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.

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!

"...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

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.

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.

A sweet little book about an exceptional player. And a great way for children to see if you work hard and you love something, you can go far. But to always remain who you've been. Rafa did that. Cute cute book and I can't wait for my kids to read it.

My nephew is an aspiring tennis player and Nadal is his favorite player. Even though he is older than the age group of this book, I got this to read with him since he is also learning English and he absolutely loved it! The illustrations are beautiful, the language is clear and the story is engaging. When we finished reading, nephew thanked me for the book. I’d recommend this to younger kids in need of inspiration and interested in sports.

Thank you for the opportunity for reading prior to publication!

What a great book providing a kid friendly version of Rafa’s great tennis career. The illustrations were perfectly paired to this great story book.
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

I love and recommend this whole series. These books help even very young readers learn biographies of famous people. Every book is bright and the illustrations are cute. In this one, we learn the background of tennis great Rafa Nadal. I thought it was especially interesting that he comes from a family with a soccer player and he used to play soccer himself, but Rafa decided to play tennis from a young age and was successful even as a teen.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

How could you resist reading about the tennis legend that is Rafa Nadal.

This story focuses on how Rafa Nadal got to where he is. his drive to succeed and the importance of hard work.

What fantastically colourful and engaging illustrations throughout.

I always look forward to the release of a new little people, big dreams book to read with my little girl. This did not disappoint.

Highly enjoyed this book, which I read with my 8 year old daughter and great to find out more about the background if this great tennis player.

Another absolutely fabulous book in this series. Having grown up watching Nadal play Tennis is a true legend and one Tennis play I would love to watch live it was interesting to read that his uncle actually got him into tennis and become his coach. Another book to add to the hardback collection.

This was another lovely Little People, Big Dreams book. Our family loves these books because they are short but interesting and often inspiring, as was the case with Rafa Nadal's story. My daughter was inspired reading about Rafa's perseverance in his sport and was impressed by his prestigious winning record. I thought this story was very relatable for kids because it shared Rafa's struggles in his pursuit of success. I highly recommend this book and others in the series for young readers to explore biographies and history.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for gifting our family with an ARC to review. All opinions are our own. We enjoyed it!

Rafa Nadal by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vergara is a great book to teach young children about tennis superstar Rafa Nadal. Not only does it emphasize his tennis talent and work ethic to become one of the best tennis players in the world, it also mentions that he helps people in need and was scared of the dark (showing children that even those on top of the world have fears too!). The illustrations were great. I would recommend any and all of these Little People Big Dreams books to my friends and audience. They are a great, age appropriate way for children to learn about public figures - not only their talent, but their kindness and philanthropy as well!

I love this series of books and this is a great addition. Brilliantly illustrated it tells a story of the power of dedication, determination and motivation with important moments of vulnerability and generosity. Recommended in particular for any budding sports fans.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I have said so many times but I truly adore this series.

Rafa Nadal is Spanish, like me, so I knew quite a lot about him. It makes me very happy to see a Spanish person in this series and I love the story that they tell about him. He is one of the greatest and I am grateful for this book.

Thank you very much NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange of my honest opinion.

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.

Another great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series! I love the illustrations and how the author describes not just his successes but also the adversity Rafa faced from the numerous injuries he overcame and how he gives back to his community. My favourite part was about how he was afraid of the dark! Also really love the timeline and real photos at the end of the story. Will be adding to my classroom library!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

"Rafa Nadal" by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is a delightful addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series. Through captivating illustrations and accessible language, young readers are taken on a journey through the life of one of tennis's greatest champions, Rafael Nadal. What sets this book apart is its ability to entertain while educating; children not only learn about Nadal's achievements on the court but also about his determination and perseverance in the face of challenges. The book is a testament to the series' commitment to inspiring the next generation by showcasing the stories of remarkable individuals in a format tailored for young readers. With its engaging narrative and vibrant artwork, "Rafa Nadal" is a must-read for any child with a love for sports or a curiosity about the lives of extraordinary people.

I loved this! These stories are really well done, good writing, easy to understand and to the point, the illustrations are lovely. I think it's great to showcase athletes from all different sports, especially those that maybe aren't in the media as much. Having seen Nadal play, he's an amazing player and it's great that his passion started through his family and he has been charitable. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.

A fabulous addition to the Little People Big Dreams series, the story of Rafa Nadal is beautifully told and illustrated.

The author portrays Rafa as a talented sports man, which indeed we all know, but also tells of his drive to succeed, his love of his home island and his care for others. I loved the inclusion of his fear of the dark in a book aimed at a young audience - the perfect way to make them realise we are all human.

Buyer beware! This isn’t just a popular series of books, Little People, Big Dreams picking a famous sporting superstar to maintain their brand and sell more books.

Rafa Nadel is another worthy addition to this collection of mini biographies.

It tells of his humility and drive to succeed making him a suitable role model for our young people to emulate.

Born into a sporting family he shared a similar passion and skill set for both football and tennis. Choosing to pick up a racket and follow that dream from an early age. What marks him out was not just a natural ability but an equal measure of determination and humility. Qualities that were to serve him well (no pun intended), throughout his career and through retirement and life after sport.

