Gare Thompson's In-Depth Exploration of Helen Keller's Life and Legacy

RR Waller: This series is an excellent introduction to biography, a genre many will not have considered at an “early age”. They are well-researched, written well and select some very inspirational and interesting people.

As with many books, I recommend that parents should read (or skip-read) them first to ensure they are prepared for the facts involved and their answers to questions.

This lady’s physical attributes may not have been considered by most children and her response to them will surprise many children.

Very thoughtful.

United Kingdom on Sep 10, 2023

MANJULA B S: Very good biography for primary class children.

India on Apr 03, 2023

D. McMahon: Got this for my daughter for a book report.... She enjoyed learning about Helen

United States on Feb 17, 2023

Mohammad: It was good and on time arrived.

United States on Nov 13, 2022

Maine: Bought it for my Autistic son. He enjoyed it.

United States on Jul 04, 2022

VeneraVenera: Conoscevo la storia di Ellen Keller in italiano e ho voluto prenderlo in versione inglese per implementare il mio vocabolario. Peccato non abbiano dedicato alcune immagini alla Lis tattile, nel complesso positivo!

Italy on Jun 25, 2020

Candace K: I love this series! They are great, easy-to-read, fact based biographies that my children have grown up with. Sacagawea was our first book because of my daughter's obsession and from there we moved to other strong historical women, such as Helen Keller and Amelia Earhart. Then we would find subjects to correspond with whatever my kids were studying in school. Very nice series!

Germany on Nov 16, 2016

Jacob Hantla: My just-turned-seven daughter and I read this book together. She could read most all of it, but as she is just getting used to reading paragraph books we took turns. The book is very well written for this age group, giving enough details, but moving the story along to keep young minds paying attention. Helen Keller has such an incredible story, and I'm glad that my daughter could learn of it now.

I particularly liked the little one-page interjection pages that summarized side topics like Braille or Alexander Graham Bell. These made for good summaries with some more detail of the things in the story without distracting from the flow.

There are quite a few black and white drawings throughout that aren't particularly good, but do a good job to help a young child visualize what they are reading. I'm looking forward to more of these "Who was/were" small biographies.

United States on Jun 06, 2015

Author Groupie: As mentioned in a previous post, my daughter and I (and now hub) are addicted to the Who Was/Is? series of young reader books. This past weekend while frozen in we read Gare Thompson's Who Was Helen Keller?, illustrated by Nancy Harrison. I knew Keller was deaf and blind and that a devoted teacher, Annie Sullivan, was able, after much perseverance, to open the world to Keller. Yet, I had no idea of the numerous obstacles Sullivan and Keller conquered together until Sullivan's death in 1936 as well as the history behind schooling for deaf children. Go Gallaudet!

What amazed me probably more than anything else is how, in order for Keller to be able to learn at Radcliffe, Sullivan had to spell every lecture into Keller's hand. Every lecture . . . Yet, their combined efforts prevailed, and Keller graduated from Radcliffe in 1904 with honors. What an amazing lesson to be learned by all less-than-motivated learners.

HelenKellerquote

What amazed my eight-year-old daughter was how Keller had met every president from Cleveland to Kennedy.

Not only an ideal chapter book to use in teaching students how to overcome adversity, but also ideal in discussions about...

United States on Feb 24, 2015

Debra Glaister: This book, along with other books in this series, gives young readers the opportunity to learn about inspirational people throughout history. The book(s) are well written and appropriate for readers in grade 3 and up. The front cover(s) make students smile and also provides a hook as they are intrigued with the different perspective of the sketch.

Canada on Apr 10, 2014