An inspiring mini biography with beautiful illustrations and a captivating story that everyone should read. Wanda’ story is a must read. I had never heard of Wanda Díaz Merced. It was fascinating to learn a little about her, before and after losing vision. Her achievements are incredible. It's impressive that despite losing her sight, due to complications with diabetes, she never lost interest and desire to keep learning and follow her dream. It was the opposite. Her passion, dedication and resilience take her where she wanted to be. This book is an excellent resource for discussions during Disability Awareness, Women's History and/or Hispanic Heritage Month. Of course, it’s a perfect read any day. I'm certain many children will get motivated to keep learning about the universe and the sound system she used.

Wanda is an example for every human being who doubts their abilities. Her dedication is inspiring! A great role model. Un orgullo boricua!!

Wanda found her path to the stars using sound. I read this book to my very smart 4-year-old and he loved it, although the target audience is for STEM fans ages 6-9! My son loved the vibrant pictures and colorful depictions of the night sky. The writer incorporates some lines in both Spanish and English (with translations) honoring her Puerto Rican heritage, which we really connected with, growing up in a bilingual household. I appreciated how authentic the writing and context were for a children’s book. Wanda’s describes her challenges and experience with diabetes, blindness, and fear of losing her dreams. The context definitely opened up a dialogue and served as teaching moments for my son. Wanda Hears the Stars is one of those books that you should be reread over time by both children and adults, as it challenges the way we experience the world. This book is an inspirational and magical story that readers of all ages can enjoy!

Thank you to Netgalley, Charlesbridge, Amy S. Hansen and Wanda Diaz Merced for this e-ARC to review! All opinions are my own. Expected publication date is Aug 19, 2025.

Wanda Hears the Stars is a truly inspiring story about pursuing your dreams after a life altering event, even though it may look a little different what what you had envisioned for yourself. This is true story about a young girl named Wanda who dreams of learning all there is to know about the stars after leaving the forest of tall trees in Puerto Rico and seeing the stars fro the first time in her life. Wanda goes on to college to continue that dream, however, she begins to lose her eyesight and her dreams seem out of reach. With a nudge from her friend, Wanda finds a new way to continue her dream without her sense of sight but using her sense of hearing. She learns that she can hear the stars using something called sonification. In Wanda's case, star data was converted into sounds that she could then hear. Such an uplifting story about overcoming obstacles and pursuing something you love. The artwork was beautiful and I absolutely loved the information at the end about Wanda becoming an astrophysicist and reading her own words about her love for the stars. A great book to include in your classroom and home library!

Thank you to Netgalley, Charlesbridge, Amy S. Hansen and Wanda Diaz Merced for this e-ARC to review!

This is a biography, a science book, and a stunning picture book. Wanda loves the stars and she figures out how to keep learning about them when she loses her sight. This is so inspiring-- people should follow their passion and learn about anything they're interested in!

Netgalley ARC - I am a huge fan of picture book biographies, especially when the art style reflects the life and work of the subject. This is such a great example of that! Wanda is portrayed in beautiful illustrations that speak to the magic she finds in science, sounds, and the stars. Recommend!

Jungle covers the sky in the rural Puetro Rico town where Wanda Díaz Merced grows up, so she first discovers the beauty of the night sky and its stars on a fishing trip. From that day on (though she isn't at first motivated by school) Diaz Merced becomes passionate about the stars in the sky and understanding the physics of the universe. When lifelong diabetes causes her to go blind in college, Diaz Merced's dream is challenged, but she doesn't give up. With the support of friends and coworkers, Diaz Mendez adapts to her new situation and discovers that she is still able to study the stars in the form of radio waves she can listen to and analyze.

Diaz Mendez' story is conveyed in an expressive artistic style which is reminiscent of middle-grade graphic novel. Characters often have stylized red cheeks and noses, and the night sky is depicted in a painterly way. This just slightly cartoon-y style works for the narrative, as it helps convey the sheer beauty Diaz Mendez finds in the stars as well as making our protagonist relatable to readers.

