{"id":8867687268589,"title":"Wanda Hears the Stars","handle":"wanda-hears-the-stars","description":"\u003ch6\u003eComing August 19, 2025. Pre-order today!\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eWanda Hears the Stars\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/amy-s-hansen\"\u003eAmy S. Hansen\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/wanda-diaz-merced\"\u003eWanda Díaz Merced\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rocio-arreola-mendoza\"\u003eRocío Arreola Mendoza\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e¡Mira arriba! The stars belong to everyone!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrowing up in Puerto Rico, Wanda Díaz Merced wanted to learn everything she could about the stars. But in college she started losing her sight. How could she study what she couldn't see?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWanda found a way. She learned to hear the stars using sonification, which converts data into sounds. Listening to those chimes and drumbeats, she made new discoveries about the universe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday Wanda is a leading advocate for inclusive science. She and her friend Amy S. Hansen collaborated on this book to inspire children to follow their curiosity no matter the challenges. As Wanda urges, \"Never give up!\" \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A truly beautiful story of determination in the face of difficulty. Highly, highly recommend.\"\u003cbr\u003e—Melinda Brady, elementary science educator\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"With its strong story and effective integration of fascinating science, the book should inspire middle-grade students and teachers and help fulfill Wanda’s own mission: Proving that “Science is for everyone!”\"\u003cbr\u003e\n —Marcia Clemmitt\/freelance journalist\/ CQ Researcher, \u003ci\u003eThe Scientist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mario-and-the-hole-in-the-sky\"\u003eMario and the Hole in the Sky\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/unlocking-the-universe\"\u003eUnlocking the Universe\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n[TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-spread.jpg?v=1731092505\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-cover.jpg?v=1731422332\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1731422332\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-activity-kit.pdf?v=1746466078\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Activity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAmy S. Hansen, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmy S. Hansen is an award-winning science writer who has published more than thirty books. Her favorite part of her job is finding out the answers to mysteries. Sometimes that means interviewing people, traveling to new places, or taking things apart to see how they work. It always means reading a lot!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/amy-s-hansen\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Amy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWanda Díaz Merced, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWanda Díaz Merced believes that science is for everyone! As a blind astrophysicist, she studies the stars by turning data into sound. She is a leading advocate for multisensorial data, which increases access to information, and has spoken before the UN and given TED talks about the need for more inclusive science.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/wanda-diaz-merced\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Wanda.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRocío Arreola Mendoza, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRocío Arreola Mendoza is the illustrator of \u003cem\u003eSea of Constellations, Paula's Patches,\u003c\/em\u003e and other picture books for children. She is also a freelance illustrator and the co-founder of Cúrcumas, a women-led creative studio. She lives with her family in northern Mexico.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rocio-arreola-mendoza\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Rocío.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAstronomer and co-author Díaz Merced explains how, after going blind, she used sound to make a groundbreaking discovery.\u003cbr\u003e\nIn Gurabo, Wanda’s Puerto Rican hometown, the rainforest hid the stars. So when 9-year-old Wanda witnessed a meteor shower, she “lit up with wonder.” Her curiosity persisted; in college, Wanda studied physics and “aimed for the stars.” But in Wanda’s third year, she went blind as a result of diabetes, and “the stars had dimmed, too. How could she study what she couldn’t see?” Fortunately, a friend introduced Wanda to radio waves that recorded sounds from space, and “she heard a path to the sky.” At NASA, Wanda used sonification—the conversion of visual data into sounds—to study the stars. Still, she worried about keeping up with her colleagues. Through sonification, however, Wanda discovered oscillations in a star’s energy, something nobody else had noticed—confirming that “using sound didn’t mean she had less information. It just meant she had to work differently.” The onomatopoeia-adorned text includes Spanish dialogue and concludes with a rousing invitation: “Look up! ¡Mira arriba! The stars belong to everyone!” Arreola Mendoza’s vibrant cartoon illustrations, with dark, jewel-toned hues evoking the night sky, convey Wanda’s fascination and determination and the beauty of space. Extensive backmatter provides further details about sonification and Díaz Merced’s adaptation to blindness. Most figures, including Wanda, have brown skin.