She Touched the World: Laura Bridgman, Deaf-Blind Pioneer
Left deaf and blind by scarlet fever in 1832 at the age of two, Laura Bridgman became an inspiration to others similarly afflicted. This delightful non-fiction book for children reveals how, with the help of Dr. Samuel Howe, she overcame her disabilities and grew up to be an advocate for the Perkins School for the Blind, where she lived most of her life.
Starting with Laura’s childhood, young readers learn about early 19th-century life and the ways in which Laura experienced it after her world went dark and silent. But it is when she moves to Boston and the Perkins School that the story becomes truly fascinating. Within a few years Laura could read, write, knit and do arithmetic. The narrative bustles with energy as Laura soaks up knowledge, always eager for more. Interesting and helpful sketches and photographs which illustrate the various ways Dr. Howe developed to teach his students fill the book’s pages, adding to its charm.
The authors successfully bring to life this remarkable woman, choosing just the right details while giving a real sense of the period itself. Highly recommended. Ages 4-8.
