The "Little People, Big Dreams" book series by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara presents, for readers ages three to seven, biographies of famous scientists, political figures, athletes, authors, activists, artists, and more. The most recent, Leonard Cohen, brings forward the story of the musician, novelist, poet, and Zen Buddhist monk for whom we hold a special place in our hearts.
Focusing on what was important to Cohen and why, this book starts by naming some of his influences. Through Agathe Bray-Bourret's expressive illustrations, we see Cohen gazing out his Montreal window at the breathtaking wonder of a bird singing and, at the synagogue on Saturdays, listening with awe to ancient stories that inspired him to find his own voice. Most moving and revealing is this passage about the impact of Cohen's father's death, when the boy was only nine:
"On the day of the funeral, Leonard took one of his dad's bow ties, tucked a message for him inside, and buried it in the backyard. It was the first time he had ever written something from his heart."
Many threads of his life that Cohen's adult fans will appreciate get mentioned: Marianne as his muse, Judy Collins and the birth of "Suzanne," the years of labor it took for him to craft "Hallelujah." Although the book makes clear that Cohen became a global star, it emphasizes that "what really mattered to him lay beyond the spotlight. He was a loving father to Adam and Lorca and spent years in a monastery as a Zen monk."
At the back of the book, readers can delve into a two-page biographical sketch with more details, illustrated with four black-and-white photos. It concludes with a summary that captures the spirit of Cohen and of this book: "Leonard's story reminds us that all our feelings matter, and by expressing them creatively, we can connect with others and ourselves."