I was amazed by his commitment and dedication; preparing the courts and tidying up afterwards. His many injuries which might undermine others and stall their career. Rafa only redoubled his efforts to overcome and strive to perform as before, to his very best. Whether on the Grand Slam circuit or representing Spain in Davis Cup or at the Olympics.

What marks him out as an extra-special person for me however, is a memory of where he came from originally and a lasting commitment to his home island. Helping out after severe flooding and putting into place facilities and resources for a future generation of sporting success.

The one about Rafa Nadel shares the familiar format which marks this series out as a special collection of books. Each of similar length, a simple brief text adorned by a colourful palette of illustrations. Every book has a biographical summary for older readers at the end, with real photos of the person featured.

Rafael Nadal was my favorite tennis player back then, and he hasn't been replaced by anyone else to this day. The "Little People, Big Dreams" series of books about different personalities is a favorite in our home, and as a fan I was thrilled to introduce Rafa to my son through this biography. Every illustration in this book is meticulously crafted to depict Rafa's life and his significant milestones. The book not only highlights his successes but also acknowledges his fears. The author poignantly conveys the idea that even famous and successful individuals have fears. This book encourages young children to believe in themselves and work hard to achieve their goals.

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

Another really inspirational one, with lots of great facts about his younger years. Both specifically about his sporting and just general facts that I think kids would be interested to hear about. Lovely illustrations, bright and engaging. Kids will absolutely love this book I'm sure! The only thing I wish, and I mentioned this in my review for another one too, is that it was called Rafael Nadal? Although I have heard him occasionally called Rafa I didn't think that's what he generally went by, so I would have thought Rafael was more appropriate? Although I don't watch an awful lot of tennis, usually just a bit of Wimbledon here and there so I could be wrong about that.

A other great book from a fantastic of series!
I didn't know too much about this person - only that he was a tennis player, so even though this book is aimed children, I learnt so much too.
Great for children to learn about famous/successful people from when they are children themselves and learning about all their different backgrounds.
Great read

Always a pleasure reading the series. This one is about Rafa Nadal, the famous tennis player, though not into tennis myself, I only knew him by name. Rafa was from a well to do family, thus he can learn tennis at early age. But it doesn't make him less compassionate to others, he helped wherever he is needed, and also made a foundation to help others. A good role model to children nowadays.

Little People, Big Dreams does it again! I really love how in every book they highlight the best qualities of the person that they’re writing about. To be honest, I didn’t know much, if anything, about Rafa Nadal before I read this book, but I definitely can’t say that anymore. I’ll continue to read every single one of these that I can, and I’m excited to collect these and read them to my (future) babies.

Rafa is a championship tennis competitor who was born in Majorca Spain, gifted with sports talents, and tutored in soccer and tennis by his uncles. But he was once a young boy who has problems with nighttime darkness. He is also a man who gives back to his hometown and to others who need help.
The illustrations by Rocio Ledesma are fun, simple, brilliantly colorful, and meaningful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Quarto Publishing Group/Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. Thank you! Expected publication 04 Jun 2024
@QuartoKids @CBCBook @Frances_Lincoln #LittlePeopleBIG DREAMS @sanchezvegara @TheQuartoGroup

I found it very hard to rate children's books so everything is a 5 star read for me!!
I really loved this book, the illustrations are so beautiful and captivating that I found myself smiling through every page I read.
Amazing book and amazing story of life. Also, this book collection is amazing! Can't wait to read the all!!

A sweet little book about my favourite tennis legend. Maybe a little young for my ten year old but we still enjoyed reading it together and the pictures are adorable as always,
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Rafa Nadal by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara is another release in the Little People, Big Dreams series, which I have reviewed frequently on here. I just love these little books. They are always packed with facts about the person who they are writing about and full of colourful illustrations throughout.

Little Rafa was born in Majorca, Spain. Encouraged by his two uncles, he loved playing football and tennis, but found that he particularly excelled at tennis. At only fifteen years old, he became a professional! Soon, he was ranked as one of the best on the court, and at age twenty-two, he was proclaimed the number one tennis player in the whole world. Since then, Rafa has won many trophies, including twenty-two Grand Slams. His self-confidence, perseverance, and determination are the keys to his success.

I found this little book full of easy to read, with great Illustrations throughout this small book.

I am so glad these books are being published and I highly recommend all of these books

Many thanks to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We love these books in our house. They are a great way to introduce your little ones to important and/or famous people without being too big or in depth. The illustrations are so cute!

Another lovely book from Little People, Big Dreams - one of my favourite series, and I have a feeling the sport biographies for kids are quite possible my favourite in these series or maybe because I know the least about these awesome humans, I learn the most from these? An idea I should explore.

I am a big fan of Rafa and his tennis career, but I admit I did not know much about his childhood or how he came into playing tennis nor did I know about his work outside the tennis realm.

For sports fans, tennis fans or just lovers of the Little People, Big Dreams series.
Maria has again encapsulated the youth and journey of another person.
Inspiring, articulate and beautifully illustrated, Maria really does provide the best books.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book for an honest review.

