I was not familiar with Mrs Wanda, and she is amazing, I love this kind of books easy to understand but so enriching, I would absolutely recommend this to any youngling.
Beautiful book.

Book Review: Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe by Amy S. Hansen, Wanda Díaz Merced, Rocío Arreola Mendoza (illustrator).

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up Wanda Hears the Stars with zero expectations beyond a pleasant picture-book read, and I came away quietly amazed. This is the true story of Wanda Díaz Merced, an astrophysicist from Puerto Rico who, as she pursued her love of the night sky, began to lose her sight — and then found a completely new way to “see” the universe.

The book follows Wanda from childhood curiosity about the stars through college, when her vision started to fail, to her ingenious discovery: sonification. Instead of giving up on data she could no longer view, Wanda and other scientists converted astronomical data into sound — chimes, beats, and rhythms that let her listen for patterns and anomalies. Those sounds became tools for discovery and a way to keep participating fully in scientific work. The narrative also highlights Wanda’s advocacy for making science accessible, and the collaboration between Wanda and coauthor Amy S. Hansen that brought this story to young readers. The refrain of resilience — “Never give up!” — feels earned, not preachy, and the book gently shows how curiosity and determination can reshape a whole field.

What really sells the book, for me, are the illustrations and the design. The cover is instantly charming and inviting — it pulled me in before I even read a word — and the interior art carries that same warmth. The pictures are lively and expressive, giving emotional texture to Wanda’s journey without overwhelming the nonfiction facts. The layout and pacing work well for the 6–9 age range: clear, engaging, and just detailed enough to spark questions.

Reading it, I kept thinking about how important it is to see (or hear) role models like Wanda in kids’ books — a scientist of color who adapts creatively to a disability and makes real contributions to her field. The book doesn’t flatten complexity; it presents scientific ideas in a way children can grasp, while also celebrating persistence and inclusion.

If you’re looking for a picture-book biography that’s uplifting without being saccharine, that introduces a cool scientific technique, and that offers genuine representation, Wanda Hears the Stars is a fantastic pick. It’s a delightful, inspiring read that I’d happily recommend to families, teachers, and any little STEM-curious person.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This beautiful picture book biography introduces young readers to Wanda Díaz Merced, a blind astrophysicist who uses her hearing to study the universe. The book opens during Merced's childhood in Puerto Rico and explores her love of and interest in the stars from a young age; readers also learn that she has diabetes. Merced pursues physics as a college student and begins losing her eyesight in her third year. Before long, Merced is blind and faces a choice about her future: can she still study the stars if she can't see them? As she learns to navigate her new world without sight, she discovers the amazing ways that her sense of hearing allow her to continue observing and learning about the universe.

Merced's story is fascinating, multi-faceted, and beautifully illustrated using digital media. The vibrant colors vividly bring to life Merced's childhood home, the wonder of the universe, and her emotional & physical journey as she works to keep her dreams alive. Extensive back matter includes a glossary (of both English and Spanish language used throughout the book), a timeline, authors' notes, and additional recommended resources. A fantastic title to share with young readers who have an interest in STEM/astronomy, as well as to explore the rich intersections of representation and identity.

Reading this book makes me go back to my childhood. I would love to read this book over and over again.

So inspirational! I loved learning about Wanda and how she continued her education and passion despite losing her vision in college. Everyone should learn about her.

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.