I enjoyed this biography of astronomer Wanda Diaz Merced. The story itself is inspirational and shows that people can persevere despite personal setbacks. Also, it's so important to show diverse people being successful in science... in this case, the representation of a blind woman of color is incredibly powerful and meaningful. The illustrations that go along with the story are wonderful and the colors really pop. They complement the text well. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was some bilingual text, so readers will also be able to pick up a little spanish. I appreciate that the end of the book contains supplemental information about the science, references, and suggestions of where to look to dive deeper into the subject.

WANDA HEARS THE STARS - 4/5 - Lecture en anglais.

"Wanda wanted to understand the universe "

Wanda is a young girl who's fascinated by the night sky. She wants to study it. Her parents don't have much money but they told her she could study the stars if she worked hard enough, so she does.

"They pulsed. They twinkled. They astounded her."

But one day her eyesight goes down, until she becomes blind... It changes everything for Wanda. How could she study the stars now ?

Okay, that was an emotional read. As someone who also lost access to things I used to really love, Wanda's story stroke a cord in me. Wanda is a strong figure. And an inspiring one.

Before I started reading I flipped quickly through the page and wow I was amazed by the colors and how they were used. It's so bright and colorful, so pretty, vivid and dynamic. It's a beautiful book. The illustrations of the night skies are gorgeous.

"There's so much I can hear in a starbeat !"

Wanda is an inspiring example. She worked so hard to get what she wanted. She learned to accept her differences despite making things difficult for her. She finally created her own way to study the stars. In a way the message is, if something doesn't work anymore, try something else. Be creative and try.
She was full of worry, losing her eyesight, wondering if she could still study stars, if she could do as much as her colleagues, if she could contribute the same. And that's when she discovered she could hear things other people didn't ear or see ! Tiny waves, and oscillations that were not noticed before. In a way Wanda changed things ! Her contribution was noticeable. And then she started telling her story to the world, and her view of how things could be done in others ways, how goals could be reached.

"Wanda found her path to the stars by using sound."

Good point for the glossary at the end, and the spanish dictionary part. Also the notes and bibliography are full of resources.

Science is for everyone. The stars, the sky, physics are for everyone.

Thank you Wanda for your message.

#WandaHearstheStars #NetGalley

There is no shortage of picture book biographies, but I enjoy finding volumes about people whose story is new to me. The text focuses on Wanda's ability and the ways she has modified her world to fit her needs, rather than on how tough her challenges may have been. I appreciate that for young readers. The science of listening to the stars isn't explained in detail, so I would need some more information to use this for science programs in the library, but for individual reading, I like it very much.

A very heartwarming story about Wanda Díaz Merced and how she persevered through being blind and continuing to follow her dream of studying the stars. The story is inspiring and a wonderful introduction to space and stars! It's also a unique insight about how she uses sounds to study stars. The illustrations are bright, colorful and gorgeous, so expressive!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a picture book about a real woman. Wanda lost her site due to diabetes complications at a young age. She worried that without sight she would never be able to study the stars until she discovered that stars have sound. She has used her studies to prove new things in the world of science and is considered a master in her field. This story, while a little long, was a very good biography for young people. It can help them realize that anybody can do anything if they set their mind to it.

This picture book biography tells the inspiring story of a woman who pursued her interest in astronomy in unconventional ways after she lost her eyesight. The story begins with her childhood passion for the stars, and then quickly moves through the following years, as she became blind, learned how to accommodate her disability, went through school, and got jobs studying the stars through sounds.

The story is fascinating, and the illustrations are nice, but the picture book medium means that there isn't much time to cover this story. This book feels very rushed, and leaves lots of unanswered questions. I think this story would have been better suited to a nonfiction graphic novel. I wanted more details and fewer rapid transitions, and it also would have been nice to have a deeper explanation of the science, since it's so esoteric and unfamiliar. Many of the concepts here are too complex for a young picture book crowd, but there's not enough here to fully satisfy the curiosity of school-age kids who are really interested in the subject.

There is a timeline at the end of the book, along with notes from people involved in the project. This book will appeal to kids and adults who enjoy inspiring true stories of people overcoming obstacles to follow their dreams, especially if they are looking for books about women in STEM fields, or about people with disabilities.