\u003cbr\u003e\nUplifting and informative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThis picture book biography with STEM connections and disability representation shares the fascinating story of astronomer Wanda Díaz Merced. Growing up in Puerto Rico, Díaz Merced was fascinated by the stars and chased her dream to study them all the way to college. But when she began losing her eyesight due to diabetes, she had to find a new way to see what she had dedicated her whole life to. Not one to give up when faced with a challenge, Díaz Merced threw herself into the field of sonification, where numerical astronomic datasets are turned into sound, revealing new insights into celestial activity. Mendoza’s whimsical illustrations amplify the themes of magic and discovery surrounding Díaz Merced’s work. Thorough back matter is available in both the English and Spanish versions, including notes from both authors, information about the scientific concepts discussed, a time line of Díaz Merced’s career, and sources for further reading. VERDICT Readers will walk away inspired by the world around them and Díaz Merced’s creativity and determination. Recommended for all libraries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnglish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-487-4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpanish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-488-1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 6–9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 40\u003cbr\u003e8\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 11\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublication date: August 19, 2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2025-01-14T16:33:11-05:00","created_at":"2024-11-12T09:23:16-05:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Diversity","Browse by Subject_Science \u0026 Nature"],"price":1899,"price_min":1899,"price_max":1899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":47340368920813,"title":"English Hardcover","option1":"English Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"44874","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":42118846447853,"product_id":8867687268589,"position":1,"created_at":"2024-11-12T09:39:23-05:00","updated_at":"2024-11-12T09:39:24-05:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":771,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-cover_0b19c4d8-7287-4b8e-810c-0e00499d610a.jpg?v=1731422364","variant_ids":[47340368920813]},"available":true,"name":"Wanda Hears the Stars - English Hardcover","public_title":"English Hardcover","options":["English Hardcover"],"price":1899,"weight":567,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623544874","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":34569319645421,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.778,"height":771,"width":600,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-cover_0b19c4d8-7287-4b8e-810c-0e00499d610a.jpg?v=1731422364"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":47340434161901,"title":"Spanish Hardcover","option1":"Spanish Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"44881","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":42118846480621,"product_id":8867687268589,"position":2,"created_at":"2024-11-12T09:38:50-05:00","updated_at":"2024-11-12T09:38:52-05:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":776,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/wanda-oye-las-estrellas.jpg?v=1731422332","variant_ids":[47340434161901]},"available":true,"name":"Wanda Hears the Stars - Spanish Hardcover","public_title":"Spanish Hardcover","options":["Spanish Hardcover"],"price":1899,"weight":567,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623544881","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":34569317581037,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.773,"height":776,"width":600,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/wanda-oye-las-estrellas.jpg?v=1731422332"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-cover_0b19c4d8-7287-4b8e-810c-0e00499d610a.jpg?v=1731422364","\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/wanda-oye-las-estrellas.jpg?v=1731422332"],"featured_image":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-cover_0b19c4d8-7287-4b8e-810c-0e00499d610a.jpg?v=1731422364","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":34569319645421,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.778,"height":771,"width":600,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-cover_0b19c4d8-7287-4b8e-810c-0e00499d610a.jpg?v=1731422364"},"aspect_ratio":0.778,"height":771,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-cover_0b19c4d8-7287-4b8e-810c-0e00499d610a.jpg?v=1731422364","width":600},{"alt":null,"id":34569317581037,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.773,"height":776,"width":600,"src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/wanda-oye-las-estrellas.jpg?v=1731422332"},"aspect_ratio":0.773,"height":776,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/imaginebooks.net\/cdn\/shop\/files\/wanda-oye-las-estrellas.jpg?v=1731422332","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch6\u003eComing August 19, 2025. Pre-order today!\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eWanda Hears the Stars\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/amy-s-hansen\"\u003eAmy S. Hansen\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/wanda-diaz-merced\"\u003eWanda Díaz Merced\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rocio-arreola-mendoza\"\u003eRocío Arreola Mendoza\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e¡Mira arriba! The stars belong to everyone!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrowing up in Puerto Rico, Wanda Díaz Merced wanted to learn everything she could about the stars. But in college she started losing her sight. How could she study what she couldn't see?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWanda found a way. She learned to hear the stars using sonification, which converts data into sounds. Listening to those chimes and drumbeats, she made new discoveries about the universe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday Wanda is a leading advocate for inclusive science. She and her friend Amy S. Hansen collaborated on this book to inspire children to follow their curiosity no matter the challenges. As Wanda urges, \"Never give up!\" \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A truly beautiful story of determination in the face of difficulty. Highly, highly recommend.