Stephen Hawking – Isabel Sanchez Vegara and lllustrated by Matt Hunt – Little People Big Dreams – Lincoln Children’s Books – Published 5 February 2019

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Synopsis

When Stephen Hawking was a little boy, he used to stare up at the stars and wonder about the universe. Although he was never top of the class, his curiosity took him to the best universities in England: Oxford and Cambridge. It also led him to make one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the 20th century: Hawking radiation. This moving 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 brilliant physicist’s life.

My thoughts

I have heard great things about the Little People, Big Dreams series, so I was eager to read this instalment which features the great scientist Stephen Hawking.

The book covers the major details of his life from birth, a childhood where he struggled in school and yet excelled in questioning and discovering, to his life in university, including the onset of the disease that would so impact his physicality and great discoveries he made. At the conclusion of the story is a slightly more detailed biography, a well as suggestions for further reading. While this story includes enough details to be adequate for young readers foraging into research it is a pleasant story to simply read and enjoy, all the while learning about the great man.

The language used is simple and the storytelling straightforward. The digitally created illustrations are bright and eye catching, bringing the characters to life.

Stephen Hawking is a great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams collection.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

More information

Category: Children’s fiction – Picture book

Genre: Non-fiction – Biography, Science

Themes: Science, boys and men, scientists, physical limitations, black holes, family.

Reading age guide: Ages 4-7

Format: Hardcover. 32 pages.

Published: 5 February 2019 by Lincoln Children’s Books

ISBN: 9781786033338

Find it on Goodreads