This is a genuine fascinating story, both as one woman's journey of perseverance and in terms of how it details and celebrates the wide range of ways in which people can use, interpret, and analyze information. It is a great example of the strengths of inclusive workplaces which allow for accommodations, and in doing so, welcome in rich new perspectives and insights.

I hadn't heard of Wanda Díaz-Merced until I read this book, and I'm so glad I did! What an empowering, resilient, and brilliant woman.

When Wanda is young, she falls in love with the stars and knows that she wants to follow them to complete her education. But when she begins to go blind in college, her plan nearly falls apart: how can she study what she can no longer see? Instead of settling into failure, Wanda is moved to action; she perseveres and sees - in her own unique way - things that other astronomers didn't even notice.

Told alongside vibrant, gorgeous illustrations, Wanda Hears the Stars is sure to inspire with its true story of an icon!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 Stars
Wanda Díaz Merced lived in Puerto Rico. As a child, she fell in love with the stars and wanted to study them. However, due to juvenile diabetes (Type-1), she gradually lost her eyesight. Wanda didn’t want to give up her dream of studying the stars, but how could she achieve it without sight?
This is a wonderfully kid-friendly biography of the great scientist’s life and how she achieved her dreams. The writing is a blend of English and Spanish words to retain the authenticity of the emotions (we get English translation immediately, so worries for readers).
The story is simplified but not diluted. Children can still see her struggle, fear, and courage. They can also see the role of friends and mentors who supported Wanda in her journey.
The last few pages of the book are a gem. Parents should sit with little ones to read and explain those details. We learn more about Wanda and her friendship with the author (it shows in the writing). We also get meanings for tough words and more information/ resources on the topic.
I absolutely love the illustrations! The colors are rich, vibrant, and earthy; reflecting the Puerto Rico landscape in the beginning and the abundance of the universe later on. You could stare at each page for minutes (I did too)! The text is placed on the sides in 2-3 lines, while the onomatopoeia words dance across the page in a bigger font.
To summarize, Wanda Hears the Stars is a truly inspiring book and should be shared with every kid, irrespective of whether or not they like STEM.
Thank you, NetGalley, Kind World Publishing and Consulting, and IBPA, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This was such an inspiring biography, and Wanda has changed science for the better with her adaptive skills. I previously taught at a school that assisted students with visual impairments, and one of the field trips they took annually was to the NASA Space Camp. Students were able to experience multisensory technology, and see that they could succeed in STEM.

Wanda Diaz Merced is an inspiration to all, and I recommend this book to schools and libraries.

What a beautiful, magical and inspiring story! The resilience and determination it takes to pave a unique path forward to continue pursuing that which you're deeply passionate about, despite losing something as integral as your eyesight, is absolutely amazing.

It's a testament to the fact that if you have the will to go after something, there's no impediment that will stop you from trying. To often we give up too soon, lacking belief in our abilities. This true story is an inspirational reminder to never give up on your dreams, and put in the work needed to get there.

The illustrations were beautiul and immersive, and the science of listening to the stars introduced in this book was fascinating. Sometimes we need to shift the dimension of our vision and approach something from unexpected angles, and we may surprised by how we are able to accomplish so much more than we thought was possible. It also teaches us to appreciate the people along the way, who spark that flame and provide the strength needed to keep moving forward in our darkest times.

This is a great book for children, but also for anyone to learn a little about Wanda, her journey and get introduced to other resources related to her work if you are interested in knowing more. I loved the representation of diabetes, its impact, as well as the use of spanish in the story. It felt authentic to her journey, and embodied that cultural connect.

Personally, I love everything to do with the universe, the stars, creation and cosmology. I'm planning on reading quite a few interesting books on Vedic cosmology, which are incredible to explore. These are based on acient texts and sciences originating from Bharat (India), and most would find it surprising how consistent they are with various facets of modern science, as well as the things that go beyond it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this story. I received it for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving my honest thoughts and opinions in this review.