley is a brilliant writer, underappreciated in her time, with a fascinating and tragic life – and none of that comes through in this book. It mentions only Frankenstein and doesn't convey how or why it was so important as a piece of fiction, and there's no mention of what Shelley had to overcome in her personal or professional life. Such a shame as I'd love to be able to share Shelley's life story with the small humans in my life.

Mary Shelley is a book in the Little People, Big Dreams series. The book tells about Mary's life from birth through becoming an author, focusing on the most influential events in her life. Although parts of the book may be challenging for sensitive children (such as the death of Mary's mother), those events had an impact on young Mary. I appreciate the openness and honesty in this book, such as how Mary fell in love and ran off with a married man. Again, such topics may be difficult for some children to comprehend, but these events played a role in who Mary Shelley became. I appreciate the way the author approaches difficult topics in a straightforward fashion with simple sentences and does not linger on them. The timeline in the back of the book highlights important moments in Mary Shelley's life as well as events related to the success of Frankenstein.

I recommend this book for elementary children that are interested in biographies and/or horror. Frankenstein is definitely something that most children will have heard of, however few will know details about the author. Mary Shelley overcame many challenges in her time, such as being a woman and becoming a published author, and was innovative in her writing (Frankenstein includes elements of science that were newly emerging at that time).

I received a copy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #MaryShelley

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, Mary Shelley is certainly someone that I have always wanted to model myself after: a pioneer, a trailblazer, a ground-breaker. Someone who did something that many at the time doubted that women could even do. Her words twirled and entwined and sprawled across the page to bring a monster, and an entire genre, to life. And, seeing as much of what I read today, comes from the work of Shelley, a woman whose delightfully frightful tales have inspired young boys and girls across the world to pick up their pens and create their own magic, I must remember to thank her always.
Read it for your children, read it for yourself - just read it and be inspired.

I love this series of books. The illustrations are always vibrant and wonderful and the story is condensed yet gives a good overview of the person's life.

Another wonderful addition to this beautiful series. Simply story with lovely illustrations. There is even more detailed information at the end for those who want to learn more.

Wishes do come True!

I just Love these little books by Little People, BIG DREAMS series. So when Mary Shelley by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara came available to read I had to request and hope my wish comes true! These little books maybe small but they are full of information of lives of outstanding people, from artists to pop stars, designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. These books are do educational and great for any young child, libraries and schools etc.

Within this book.........You will find out who the person who wrote and invented The much Loved books of Frankenstein.

So who was Frankenstein?

A little girl called Mary Shelley was very young when she started to write stories beneath trees within her garden Mary was inspired by the same imagination to create great ghost stories that are told to this day! She wrote about the most famous ghost novel ever......."Frankenstein" This was a novel that scared but gripped people throughout the world.

This gripping 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 novelist's life.

Just a great brilliant little book. Plus, a great addition for your collection.

Big Thank You to Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Shelley grew up without her Mother from an infant. She grew up in an era where women didn't write and if they did they definitely didn't write horror stories.

Mary met and married Shelley and moved away from London and travelled across Europe. It was there that through a competition Frankenstein was created and tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who conducts experiments on human bodies. Mary Shelley's novel was published anonymously in 1818, when she was just twenty.

I love the Big Dreams series - its a great way to familiarize ourselves with past and present artists who we need to learn about. Illustrated with gothic designs this little book deserves a spot on your bookshelf.
Thank you Net galley and Frances Lincoln Children's books for this ARC.

This is a nice biography but I’m wondering how important it was to mention in the text about Percy Bysshe Shelley’s marital status when he and Mary ran away together. Personally I think it is a moot point and I would have rather heard other things about her life and writing. I also thought that the timeline was a little too detailed for young readers. That being said it is a good book and the illustrations really set the tone.

I thought the choice of Mary Shelley was odd considering she wrote Frankenstein. Like all in the series, this is a simple biography of the author. It starts on the rather grim note of her mother dying and wanting to not be around her step-mother. I found it odd that it mentioned that her lover, Percy Bysshe Shelley, was married already. Now, I understand that's a fact in the matter but what doesn't it have to do with Mary's writing career? I think it distracted from the story as that is about him rather than her.

