Little People, Big Dreams: Ernest Shackleton; Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Olivia Holden

I am a huge fan of Shackleton’s Journey by William Grill and so was thrilled to see the incredible story of Ernest Shackleton added to the Little People, Big Dreams series and his story made accessible to younger readers. This is the story of how a young boy turned his dream of visiting far away lands into a reality.

Ernest Shackleton was born and raised on the family farm in Ireland with a dream of travelling to places far away. Starting out like all young explorers, he dug a hole in his garden in the hope he would end up on the other side of the world. Joining the navy was the start of his adventuring and exploring and would take him towards the South Pole. Inspired and challenged by the feat of Roald Admundsen, Shackleton assembled a crew and embarked on a daring journey to cross Antarctica from sea to sea via south pole. The journey would see the crew face dangers and hazards, and as events unfolded it seemed there was little chance that the crew would return safely. What unfolded on the expedition is one of the most incredible stories of survival and is testament to the optimism and courage that embodied Shackleton.

The story of Ernest Shackleton reads like a fabulous fiction adventure and you regularly have to remind yourself that this remarkable and unbelievable journey is in fact truth not fiction. Delightfully illustrated with bright and bold artwork and with a story told in short and simple sentences, this is an inspirational read for any young person with big dreams of exploring and adventuring to far off lands. At the back of the the book there is a short overview of Shackleton’s life which includes key facts and dates and a historical timeline featuring photographs.

“Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all.” Ernest Shackleton. Little People, Big Dreams: Ernest Shackleton is due to be published on 1st September 2020.

Recommended for 5+.

With thanks to Netgalley and Frances Lincoln Publishers for the ARC.