Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Yoko Ono by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara explores the fascinating life of a person most recognisable as the wife of John Lennon. But there's soooo much more to her life! Ono was an artist who grew up in Japan, then moved to the USA to study art.

I appreciate that the author handled certain parts of her life with gentleness and compassion. That's been the case with many of the people who've been covered in this series, and I think it's just wonderful.

At the end is a section with more detailed information on life, suitable for older readers. Inspirational and educational both, this entire series is great, and full of delightful art to engage younger audiences! Highly recommended!

WoW! All of Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara books must be one of the best little books to purchase for children, these are the best-selling series of books and educational 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.

Little Yoko Ono had everything she could dream of - except time with her busy parents. After years of struggle and hunger during the war, Yoko made her way to New York to meet other free spirits and study art. One day, John Lennon came to see her work and together, they imagined a better world: one in which war was no longer raged everyone worked for peace.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Born into a wealthy family, Yoko had everything except time with her busy parents and a true friend. Writing wishes and hanging them on the tree branches near the local temple helped her feel less alone. After surviving through war, she would make her way to New York and this is where she would meet John Lennon. Together they dreamed of a better world, a world in which the world could live in peace, a world in which the world could live as one…

Rather naively, I associate the name Yoko Ono with John Lennon and loved this child-friendly introduction to a lady who deserves to be recognised for her own achievements and not merely as the lady who was married to a famous member of The Beatles.

As always, Little People, Big Dreams offers a really accessible, engaging and informative introduction to Yoko Ono’s life including her relationship with her parents and how her lifestyle choices ultimately led to them disowning her, her lonely life as a child, the family’s wartime escape from Tokyo in 1945, her move to New York, her impact on the performance and visual arts scene and her relationship and work with John Lennon.

What I love about Yoko’s story is the message about being yourself even if it makes you seem different. She only ever wanted to be herself and was not afraid to say what she thought or express herself in her own way. Being different and having different views and ideas is a wonderful and beautiful thing. Every child needs to hear Yoko Ono’s words, ‘You can change the world by being yourself.’

Yoko has always been driven by a desire to do something better for the world and believes in causes that promote peace. Through the song ‘Imagine’ written with Lennon and the ‘Imagine Peace Tower’ that she created after his death, she has helped provide the platforms for others to help change the world. In her words, ‘A dream dreamt alone is just a dream, but a dream dreamt together becomes a reality.’ What another fabulous message for children to hear and to hold on to.

The story is told in short and simple sentence and is delightfully illustrated with bright and bold artwork. At the back of the the book there is a short overview of her life so far which includes key facts and dates and a historical timeline featuring photographs.

With thanks to Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy that was received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for 5+.

Another great edition in this amazing series of books.
Great story alongside fantastic illustrations.
These books are great for learning little ones about inspirational people.

Another wonderful addition to this series. It is very exciting to see more representation and diversity within this series. These books are wonderful presents for small people who will keep them for a long long time.

My thanks to Quarto Group - Francis Lincoln Children’s Books for a temporary digital edition via NetGalley of ‘Yoko Ono’, written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Momoko Abe in exchange for an honest review.

This is No 71 in the publishers highly acclaimed ‘Little People, BIG DREAMS’ series of mini-biographies that seek to introduce young readers, aged 4-7, to the lives and works of people who have excelled in various fields.

I have long admired Yoko Ono and so was delighted to learn that she was the latest subject in the series. I found this a wonderful introduction to her life and work and was especially impressed with Momoko Abe’s delicate illustrations that perfectly depicted key scenes from Yoko’s life.

For a long time I had only been aware of Yoko Ono in relation to John Lennon though then when studying art history I learnt of her contributions as an artist and member of the avant-garde art movement, Fluxus. Reading this little book has now provided details of her childhood and youth. What an inspirational life!

As usual, following the main text there is a timeline with photographs and suggestions for further reading, again appropriate for young readers.

I have found this an excellent series and one that I have been enthusiastically recommending to friends with children and grandchildren. It is also certain to be of interest to educators and both school and public librarians.

I have since bought its beautifully presented hardback edition.

I knew very little about Yoko Ono before reading this and I enjoyed learning about the woman who was so much more than the wife of a mega famous musician.

