The inspiring true tale of young siblings who loved to make stories – and grew up to be among English literature’s finest writers.

Many years ago, the four children of the Brontë family – Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne – lived in a windswept house by the Yorkshire moors with their father. Although their lives were often filled with sadness and their world was only as large as the distance they could walk, their inner worlds were bound only by their imaginations.

Hungry for stories, these children devoured novels and poetry, history and fables. And with the gift of a group of toy soldiers, they were inspired to make their own tiny books … a passion that would last them a lifetime.

The Little Books of the Little Brontës is the story of the Brontë family who grew up to become some of the most famous authors in the world.

Children will probably have heard of the novels, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Agnes Grey but they most likely don’t know the story behind the writers and their young lives.

This hardback book showcases what hard lives the children had, including the death of their mother and two eldest siblings. It also showcases how the children’s love of stories helped them through the tough times and how they wrote books when they were little, creating their own little books from odd bits of paper and painting illustrations within them.

I loved this book. It is so informative and interesting. It teaches about the Brontë’s lives but in an engaging and intriguing manner. The text is written to the right age level and the illustrations are beautiful and capture the scenes perfectly.

Hopefully, The Little Books of the Little Brontës will make children curious about the family and want to learn more. There is also a guide on how to make your own books at the back too which I am sure the readers will love and use.

Sara O’Leary is a writer for both children and adults. The Ghost in the House is her first novel. She has a degree in screenwriting from the University of British Columbia and teaches at Concordia University in Montreal. A former literary columnist for The Vancouver Sun and CBC Radio, she also writes short fiction. She has written a number of critically acclaimed books for children, including This is Sadie, which was adapted for the stage by New York City Children’s Theater.