Opportunity: Little People, BIG DREAMS – Help Us Interview Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara!

Little People, BIG DREAMS: Help Us to Interview Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and WIN a book set!

It is hard to believe it has been a decade since the very first Little People, BIG DREAMS book landed on our shelves. What began as a personal gift from author Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara to her twin nieces has grown into a global phenomenon, with over 150 titles and 14.5 million copies reaching children in over 40 languages.

Many BooksForTopics users will recognise the series from our various lists – from Rafa Nadal and Simone Biles on our Tennis and Gymnastics booklists to Alexander von Humboldt and Mae Jemison on our booklists about Plants & Trees and Space topics.

As we celebrate the series’ 10th Anniversary in 2026 (BooksForTopics also turns 10 this year – a shared anniversary coinciding with the UK’s National Year of Reading), the milestone is being marked in a big way.

From the release of new British icons like Beatrix Potter and William Shakespeare to a record-breaking World Book Day costume party, there is plenty to look forward to.

Your Chance to Ask the Author!

To celebrate this anniversary, we have a special opportunity for the BooksForTopics community. We are inviting you – and your pupils – to help us interview the creator herself, Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara.

Every global phenomenon starts with a spark. For Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, that spark began in 1970s Barcelona, inspired by childhood heroes like Pippi Longstocking and the poet Gloria Fuertes. After twenty years in the advertising industry, Maria Isabel took a leap of faith, using her savings to finally pursue her own dream of storytelling.

What started in 2014 as a heartfelt birth present for her twin nieces has since blossomed into the internationally adored Little People, BIG DREAMS series. Originally published in Spain as Pequeña & GRANDE, the collection has now sold over 14 million copies and is translated into more than 40 languages, introducing children to a diverse world of scientists, artists, and activists.

Maria Isabel believes the secret to the series’ success is its authenticity. By showing children that today’s icons were once “little people” just like them, these books provide the inspiration to dream big. As The Independent aptly put it: “What a cool way to drift off to sleep.”

We want to hear from the teachers, librarians and parents who use these biographies in their settings, and we also want to hear from the children! If you or your class has a burning question for the author behind this popular series, now is the time to ask.

What are you and your students most curious about? Some example questions to ask…

• How does Maria Isabel choose which Little Person to feature next?

• What is it like working with over 130 different illustrators?

• Which story from the last ten years is her personal favourite?

• Who is the most unusual person featured in one of the books?

Win a Little People, BIG DREAMS Book Set

Add to your collection! Everybody who submits a question will have the opportunity to WIN a book set, including three brand-new titles (Ronaldo is publishing in April, so it is an exclusive!). You could win:

Leonardo da Vinci
William Shakespeare
Frida Kahlo
Rosa Parks
Cristiano Ronaldo

Submit Your Questions

Use the form below to send us your questions. Maria Isabel will be selecting the most interesting and fun entries to answer. Questions can come from adults, individual children or whole classes.

Teachers and parents: Please use the form to submit a question on behalf of your class or an individual pupil!

Deadline: All questions must be submitted by March 20th.

Your Name

The question is from ....

• An adult
• A pupil
• A class

from Class/School is

Class/School Name

Pupil Name

Age of pupil

Role (e.g. librarian, Y4 teacher, parent etc)

Your question(s) for Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara

Email *

Would you like to be entered into the book giveaway?

• Yes

Would you like to sign up for our email newsletter?

• Yes

Submit

Once we’ve gathered your questions, Maria Isabel will be busy penning her answers. Make sure to check back later in the month, when we will publish the full interview right here on the BooksForTopics blog.