\"\u003cbr\u003e—Melinda Brady, elementary science educator\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"With its strong story and effective integration of fascinating science, the book should inspire middle-grade students and teachers and help fulfill Wanda’s own mission: Proving that “Science is for everyone!”\"\u003cbr\u003e\n —Marcia Clemmitt\/freelance journalist\/ CQ Researcher, \u003ci\u003eThe Scientist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mario-and-the-hole-in-the-sky\"\u003eMario and the Hole in the Sky\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/unlocking-the-universe\"\u003eUnlocking the Universe\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n[TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-spread.jpg?v=1731092505\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-cover.jpg?v=1731422332\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1731422332\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/wanda-hears-the-stars-activity-kit.pdf?v=1746466078\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Activity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAmy S. Hansen, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmy S. Hansen is an award-winning science writer who has published more than thirty books. Her favorite part of her job is finding out the answers to mysteries. Sometimes that means interviewing people, traveling to new places, or taking things apart to see how they work. It always means reading a lot!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/amy-s-hansen\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Amy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWanda Díaz Merced, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWanda Díaz Merced believes that science is for everyone! As a blind astrophysicist, she studies the stars by turning data into sound. She is a leading advocate for multisensorial data, which increases access to information, and has spoken before the UN and given TED talks about the need for more inclusive science.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/wanda-diaz-merced\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Wanda.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRocío Arreola Mendoza, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRocío Arreola Mendoza is the illustrator of \u003cem\u003eSea of Constellations, Paula's Patches,\u003c\/em\u003e and other picture books for children. She is also a freelance illustrator and the co-founder of Cúrcumas, a women-led creative studio. She lives with her family in northern Mexico.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rocio-arreola-mendoza\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Rocío.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAstronomer and co-author Díaz Merced explains how, after going blind, she used sound to make a groundbreaking discovery.\u003cbr\u003e\nIn Gurabo, Wanda’s Puerto Rican hometown, the rainforest hid the stars. So when 9-year-old Wanda witnessed a meteor shower, she “lit up with wonder.” Her curiosity persisted; in college, Wanda studied physics and “aimed for the stars.” But in Wanda’s third year, she went blind as a result of diabetes, and “the stars had dimmed, too. How could she study what she couldn’t see?” Fortunately, a friend introduced Wanda to radio waves that recorded sounds from space, and “she heard a path to the sky.” At NASA, Wanda used sonification—the conversion of visual data into sounds—to study the stars. Still, she worried about keeping up with her colleagues. Through sonification, however, Wanda discovered oscillations in a star’s energy, something nobody else had noticed—confirming that “using sound didn’t mean she had less information. It just meant she had to work differently.” The onomatopoeia-adorned text includes Spanish dialogue and concludes with a rousing invitation: “Look up! ¡Mira arriba! The stars belong to everyone!” Arreola Mendoza’s vibrant cartoon illustrations, with dark, jewel-toned hues evoking the night sky, convey Wanda’s fascination and determination and the beauty of space. Extensive backmatter provides further details about sonification and Díaz Merced’s adaptation to blindness. Most figures, including Wanda, have brown skin.\u003cbr\u003e\nUplifting and informative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/star-fade.gif?4673889858015672850\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eThis picture book biography with STEM connections and disability representation shares the fascinating story of astronomer Wanda Díaz Merced. Growing up in Puerto Rico, Díaz Merced was fascinated by the stars and chased her dream to study them all the way to college. But when she began losing her eyesight due to diabetes, she had to find a new way to see what she had dedicated her whole life to. Not one to give up when faced with a challenge, Díaz Merced threw herself into the field of sonification, where numerical astronomic datasets are turned into sound, revealing new insights into celestial activity. Mendoza’s whimsical illustrations amplify the themes of magic and discovery surrounding Díaz Merced’s work. Thorough back matter is available in both the English and Spanish versions, including notes from both authors, information about the scientific concepts discussed, a time line of Díaz Merced’s career, and sources for further reading. VERDICT Readers will walk away inspired by the world around them and Díaz Merced’s creativity and determination. Recommended for all libraries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnglish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-487-4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpanish Hardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-488-1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 6–9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 40\u003cbr\u003e8\u003csup\u003e1\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003csub\u003e2\u003c\/sub\u003e x 11\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublication date: August 19, 2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e"}