My grade 4 class loved this book. They loved he colours. They liked the way the story was engaging and informative. They have read similar styles before and this that the book is good for lower to middle primary aged students.

5/5 recommended

The book is well researched and engaging, highlighting the catchy bits of information and bringing out the beauty of the story with colorful illustrations. Perfect for children!

Love this series. Another great, easy to read overview of a tennis legend. Lovely to read with my kids and great illustrations to capture the imagination.

We loved this book so much and it is a delightful addition to the series of Little People. Big Dreams. I had heard of Rafa but didn't know much about this inspiring legend and enjoyed learning with my daughters as we read his story!

As a huge tennisfan I just had to read this book, so I’m very thankful that I could read this Thank you Maria Isabel Sánchez, thank you Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and thank you NetGally!

My mother and my aunt are huge tennis fans, grand slams were closely followed. Not a match was missed. That’s how I learned of Rafael Nadal as a teenage kid. I think that I can safely say that Rafa is their favorite tennis player.

When I saw that Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara was gonna make a 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 book about Rafael Nadal I knew I just had to read it! I love the Little People Big Dreams books, they’re inspiring. I have the one about Jane Goodall (my hero) on my bookshelves.

I love the style of Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara. The illustrations are always colorful and the characters always recognizable! Because of my mother and aunt I know a little about Nadal and it’s nice to see those things in the book.

As I mentioned before I really like the books of Little People Big Dreams and and I believe that these books should be on all children’s bookshelves, so they can learn that anything is possible. I hope that more books will be translated into Dutch.

I’ve already ordered a copy of 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬: 𝐑𝐚𝐟𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐥 for my mother’s birthday 😉

📱E-Book Review📱

Rafa Nadal
Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is one of the books in the Little People, Big Dreams series which I've seen absolutely everywhere, but only just started working my way through! (I know ....where have I been!?)

I'm not really a big sports fan, but I do love to watch Wimbledon in the summer.
Again, not a huge follower, but I do keep track on the big names - and Rafa is up there with the best.

It was great to see where he started out and it's so inspiring to watch his passion grow over the years.
I can't believe that he'd been training since the age of 4!
And that he also was a great footballer too! Imagine being that good at multiple sports that you have to choose!

Rafa is so passionate about his sport that he even played with a broken finger! Ouch! That shows such dedication, perseverance and resilience - all great qualities to display to encourage the youngsters who are reading these books!

I also liked that his fear of the dark was included in the book - it made him seem more like a real person (rather than untouchable famous person) and lots of children could relate to this and see that having some fears doesn't make you weak.

Dreams can still be achieved if you work hard and have a passion for your work.

This was a super quick read - full of information - but told in a way that was interesting and fun.
The illustrations were great too, with lots of detail to look at and prompt discussion with younger readers.

This series is actually amazing and I really must add more to my tbr - there are over 100 books in the series already and, like this one, many more still being added.

Great for school libraries, classroom learning, home education shelves and for any of us adults who just love reading!



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

This was a lovely illustrated book giving the history of Rada Nadal in an accessible and inspiring way, great for children!

Little People, Big Dreams is one of my favourite series of books and I was so pleased to come across this title featuring Rafa Nadal! Like the other books in this series, this title tells an inspirational biography. We learn of Rafa Nadal's childhood journey into tennis and his dedication to becoming the best tennis player in a generation. (I'm sure Rafa would have also been great at football too! It's a fun thought experiment to wonder what would have happened if he had chosen that over tennis.) Marked by persistence and hard work, Rafa's tennis career features both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Young readers will be inspired by Rafa's story whether they are interested in sport or not. Resilience, persistence, and devotion are underscored as Rafa's secrets to success and the story serves to inspire as well as celebrate a great athlete!

Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group for a complimentary eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I have read in this series and have found them to be very informative for children getting across the most important points and keeping them interesting for a young audience.

The Nadal book gets across his most important stats and 14 time Men's champion of Roland Garros. Probably a record never to be equalled and has earned his place in tennis history.

I love reading these books to my daughter, its such a good way of explaining important historical figures to her in a way that is understandable for a young audience. I would highly recommend these and will be keeping my eyes out for similar books in the future

Rafa Nadal is a champion tennis player who has won titles throughout the tennis world. In this great addition to her Little People Big World biography series, Vegara has penned a great introductory biography of the athlete. By starting her books with a story about the athlete when they are very little, she captures the young reader's interest. The book tells about all his successes, but also stresses that he Nadal has had to work through many injuries, to heal and then return to the court. She also includes a little of his activities outside the sport, thus showing that balance is as important as perseverance. Rocio Ledesma has provided realistic illustrations to help tell the story. I only have one small complaint about the book. In the story, the author mentions several different titles that Nadal has won. But the fact that he won Olympic gold medals twice is only mentioned in the fine print of the afterward. I feel that this fact should have been included in the main story. Otherwise, this is a solid read and I would recommend it to young sports fans and biography readers.

I accessed a few temporary ebooks in this series from the publisher, but the opinions written in the reviews are entirely my own.