Aretha Franklin: Volume 44

About the author

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Maria Isabel Sanchez 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 p eople. From Mahatma Gandhi to Aretha Franklin, to Prince, Sanchez 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. Amy Blackwell is a painter, printmaker, knitter, maker, writer, reader and is very fond of pancakes. Amy is based in the midlands and has a small studio space at backlit in Nottingham - this is where the magic (doodling/printing/bad singing) happens. She's inspired by the weird and wonderful, clashing colours, the natural world, history, fashion and folklore. She paints, prints and draws and has done since day one.

Amy Blackwell