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. ​ Ashling Lindsay is an illustrator from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first book she illustrated was called The Night Box and was written by Louise Greig. It has sold in 10 territories, been nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Illustration award, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Klaus Flugge Prize for illustration, Teach Primary Book Awards and AOI illustration award picturebook category.

Best New Books in LGBTQ+ – ‘Simple series of leading figures in history and their achievements with their personal life interwoven.’

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. ​ Ashling Lindsay is an illustrator from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first book she illustrated was called The Night Box and was written by Louise Greig. It has sold in 10 territories, been nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Illustration award, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Klaus Flugge Prize for illustration, Teach Primary Book Awards and AOI illustration award picturebook category.

Best New Books in LGBTQ+ – ‘Simple series of leading figures in history and their achievements with their personal life interwoven.’

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. ​ Ashling Lindsay is an illustrator from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first book she illustrated was called The Night Box and was written by Louise Greig. It has sold in 10 territories, been nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Illustration award, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Klaus Flugge Prize for illustration, Teach Primary Book Awards and AOI illustration award picturebook category.

Best New Books in LGBTQ+ – ‘Simple series of leading figures in history and their achievements with their personal life interwoven.’