Thank you to Charlesbridge and Netgalley for this digital arc.
I was intrigued by the title's reference to hearing the stars, and just had to read this illustrated picture book biography about Wanda Diaz Merced. Due to diabetes, she gradually lost her eyesight, but her love of studying the stars inspired her to pursue her devotion to astronomy. She found that through radio waves, she could hear the impulses, known as star beats, of the stars. This put her on the path to becoming an expert in astrophysics, and an advocate for the sonification of astrophysical data. Positively recommend this title be purchased for STEM and biography collections.
#WandaHearstheStars

Thank you Charlesbridge publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC to read and review. This book is available on 8/19/25.

I can’t believe I’ve never of Wanda! Told in English, with Spanish phrases throughout, her story is incredible. Wanda lived in Puerto Rico and loved learning about the stars in the sky. She was studying physics at college when diabetes took her eyesight. Instead of giving up she continued to learn about the universe, now using sound, specifically radio waves from space! She continued her learning and career in the US with NASA.

This book is fascinating and I liked all the extras in the back of the book. Kids will really enjoy this one!

In a Nutshell: A biographical picture book about the life of blind astrophysicist Wanda Díaz-Merced. Amazing story, excellent illustrations. Inspiring in every way. A great option for little STEM readers.

I grabbed this book without even knowing that it was a biographical story, totally missing the tagline on the cover: “A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe.” What actually caught my attention was that stunning cover art and that curious title about *hearing* the stars. Reading the book confirmed what an apt name it was for this powerful book.
Wanda Díaz-Merced grew up in a small Puerto Rico town. When she was nine, she was fascinated by the stars. Unfortunately, because of her diabetes, she began losing her eyesight while in college and soon was completely blind. Anyone else would have given up on the starry dreams, but Wanda strived on, motivated and supported by those around her, and completed her doctoral studies. Today, after a long career in astrophysics that took her to multiple countries, Wanda works as a faculty member at a university in Puerto Rico. Her achievements stand as the ultimate testimony to the importance of having inclusivity in all fields, including STEM, and how physical restrictions can still open up newer, alternate avenues of study.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this biography is inspiring. While it doesn’t go into certain nitty-gritties such as how Wanda got into college when there were financial constraints or how she learned Braille, it still offers enough information about her determination and persistence and her professional contributions to astrophysics. The aim of the book is to motivate youngsters to dream big, even when society might tell them otherwise.
At the end of the book, Wanda’s trials are highlighted through a detailed timeline of her life beginning from her college years. However, kids often don’t read bonus content, especially if it is text-intensive and lengthy. So the intent of showing her struggles gets fulfilled only partly in the core storyline as it glosses over a few essential intricacies. It would have been better if more of her challenges had been incorporated into the main storyline to establish clearly that her journey towards success wasn’t instant and she slogged harder than non-disabled people. (To be fair, the book did show how she trained herself to go from place to place counting the steps. But I wanted her learning struggles to be depicted more as this book is about educational dreams and career goals.)
The final pages also contain a personal note from Wanda, her friendship with the author, and some helpful additional resources. I found the bonus content helpful as it provided answers to several (though not all) questions I had. But again, I doubt all kids would read these as they are too text-heavy. The real-life photos help to some extent.
A part of me thinks that I would have appreciated Wanda’s inspiring story even more as a graphic novel. Though the picture book does achieve its purpose, it is too limited a length for such immense achievements. That said, any book that celebrates the life of a blind woman achiever whom most of us haven’t even heard about needs to be celebrated.
The vocabulary is slightly advanced for the younger readers of the target age group of 6-9 years. There are a few phrases in Spanish that serve to highlight Wanda’s Puerto Rican heritage – a decision I truly appreciate. A glossary at the end provides meanings of all Spanish words and also of the difficult English words.
The illustrations are outstanding, rich in the colours of Puerto Rico. Almost every page has starry embellishments that serve to further accentuate this amazing woman’s stellar life story.
Definitely recommended. This book would be a great option for classrooms and libraries as an inspiring biography, a motivator for STEM careers, and also a DEI resource.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to Charlesbridge for providing the DRC of “Wanda Hears the Stars” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Wanda Hears the Stars is a beautifully told and inspiring true story about a young girl growing up in Puerto Rico who dreams of studying the stars. Even after losing her sight, Wanda refuses to give up on her dreams. This sweet nonfiction picture book offers a moving message of perseverance, resilience, and the importance of following your dreams...no matter the obstacles. A wonderful read for all ages. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKwuQCwsB41/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.facebook.com/CuringtonElemLibrary

An absolutely beautifully illustrated book about the life of Wanda Diaz Merced. The use of colours to explain the stars and the sounds and the imagery of the story is so well done, and of course Wanda's story is incredible. Science is for everyone no matter what, and Wanda is an example of that and this book does justice to that lesson.

This bilingual biography of astrophysicist Wanda Díaz Merced tells of her learning to listen to the universe, adapt to sightlessness, work, teaching others and the meanings of starbeat and sonification. The most important message is her own-- "Science is for everyone!" and "Never give up. Never!"
The illustrations by ROCIO ARREOLA MENDOZA are simple, imaginative and FUN in exploring stars and sounds using brilliant colors. Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, waiting room, or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital Galley on Thorium PDF from Charlesbridge via NetGalley. Pub Date Aug 19, 2025
#WandaHearstheStars by @amy_s_hansen and @denarmen about astronomer Wanda Díaz Merced #DisabilityAwareness #WomensHistory #HispanicHeritage #PuertoRico #blindness #diabetes #STEAM #EnglishSpanish #overcomer #keepstriving @charlesbridgepublishing #astronomy @childrensbookcouncil @goodreads #picturebookart #kidlit #picturebook #illustration #biography #childrensbooks #imagination #sensoryinput #bookbub

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Wanda was unable to see the stars through the canopy of leafy trees near her home. But when Wanda is nine years old, she encounters stars and meteors for the first time, sparking a lifelong passion for space and science. Wanda spends years studying and learning all she can, but worries that the visual impairment she develops as a result of Type 1 diabetes will keep her from being a sucessful scientist. By using sound, rather than sight, to investigate the stars, Wanda soon demonstrates the many ways that a scientist can contribute to incredible discoveries. With multi-layered illustrations that vividly depict both human figures and celestial bodies, and a balance of English and Spanish text, this engaging book shares the story of a disabled woman of color in STEM and highlights the contributions her work has made to the field.

I love so much about this story. First, it's hard to find good children's biographies about people that aren't already widely known. Second, the illustrations and use of sound words give the story texture and movement. Third, I like the bilingual storytelling that will appeal to bilingual people or those just learning spanish.

Thank you for the ARC. I will purchase and proudly share.

Beautiful, inspiring, hopeful, informative, and motivating. Beautiful illustrations perfectly match the energy of the real-life inspiring story of astronomer Wanda Diaz Merced. Despite losing her sight while studying to fulfill her lifelong dream, Wanda not only fought her own negative thoughts, but also succeeded in completing multiple degrees to reach that dream. She truly believes that science is for everyone and proves that by showing the adaptations and brain-training she did that led to her making discoveries that no other scientist ever had before.

If you're looking to add biographies or space-related texts to your collection, classroom library, or unit, Wanda Hears the Stars is a great pick! This is a fascinating story about Wanda who loves astronomy but is going blind due to her diabetes. Wanda struggles to realize her career dream of being an astronomer and studying the stars and space when she cannot see. Then someone helps her discover sound wave recordings of events in space, and everything changes; suddenly, she can hear what other people can see and is able to study them that way. This is such a great story of resilience, determination, following your dreams, and never giving up. There's great disability representation in it and it shows that with simple changes Wanda lives a full and wonderful life and can still do everything she's dreamed about. This book was absolutely five stars for me. It would be great for Kindgarten through fifth grade. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

A resounding five stars!

Wanda Hears the Stars is an excellent work of illustrated biographical fiction for children and adults alike. I love how the book begins in Wanda's childhood and moves the reader through her life as she grows up. Hansen chose excellent touchstones to tell a compelling, engaging, and satisfying story--that takes skill to make those choices (so much happens in a life), and Hansen chose very well.

We will gladly and gratefully be purchasing a copy for our library.

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!