Talking Books: Audiobook Inventor Dr. Robert B. Irwin and a New Way to Read

Gr 1-4–Within the pages of this special picture book biography, readers are introduced to Robert Irwin (1883–1951). Born with sight, Irwin was an adventurous child. He then suddenly loses his sight due to illness but never loses his sense of adventure. In school, he learns Braille, but he struggles with it. He wants the books read aloud. As an adult, he helps to create the National Library for the Blind, but it’s not enough for him: he wants to create novels on records so they can be listened to. With disinterest from many, Irwin raises the money to make it a reality anyway, all of which contributed to the enjoyment of audiobooks today. This story is told with a tone of courage and hopefulness. The vocabulary is appropriate for a young audience, but the story has appeal for all ages. Some light back matter includes an author’s note, information about universal design, and further information about the life of Irwin. While relevant and compelling, the information is dense and ambitious for a picture book. The digital art features a soft muted palette with depths of blue and yellow. In addition to the digital art, Fortson includes embroidery within the pages. It’s exquisite and represents the idea of communication incredibly well.