I read this one with my children and both commented on the 'weird' illustrations. We've read many from this series but the oddly angled illustrations just didn't view well for my children, and admittedly, for me either. The style is really appealing except for the angling.

Overall, I just didn't find this story as compelling or relevant as others and wouldn't be the first one I would choose to use from the series.

I really enjoy The Little People, Big Dreams series. They are short, pictorial biographies for historical people, some well-known, others not. Mary Shelley, is well-known for writing Frankenstein. As always, the plot is fast but that’s to be expected in a book geared to younger children, it is a taste of the subject. The story begins with her birth and the loss of her author, mother when she was only eleven days old. When her father remarried, it was like a fairytale with the evil stepmother and her children, Mary did not get along with them at all. She would go to her secret place and write stories. After Mary's wedding, she became interested in the brain and brainwaves, dreaming about a creature made up of body parts. Thus, the creature and the book Frankenstein was born. As with all the books in this series, it features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the architect's life. This is a child friendly biography with delightful illustrations. It is a story 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 as well as to introduce them to this little known architect. A good book for a school library.

I thought this book was delightful, and I especially loved the illustration of a young Mary holding hands with Frankenstein's monster. There wasn't a whole lot of information in the book, but I believe that there is enough information to encourage young readers to keep reading and to keep using their imaginations.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I love this series of books.

Beautifully illustrated And written in simple language, but gives an honest history of the characters. I learnt a few things about Mary Shelley myself from this one too. A lovely book to share.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest and unbiased review.

Books in the Little People, BIG DREAMS! series never fail to impress me with their accessible storylines and delightful illustrations, especially when featuring historic women scientists, artists, and writers. Mary Shelley does not disappoint.

Born in 1797, to philosopher and political writer William Godwin and famed feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, Shelley became the writer of what might be the most famous horror novel of all time: Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. From dealing with her childhood struggles through her ample imagination to her scandalous affair with married Percy Bysshe Shelley, whom she later wed, Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara’s text presents appropriate, relevant, and interesting language for readers aged five to eight paired with illustrations that capture the mood and time of the era. The book closes with a more in-depth biography for older or adult readers.

If I could change anything about the book, I would want more information about what Shelley did after writing Frankenstein, though I understand why her early life and the book itself is the biography’s key focus.

Mary Shelley celebrates the power of imagination and illustrates the powerful and ongoing effects of literature.

This entry into the charming Little People, BIG DREAMS series takes a look at the creator of one of literature and film's most enduring characters. From a young age, Shelley loved to write. That passion stayed with her through adulthood. During a gathering at Lord Byron's, he issued a challenge- each attendant had to write a (ghost) story. It is from this that her most well-known publication grew- Frankenstein. At the end is a section with more detailed information on Shelley's life. Inspirational and educational both, this entire series is great! Well worth stocking in libraries, and as part of a teacher's classroom aids.

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

I love the books in the Little People, Big Dreams series! The books teach kids about important historical figures.

Last year was the 200th anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. There were many retellings and biographies of her that were published last year to celebrate.

Shelley was an intelligent and innovative woman. She used the knowledge of new inventions of the 1800s to write one of the most famous horror stories of all time. It is amazing that she wrote it when she was a young woman. She wrote it for a competition between friends to write a scary story. She was very successful with that project.

This is a great book to teach kids about Mary Shelley.

Thank you Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love Mary Shelley! I love her writing and reading about her life story. One, this series is wonderful! Two, this book was a great short history of Mary Shelley and her life. She had such a tragic life and this children's book doesn't sugar coat that. Definitely a wonderful edition to the series.

This book is so sweet! I love it.
I didn't know the story, but I loved the way the author wrote it.
Definitely recommend it!

Great introduction to Mary Shelley for kids, the narrative of her life is presented in a straightforward way that is easy and approachable. The majority of the biography focuses on her importance to the literary world, while this is important I think for a more in-depth look at her life this book should not be relied upon alone.

I adore this series! I just cannot get over how much I love these little character profiles, from the stories all the way down to the artwork. What a joy to read and share with my daughters!

Mary Shelley was the OG goth queen, the mother of science fiction, though not credited with it enough, with a classic that spawned such a variety of monster culture.