These biographies are age appropriate; inspiring and interesting, but not overwhelming. They have bright, beautiful illustrations, striking covers, and look great on a shelf together. I love the diversity of the people featured in this series. Artists, athletes, authors, activists, actors, explorers, entertainers, musicians and scientists.

Thank you NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adore the Little People, Big Dreams series and this book, focusing on Yoko One, was an interesting read. Filled with glorious illustrations, these texts are a fabulous springboard for classroom discussion. I love how they cover such a broad range of famous faces, from scientists to musicians.

The story of Yoko Ono is an interesting read, particularly as it focuses more on her upbringing and work as an artist, rather than merely on her relationship with John Lennon. The pictures are perfectly suited to the story, having a feel of Japanese embroidery in style.

I will be using this book as part of my Person of the Week work in a Year 5 classroom and think it would be a welcome addition to any school bookshelf. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Yet another great read from this series.
Was great to learn about Yoko Ono's life before she met John Lennon.

Great book, and perfect for children and adults alike.

Yoko Ono has been vilified on a similar level to Mary Magdalene. One supposedly tempted Christ, the other purportedly brought down The Beatles, via her relationship with John Lennon. Despite living the vast majority of her life in the public eye, little is truly known about Yoko. I'm delighted to see Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara has produced a title in the Little People, Big Dreams series to honour her extraordinary life. Perhaps a new generation of wee people will grow up admiring and respecting this woman, as she deserves. Maria's words are beautifully brought to life by Momoko Abe's gorgeous illustrations. A lovely read!

I really loved this children's picture book about Yoko Ono. I love John Lennon and The Beatles, so I was thrilled to be able to read this wonderful book. The book had lovely, bright and colourful illustrations, and it told the story of Yoko from when she was a small child up until she was an adult. I found the book very interesting and it was good to read about her life as a child, as I did not know about what she went through in her childhood. I love the peace work she did with John and the work she still does to help bring peace to the world. This is a great introduction to Yoko and her life, for young readers to enjoy. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This latest instalment in the successful Little People Big Dreams series starts like a fairy-tale, with the words ‘Once upon a time, there was a little girl called Yoko’. The book focuses on Yoko’s creativity, imagination and unconventional ideas, showing how she was the heart and soul of trailblazing events. I liked that Yoko is introduced to young readers as an influential artist first and foremost, rather than as John Lennon’s wife.

We have the volume on John Lennon in our collection, and my children enjoyed the overlap between the two books in the scene of the newlywed couple in their peace camp in their hotel bed, singing for the anti-war movement from their honeymoon. We enjoyed comparing the different styles of the two illustrations of this scene. Monoko Abe’s illustrations are particularly whimsical, and perfectly match the at times playful tone of the story. The book deals with the subject of loss in a sensitive manner, and ends on the uplifting message that ‘a dream dreamt alone is just a dream, but a dream dreamt together becomes a reality’.

Another totally inspirational book in this series! Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Kids for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ll be adding a hard copy to our collection of Little People Big Dreams books when it’s published!

Yoko Ono is a wonderful addition to the best-selling Little People, Big Dreams books.
Its beautiful illustrations by Momoko Abe are a stunning addition to Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara's words.
The book gives the reader a different perspective of Yoko Ono that most adults all ready have, the timeline at the rear of the book also adds to the reader's understanding of her life.

I particularly liked the following phrases:
Because a dream dreamt alone is just a dream, but a dream dreamt together becomes a reality.
These are such powerful words that can inspire the youngest of minds

I was dubious about this book. It's a book about someone who is famous for being the wife of somebody famous. Just before I read this I was reading The Good Girls Guide To Murder, one of the characters in it is quite obviously based on Yoko Ono and to be honest, if I'd not have been reading that I think I'd probably have given this a miss. But I was intrigued and I took the timing of it to be a sign that I was meant to read it.
I sat down with my 6 you and we read this and I think it was my favourite so far of the Little People Big Dreams books. I also felt that it went into a bit more detail that some of the other books. Maybe to show that Yoko Ono is more than John Lennon's wife, she was an influential person in her own right, who had so much adversity to come through to get to where she is now. I have a newfound respect for the woman.

Can't get enough of the little people big dreams series. This book is just as special as the other books in the collection.
This book felt a lot more whimsical than any other books in the series. I love how spiritual it was, and felt more like a fairytale than a true story. I loved it!

This book is very special!