DAVID BECKHAM, latest in Frances Lincoln Children's Books series Little People, BIG DREAMS

DAVID BECKHAM (Little People,BIG DREAMS series)
MARIA ISABEL SANCHEZ VEGARA (illus. Fernando Martín)
Frances Lincoln Children's Books (non-affiliate Amazon link)
$15.99 ebook edition, available now

Rating: 3* of five

The Publisher Says: From the bestselling biography series Little People, BIG DREAMS, discover the life of David Beckham, the legendary soccer player.

Learn about inspiring story of David Beckham! The much-loved British soccer player who grew up dreaming of scoring goals for his favorite team.

Little David always knew that he wanted to be a soccer player. Growing up, he and his family supported the British team Manchester United, and he dreamed of being part of their squad. He spent years playing for local clubs and joined Manchester United’s youth academy as a teen. After entering the first team under the leadership of Alex Ferguson, it soon became clear that David was a star on the field.

With Manchester United, he won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League all in one season, a pioneering feat! He went on to become captain of the England team and a hero to people across his country. Away from the pitch, David had fallen in love with Victoria, a successful singer. They got married and everyone became obsessed with their love story!

When he left Manchester United, David, Victoria and their children moved to Spain, and he played for Real Madrid as part of a superstar squad. Soccer continued to take him around the world—to LA in California, and back again to Europe. When it came to retire from playing, David couldn’t keep away from the beautiful game. He helped to start a new team, Inter Miami CF, in Florida, elevating the sport in the U.S.

A soccer legend who is loved by all, David’s achievements are the culmination of a lifetime of hard work and talent.

This powerful book features quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the soccer player's life.

Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling biography series for kids that explores 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.

This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Triumph of the Will for soccer/football fans, just in time for Beckham's 50th birthday today. So heteronormative I could feel a wedding ring recrudescing onto my left ring finger.

As always I approve of the art's aesthetic...the subject, heroically celebrating Beckham's sports career, I deplore as a model to present to kids. Any kids.

Little guy starts focusing early!

Rewards reinforce self-belief.

Talent + training = success!

Trimuph to triumph!

See, kids? Be straight, love your family more than your job, you can be like Beckham! (Also Victoria was never, ever, ever that plumptious.)

So, no. This is not my kind of story to tell kids. Valorizing sports stars is, to my mind, a terrible idea. A lot of young boys are cuckoo for these prodigies, so would like this book.

Up to you if this is messaging you support.