'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Tuesday 29 January 2019

Review: LM Montgomery (Little People, Big Dreams)

Lucy Maud Montgomery is one of Canada's most famous exports, with her Anne of Green Gables series loved by many readers around the world.

In this book, one of the Little People, Big Dreams series, her life story is told in words and pictures.

Maud, as she was known, was born in 1874 and spent most of her childhood living with her grandparents on Prince Edward Island, the place which would later feature in her novels.

Maud's experience of the Island's natural beauty was great inspiration in her dreams, and the stories she created.

Although she had little support from her family for her writing, Maud didn't give up.

She worked as a teacher, and wrote for a newspaper (the only woman on staff), but never stopped writing the stories she wanted to write.

With her story about the orphaned Anne coming to live at Green Gables, Maud re-invented her own not so wonderful childhood, turning it into an imaginary life, the one she wished she could have had.

The Little People, Big Dreams books are written to be read as a story, but at the end of the story the facts are clearly set out as a reference. Here a timeline, complete with photos, summarises the key events of LM Montgomery's life.

LM Montgomery's story is not all happy, but it shows dreams can become real, and that even difficult times can be turned into better things.

Title: LM Montgomery (Little People, Big Dreams)
Author: Isabel  Sanchez Vegara
Illustrator: Anuska Allepuz
Publisher: Quarto Group UK, $19.99
Publication Date: September 2019
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781786032959
For ages: 4 -- 7 year olds
Type: Junior non-fiction