A Picture Book of Louis Braille

Picture Book Biography

by David A. Adler, John Wallner (Illustrator), Alexandra Wallner (Illustrator)

Presents the life of the nineteenth-century Frenchman, accidentally blinded as a child, who originated the raised dot system of reading and writing used throughout the world by the blind.

Genres: Biography, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, History, Disability, World History

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

David Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.

Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.

Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.

As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.

(source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adler makes the remarkable Louis Braille come to life and I would definitely add it to my biography section at school. I think this biography could work for grades 3-6, depending on the student.

[Susan Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I formerly took a training course to become a Braille typist and found this book utterly engaging. I had no knowledge of Louis Braille or his amazing accomplishments and short life. The story was well paced and presented, giving a broad overview of Louis' struggles and triumphs both at home and at the National Institute for Blind Children. The colorful and fanciful illustrations depict the homes and outfits of that time in European history. As an adult history buff, I found many interesting facts nestled in these pages. I highly recommend this book to young readers wishing to learn more about this innovative young man and his wonderful Braille language. The back of the book also features the alphabet in Braille - an added and fascinating bonus!

[Stephanie Earl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m incredibly disappointed that a book about Braille isn’t offered in Braille for children. I’ve tried to find this in twin vision (words printed and in Braille) for my blind 6 yr old so he could read it, but no luck anywhere. I’m happy to see they added the Braille alphabet and numbers on back for children that are sighted to learn a little, just disappointed they don’t offer a book about Braille in Braille.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before Braille there were raised dots that formed the same shapes as the letters. Many sight seeing people didn't want to change to Braille, bc it was easy for them to read the dots that were shaped like letters. Plus they would need to reprint the same books in braille. However, Braille was much easier for the blind to read. Braille was translated into many languages.

[Memory Toast]

I didn't like this book quite as much as Who Was Louis Braille?, but it did captivate my 2nd grade students and gave them all the basic knowledge of Braille's life.

[Alvana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love that the braille alphabet was added to the end of this book! My 5 year old loved that!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Presents the life of the nineteenth-century Frenchman, accidentally blinded as a child, who originated the raised dot system of reading and writing used throughout the world by the blind.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good simple book for kids. Nice overview but some interesting details are left out.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry to leave a negative review of what was essentially an okay book, but I had some major issues with it.
- There's an illustration of 3-year-old Louis covering his bleeding eye with his hands, and a bloody awl is lying on the ground next to him. Ew.
- I tried to put a positive note into my voice and emphasize Louis's bravery, skills, and amazing resourcefulness. But it's hard to sound positive when the school he attends used to be a prison, still looks like a prison, and "he stays there for the rest of his life."
- My kids and I had finally relaxed and started to enjoy the story when Louis's struggle with tuberculosis is described in tragic, dramatic language. The illustration is of him sitting in a chair, ill...then the next illustration is of that chair, empty.
- The Braille alphabet in the back of the book is a great addition, and I was excited to see it. However, I quickly noticed that whoever designed it had used all uppercase letters and had included the Braille dot that signifies a capital letter before each one. Technically correct, but it makes it hard for kids to grasp that Braille is really a 6-dot system. Using lowercase letters would have been much clearer.
I love, love, love the story of Louis Braille and as a child I read and re-read many books about him. This one, however, was just written in what I consider a very negative tone. I would not recommend it.

[lucem · Rating 5 out of 5]

CIP: Presents the life of the nineteenth-century Frenchman, accidentally blinded as a child, who originated the raised dot system of reading and writing used throughout the world by the blind. Thermoform braille leaves alternate with print pages.

This would be a great book for parents to read with their blind child or for a blind sibling to read with a sighted sibling as the text is printed in English and embossed in braille on plastic inserts. Text is easy to read in a storytelling format. Would be great for K-2nd listeners or even higher up if doing biography reports.

Reviewed in Booklist (Apr 15, 1997) and School Library Journal (June 1997).

[Bao Chau]

I would highly recommended for children to read. reading this book could give you a lesson that everyone could learn that be strong and positive. the book was telling a story about the little boy named Louis Braille. he was a person created the braille system for blind people. he was born normally like the other kid. once day, he was playing with his father work tool and it poked one of his eyes. the infective spread to the other eyes so Louis ending up lost both of his eyes at young age. Louis was strong mind person. because of his positive thought and want to do a lot of things like the other kids does, Louis created braille system for blind people to read.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed most of the books from this series by David A. Adler, this book included. I felt it was well-written with good quality information. The illustrations help the story along and I liked that the story wasn't too simple. My son was especially excited to find a page at the back with the Braille alphabet for him to feel. I think this was an obvious addition for a book like this, so I was excited it was included! Definitely extra points for that.

Overall a great book for learning about the life of Louis Braille.

[Ashleigh De nicola]

I would recommend this book for all children to read. It teaches children what being blind is and hoe Braille came about. Louis Braille was born normally, but got into an accident at a young age that resulted in him being blind. He was a very ambitious boy who never let negativity get to him. Being positive and determined lead him to do many things other kids were doing. He created the braille system so he could read again as well as other blind people.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Alder always does a wonderful job with his mini-biography picture books for young readers. In this book Alder briefly focused on the different periods of Louis Braille's life, the struggles he faced after loosing his sight and his devotion to creating a system of reading and writing for the blind. This is a great addition to any elementary library or classroom.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely illustrated book about Louis Braille, and the difficulties in the adoption of Braille as a standard. I especially liked how the book presented the difficulties and how he overcame them. The book had a page with the alphabet and corresponding braille.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would use this book to teach about Louis Braille or as an example of a biography. This is a great, informative book with amazing illustrations. It tells of Louis Braille, the inventor of Braille. This book demonstrates overcoming obstacles and never giving up.

[ReadingWench · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great biography on Louis Braille, the man who helped the blind to see. Alphabet letters in braille are included in this book

AR 4.8