Wanda Hears the Stars
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Age Range
6 - 9
Genre
narrative nonfiction
Copyright Year
2025-08-19
Page Count
40
Publisher
Charlesbridge
Grade Level
1st - 4th
ISBN
9781623544874
Lexile
AD610
Themes
resilience
astronomy
identity

Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe

Written by Amy S. Hansen and Wanda Diaz Merced and Illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza

Winner of the 2026 Schneider Family Book Awards for Best Young Children's Book

A young girl from Puerto Rico dreams of studying the stars but begins to lose her eyesight in college. Instead of giving up, she learns to use sound to "hear" data from space and makes incredible scientific discoveries. This inspiring biography shows how Wanda Díaz Merced overcame obstacles to become a world-renowned astrophysicist.

Support Materials

Explore RIF's Lesson Planning Resources Collection, including read aloud templates, vocabulary materials, thematic activities, and student-facing graphic organizers to enhance your daily instruction. You can also create your own word search, criss cross or memory match puzzle using our puzzle maker tool.

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Age Range
6 - 9
Genre
narrative nonfiction
Copyright Year
2025-08-19
Page Count
40
Publisher
Charlesbridge
Grade Level
1st - 4th
ISBN
9781623544874
Lexile
AD610
Themes
resilience
astronomy
identity
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