Sanchez Vegara, Maria Isabel. Taylor Swift. Borghild Fallberg, Illus. Little People, Big Dreams. Frances Lincoln, 06/2024. [32]pp. Biography. Trade $15.99. 978-0-7112-9509-4. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.
In this series of picture book biographies, the format is similar to that of a fictional picture book. The story is told using paragraphs set onto each full-spread illustration (which resembles watercolor). The text is also similar to that of a picture book story: “On a farm in Pennsylvania, surrounded by Christmas trees, lived a girl named Taylor.” Half of the text focuses on the subjects’ youth, the other half on their achievements as adults, which makes sense since most of them are fairly young. Containing just one short paragraph per page, this will be enjoyed both as a readaloud and as a book younger school-age children can read on their own. Each book ends with b&w photos of the subject and a timeline pointing out significant achievements. Although this series isn’t groundbreaking, it will fill a need for books on popular culture and includes ethnically diverse people as subjects and in the illustrations. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool