Tchaikovsky

Discover the incredible story of world-renowned composer Tchaikovsky, whose groundbreaking work includes some of the most beloved pieces of classical music.  Born in the Ural Mountains in Russia, Tchaikovsky first started taking piano lessons at the age of five. Though his talent for the instrument was obvious from an early age, his parents encouraged him to work hard at school so that he could have a practical, sensible job. But it was at the keys of his piano where he felt most at home.  After graduating from school and working for the government for three years, Tchaikovsky decided that he had to follow his dream and began studying music. He honed his craft, studying with some of the best composers in his country, and went on to create some of most famous pieces of music ever written, such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.   Today, Tchaikovsky is regarded as one of the most influential musicians to have ever lived. His music, with its emotional, soaring melodies, is some of the most recognisable in classical music, and has been played in concert halls and theatres across the world.   This inspirational book also features dynamic illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the composer’s life.    Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.     This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.

Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, born in Barcelona, Spain, is a writer and creative director in constant search of new concepts for children’s books. In 2014, she created a book for her two twin nieces for their birthday, which shortly thereafter became the first book in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series. This multimillion-copy bestselling series of picture books explores the lives of outstanding people. From Mahatma Gandhi to Aretha Franklin, to Prince, Sánchez Vegara researches complex careers and makes them accessible to young children, with her unique and mindful style of writing. She works with a diverse team of illustrators to make each book lively, eye-catching and motivating. Working for more than fifteen years for clients in top advertising agencies, her books combine creativity with learning, aiming to establish a new and fresh relationship between children and pop culture. ​ Elena Hager is a Russian-American artist. She was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. Her love of drawing and painting began when she first held a crayon as a child. She worked with oil paint on canvas for eight years and studied for a year to be a fine painting restorer but had to leave when she moved to the United States. She enjoys reading books with her son, and those treasured moments reminded her of her innermost dream to become a children’s book illustrator and create vivid, vibrant, colourful art.