An engaging and empowering tribute to the power of books—and to a trailblazer who made them more accessible.
A glimpse at the man who helped pioneer audiobooks.
At age 5, Robert B. Irwin (1883-1951) became blind, indicated in Fortson’s illustrations by empty white irises. Sounds, especially the melody of chirping birds, had always entranced him, and though he learned to read braille, as a slow finger-reader, he dreamed of “talking books” that he could listen to without help. Eager to make books more accessible, he worked with the newly formed American Foundation for the Blind, which led to the creation of the National Library Service, a braille library that served readers across the U.S. After learning that not all blind people could read braille, Irwin set about making the “talking books” of his fantasy a reality, hiring engineers to create recordings of people reading books aloud. Lacika’s narrative highlights Irwin’s inquisitive nature and determination and speaks to the joys of reading, no matter the format. Near the end, the author reminds readers that audiobooks aren’t just for blind people—a small nod to the concept of universal design that she expands on in an appended note. Though her main text focuses on Irwin’s accomplishments, she emphasizes in her backmatter that he worked with a larger community to effect change. Fortson’s charming artwork includes embroidered elements; swirling ribbons and linework visually capture the sounds that so mesmerized Irwin. The most poignant page depicts blind readers testifying to the pleasures of being able to read on their own.
An engaging and empowering tribute to the power of books—and to a trailblazer who made them more accessible. (Picture-book biography. 4-9)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
ISBN: 9781665912679
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
Memorable art earns this biography a respectable place on the shelf.
George Washington Carver tended a secret garden of flowers before becoming known for his skill in agriculture.
The book opens in 1921 as Carver addresses the U.S. Congress, astounding them with dozens of uses for the peanut. The narration then takes readers back to Carver’s childhood to discover how he reached that career highlight. As a child, he loved flowers, but he was warned not to waste time on plants that couldn’t be eaten or sold, so he kept his colorful garden hidden in the woods. Shut out of schools because he was black, he studied nature independently and learned through experimentation. Eventually, he started caring for neighbors’ sick plants, becoming known as “the Plant Doctor.” At 12, he left the farm on which he was raised and attained a formal education, after which he taught students at the Tuskegee Institute and farmers with a mobile classroom mounted on a wagon. This journey through Carver’s childhood and accomplishments ends with Carver’s simple but memorable words, “Regard Nature. Revere Nature. Respect Nature.” The substantial text holds readers on each spread long enough to appreciate not only the subject matter of the painted illustrations, but Morrison’s artistic techniques—strong strokes and careful dots, artful combinations of textures and shapes—which create lush forest scenes and portraitlike human faces and forms. The childhood story feels more cohesive than the final pages, which list his adult accomplishments but lack the narrative thread.
Memorable art earns this biography a respectable place on the shelf. (timeline, bibliography, further reading) (Picture book/biography. 4-9)Pub Date: Jan. 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-06-243015-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 8, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
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BOOK REVIEW
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist.
Frida Kahlo’s strong affection for and identification with animals form the lens through which readers view her life and work in this picture-book biography.
Each two-page spread introduces one or more of her pets, comparing her characteristics to theirs and adding biographical details. Confusingly for young readers, the beginning pages reference pets she owned as an adult, yet the illustrations and events referred to come from earlier in her life. Bonito the parrot perches in a tree overlooking young Frida and her family in her childhood home and pops up again later, just before the first mention of Diego Rivera. Granizo, the fawn, another pet from her adult years, is pictured beside a young Frida and her father along with a description of “her life as a little girl.” The author’s note adds important details about Kahlo’s life and her significance as an artist, as well as recommending specific paintings that feature her beloved animals. Expressive acrylic paintings expertly evoke Kahlo’s style and color palette. While young animal lovers will identify with her attachment to her pets and may enjoy learning about the Aztec origins of her Xolo dogs and the meaning of turkeys in ancient Mexico, the book may be of most interest to those who already have an interest in Kahlo’s life.
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4269-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
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BOOK REVIEW
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