Rafa Nadal (113) (Little People, BIG DREAMS) Hardcover – 6 Jun. 2024

Great book

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!

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 whose humility and drive to succeed make 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.

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

Another wonderfully illustrated book about one of the greatest athletes of the last few years. The book follows Rafal Nadal's tennis career from his childhood to winning grand slams in easily understandable steps. A great and inspiring story for any young athlete!

I didn’t know anything about the life of Rafa Nadal apart from playing tennis, so was happy to find out more in this fab picture book for younger children. He was born on the Spanish island of Mallorca and had his first tennis lesson at the age of 4! He was a determined player even winning a tennis tournament with a broken finger! He’s had lots of injuries over the years, but he’s always come back to reclaim his place at the top of his game. He’s known for his kindness on and off the court, particularly helping with a cleanup after his Mallorcan hometown was hit by devastating floods. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for my digital copy via the NetGalley app.

A very short summary of Rafa's life story from where it all started to what he's achieved. This does not have abundant information but gives a decent introduction to Rafa. My main concern with this book is the illustration. None of them look even remotely close to Rafa expect for the head band. Since this is a picture book, it was a bummer to not connect with the images.