Reviews

Ayrton Senna by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara

fernandie's review against another edition

4.0

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

nataliya_x's review against another edition

3.0

I know nothing about racing. Ok, let me amend that — I watched 50% of a Formula One race once, so I’m basically a semi-pro, but still. But a friend of mine calls Ayrton Senna his childhood hero, so I was curious. And now I can say I’ve read a book about Senna, even if I’m quite a few times older than the intended audience of this book.

It’s meant for very young readers - future racing fans, I suppose, or more like the children of current fans who will surely hear Senna’s name said by parents once or twice or a few hundred times - and has simple text and adorable pictures. Its moral seems to be - work hard and be kind to people, the lessons that we can always use a refresher in.

Ayrton Senna seems like he was a guy full of personality, and a person who left quite a legacy behind, and so one of these days I may actually read a book about him appropriate for my chronological age. I suppose if I do, then I can call this my gateway book. So there’s that.

3 stars.
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Buddy read with Dennis - all 5 minutes of it.

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Recommended by: Dennis

villyidol's review against another edition

3.0

"If we want to change something, we need to start with the children."
- Ayrton Senna

Well, I’m glad to see my own childhood hero make it into this series, next to people like David Attenborough, Stephen Hawking, Nelson Mandela and other inspirational figures.

The Little People, BIG DREAMS series is written for very young readers, and I have to say for me it seems to be more about owning the books about the people I admire than about actually reading them. Or at least that’s the impression I’m getting from this, my actual first read.

It’s a cute book. But to say that this is only scratching the surface is almost a stretch. The lesson to be taken away here seems to be to work hard to achieve your goals and overcome your weaknesses and to still be compassionate even in a tense environment. To illustrate this the book uses the incident during practice for the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix, where Senna saved Erik Comas’ life, at least by Comas’ own account. Although it didn’t quite happen the way it is depicted here.







But it is a children’s book, so I guess that’s fine. Other stories, especially from Senna’s childhood, I’m not sure they happened at all. And even if they did, why include a story where little Ayrton is brought home by the police after he had taken his father’s car and driven it on the road? Even if he had actually done this, which I doubt, it’s certainly not a good example for children.

This book feels like a missed opportunity. Why not include his other dream, besides being Formula 1 world champion, that of helping children to fulfill their own dreams in life, by giving them the chance to have a proper education? The Instituto Ayrton Senna is his legacy. The gift to his country and its children, which he loved so dearly. It seems like an obvious choice for this book. Maybe it would have necessitated to deal with his fatal accident, because of the timing of it all. But maybe one could find a way to circumnavigate this in such a way to make it appropriate for young children? Well, it gets mentioned in the afterword, so there’s that. But I feel like there was potential to make this a great book instead of an okay one.

I’m still glad this book exists.

And every time the engines roar at the circuit and a new race is about to start, the crowds remember little Ayrton. The bold, bright kid loved by millions and missed by all, the greatest driver of all time.

beaubooksbelle's review against another edition

5.0

As always, this series is so impressive and engaging. The life of Ayrton Senna is beautifully narrated, with captivating illustration. Another one to add to the collection! Also a great gift.

martereadsbooks's review against another edition

informative inspiring lighthearted

4.0

briarsreviews's review against another edition

4.0

Another addition to my favourite children's non-fiction series! This picture book series is honestly one of the greatest little series I've ever come across.

Ayrton Senna is another fabulous individual I had not heard of, so there was lots of learning so me! He was racing and driving around long before he had his license. So, like any good racer, he decided to head towards Formula One. Oh, and he loved safety in racing. That's respectable.

These books tend to teach me something new, which is a great thing for me as a reader. I love learning and I love picture books.

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

graypeape's review against another edition

5.0

Another great addition to the Little People, Big Dreams series, this time about Ayrton Senna, a Brazilian racing driver. We learn how he started as a go-kart racer at a young age, eventually working his way up to becoming a Formula One racer, and widely regarded as the best and most influential Formula One driver of all time. The artwork throughout captures his spirit well.

#AyrtonSenna #NetGalley

emilymyhren's review against another edition

informative inspiring

4.0

ind24's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

Fun, informative and exciting! Can cater wonderfully to the audience for whom this book is written! 

smorrison4's review against another edition

5.0

Thank you to the Little People, Big Dreams series for teaching me about Ayrton Senna. I had never heard of Ayrton prior to reading this book. It was interesting learning about his passion for racing and charity work. I love these books!

Thank you NetGalley for the DRC.