Little People, BIG DREAMS: Black Voices

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. ​ Lisbeth Kaiser is a children’s book author and copywriter. She specialises in children’s books about revolutionary people. Two of her books in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series, Maya Angelou and Emmeline Pankhurst, were selected for the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer Book List, recognising the best feminist books for young readers. Lisbeth lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children. Leire Salaberria was born in Andoain (Spain) in 1983. Currently, she lives and works in San Sebastian. She has majored in Fine Arts in Bilbao and studied a postgraduate in Children Illustration in Barcelona. Leire has exhibited her artwork in different countries around the world. Her work has been selected to appear in Bologna Children's Book Fair 2012, IV Ibero-American catalog of illustration 2013, 2014, and the Sharjah International Book Fair 2013, 2014. Since 2011, when she published her first book, she's illustrated several books in Italy, Mexico and Spain. At the moment, she continues to illustrate children's books, which is her favorite type of work.Mai Ly Degnan is an award-winning illustrator and illustration professor, currently based in Baltimore, Maryland. She earned her BFA in Illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design, as well as her MFA in Illustration Practice at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Mai Ly enjoys creating humorous illustrations with tedious line work, pattern making, and bright colors. Her work has been recognized by The Society of Illustrators of New York and Los Angeles, American Illustration, and 3x3. Selected clients include: Boston Globe, Baltimore City Paper, VICE Magazine, NPR, and Frankie Magazine. MARTA ANTELO graduated with a Fine Arts degree in Valencia, where she was born. After graduation, she moved to Madrid, where she works as a freelance illustrator. She brings delicate textures to her illustrations. Her client list includes: The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, National Geographic Kids, and Scholastic.