Wanda Hears the Stars A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe by Amy S. Hansen and Wanda Díaz Merced, illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza. BIOGRAPHY, NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2025. $19. 9781623544874
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
When Wanda Diaz Merced was a little girl, she loved to be in the outdoors with her family - she and her father looked at the stars when they went on a fishing trip. She felt a special connection and had lots of questions. She studied Physics in college with her dream being to study the stars, but her diabetes took her vision while at college so she needed to find another route. One day, while she was experiencing a special radio her friend had engineered, Wanda was able to hear sounds coming from space and the stars. The door to her studies re-opened as she had found another path. She is a scientist and an advocate for those with disabilities.
What an inspirational story! And how brave she must have been to apply to NASA, which required her to move from Puerto Rico, learn English and find her way around a new campus without sight. I can see my star lovers and my biography readers really liking this introduction to Wanda Merced. Includes a lot of backmatter: Glossary (both of science terms and Spanish words), a note from Wanda and the author, notes about the radio, as well as a timeline and bibliography. Wanda is from Puerto Rico
Lisa Librarian

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