Queen Elizabeth (A&U edition) (87) (Little People, BIG DREAMS)

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My daughter is 5 and she did a song and dance at school for the Queen's Jubilee in June this year and has asked me a lot about the Queen lately following her funeral on 19th September which has also sadly coincided with the passing of her grandad so we have been able to use this book to talk about the positives too. As the book shows Elizabeth was an inspiration to many and she achieved a lot during her 70 years on the throne, but she was never meant to be the Queen and this book shows how her life changed and she became the heir to the throne.

As a former teacher, I immediately latched onto the possibilities for discussion of a various things that the book might promote. For instance, is being a queen as fairy tale wonderful as it sounds? What did she have to give up to fill the role of queen? What would you be willing to give up to reach your goals? How is someone prepared for such a role as they grow up? How would you feel knowing your every word, action, appearance, and even wardrobe (right down to the purse she carried) will be analyzed and reported on endlessly? How much freedom and power does a modern queen have anyway? How is it possible there have been more than one Queen Elizabeth in history? On a personal note, to instill interest in history, one might venture into creating family trees. Discovering you have royal bloodlines, however minute, is a way to make history personal and more interesting than a recitation of mere facts. And....so much more. When she was only 13, World War Two broke out across the globe. Elizabeth bravely served as an ambulance driver, and after the war ended, she fell in love with and married the charming Prince Philip. In 1952, she was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, and for the next 70 years she would serve as a beacon of continuity, looking after her subjects and serving the country she reigned over. She learns it is a full-time job with constant demands on her time and attention. No wonder she enjoyed the company of dogs and horses!In this book from the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch of modern times. Elizabeth traveled overseas more than 250 times, receiving the most unusual gifts, from a pair of cowboy boots to an elephant called Jumbo. However, nothing felt better than sleeping on the same bed all summer at Balmoral Castle!” It covers her younger life and how she would play with her sister, Margaret when they were younger as well as her brief stint in the services during the Second World War. It talks about her passion and love of animals and I am delighted that she gets to have a Corgi on the cover too. As always, Vegara’s books have the best illustrations! This one kept my niece and nephew engaged and was the perfect springboard to further discussions about our new King, the succession and what it means to be a royal child.

Sadly, she lost her father shortly after and was stunned to discover she was it – the next head of state. I love this book and the entire series consisting of 110 wonderful books for readers ages 4-7. Queen Elizabeth ll was a much beloved queen whose reign lasted 70 years. She was Britain's longest-reigning monarch. She became queen when she was young and took her title and duties very seriously. She was not the typical queen or princess found in fairytales but had to give up many desires and personal aspirations to serve her subjects. She pledged to dedicate her whole life, however long it would be, for the good of others and she faithfully fulfilled that vow. Being a queen wasn’t something Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, or Lilibet as her family called her, had dreamed about nor been prepared for. After all, she was born a princess, the granddaughter of King George. There were many others in line for the throne. Unlike her grandchildren today who are being raised in the shadow of what’s ahead, the first decade of Elizabeth’s life was carefree, with little understanding nor expectation of a royal destiny.Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS! From that day on, she would be taught how to be the next queen. The first lesson was simple: a good queen serves her people, not the other way around.” Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling series of books and games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. At the beginning the series was first published in Spain as Pequeña & GRANDE by Alba Editorial, and now Little People, BIG DREAMS is translated into more than thirty-three languages. Maria Isabel likes to think the success of the series relies on the fact that children love to read real stories about other children’s experiences, lives and journeys. It gives them the strength and the courage to believe in themselves and dream BIG. As The Independent once said: “What a cool way to drift off to sleep.” Little Elizabeth loved dogs and horses and dreamed of living on a farm. But, one day, she heard chants on the streets. Her uncle Edward had renounced the Crown, which meant her father would be the next king, and she heiress to the throne. From that day on, she had to learn how to one day be the queen.