Robert Freedman, noted biographer for children and young adults, gives us the inspirational and implausible story of a boy who after losing his sight in an accident at home finds his way to the National Institute for Blind Youth in Paris where he struggles with the options available for reading and writing for blind people. Inspired by the work of a Military officer who spoke at the school and presented his method called sonography which represented sounds as a series of dots and lines. Freedman's no frills descriptions of the events in Braille's life provide a clear and concise telling of the events that led to Braille's invention of a raised-dot alphabet and the struggles to see it implemented. A great reference for students learning about the triumph of human endeavor and the notion that necessity is the mother of invention. ( )

Louis Braille, who was completely blind, attended the first-ever school for the blind in the world in Paris, France, and developed the Braille system from different writing systems as a student – including a type of military code. He refined the system throughout his life, but the first version was popular in his school when he was still a student there. Previously, people who were blind did not read or write at all. Books intended for the blind were rare as the way that they were printed was difficult and expensive. This book is from this days as a child losing his sight, to a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend school for people like him. Braille travels from his small village to the large city of Paris.

The biography of a 19th century blind Frenchman, Louis Braille, who developed a raised dot system for reading and writing.

jB

A simple, yet detailed account of one life who changed life for the blind for eternity makes for a great read. I absolutely love Freedman's writing style. He adds quite a bit of narration throughout the story, making history come to life. The drawings throughout the book go perfect with the content and have a soft undertone that reminds me of the French past.