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Hellen Keller
An easy-to-read, brief biography highlights some of the struggles and accomplishments in the life of Helen Keller. Reprint.
32 pages, Paperback
Published May 22, 2006
About the author
David A. Adler
411 books209 followersDavid Abraham Adler is an American children's author. He was born in New York City, New York in 1947. He graduated from Queens College in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in economics and education. For the next nine years, he worked as a mathematics teacher for the New York City Board of Education, while taking classes towards a master's degree in marketing, a degree he was awarded by New York University in 1971. In that same year, a question from his then-three-year-old nephew inspired Adler to write his first story, A Little at a Time, subsequently published by Random House in 1976. Adler's next project, a series of math books, drew on his experience as a math teacher. In 1977, he created his most famous character, Cam Jansen, originally featured in Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds, which was published that year.
Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.
Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.
As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.
(source: Wikipedia)
Adler married psychologist Renee Hamada in 1973, and their first child, Michael, was born in 1977. By that time Adler had taken a break from teaching and, while his wife continued her work, he stayed home, took care of Michael, and began a full-time writing career.
Adler's son, Michael S. Adler, is now the co-author of several books with his father, including A Picture Book of Sam Adams, A Picture Book of John Hancock, and A Picture Book of James and Dolly Madison. Another son, Edward, was the inspiration for Adler's Andy Russell series, with the events described in the series loosely based on adventures the Adler family had with Edward's enthusiasm and his pets.
As of November 2008, Adler has three sons and two grandsons. He lives in Woodmere, New York.
(source: Wikipedia)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 15, 2020
Helen Keller by David A. Adler is a great picture book style biography for young readers, and details the early life of a young girl, Helen, who learned how to communicate through the hardships of being completely deaf, blind and non verbal. An easy to read, easy to understand book! I can see this being a part of a 1st or 2nd grade classroom library, as it has wonderful real-world lessons for children.
September 28, 2017
A simply told story of Helen Keller. It prompted lots of questions from my kids, which made me feel like it did a nice job of covering her story rather broadly and accurately.
December 5, 2015
Title: Helen Keller
Author: David A. Adler
Illustrator: John Wallner
Genre: Biography (K-2)
Theme(s): Equality, History, perseverance, determination
Opening line/sentence: “Helen Keller was a writer and speaker.”
Brief Book Summary: This book tells the story of Helen Keller, a child who was deaf and blind, who learned to talk with her hands, write books, and give speeches. Throughout her life she fought for equality, peace and gave others hope. This book goes through her life in an early reader chapter format with water-colored inspired illustrations.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: School Library Journal - School Library Journal
Gr 1-3-Adler has adapted the information in A Picture Book of Helen Keller (Holiday, 1990) into this offering for beginning readers. Youngsters will gain a sense of Keller's frustration as a child, her determination as a student, and her hard work for human rights as an adult. Wallner's softly colored line-and-watercolor illustrations fill in some of the details of Keller's life, especially during her childhood. The clear, large font and attractive, well-placed pictures help newly independent readers make their way through the chapters. A listing of important dates and a bibliography round out the presentation. However, Picture Book correctly lists 1924 as the date Keller began her work with the American Foundation for the Blind; this title lists the date as 1900. Nonetheless, it is an attractive and accessible introduction to this famous figure.-Peg Glisson, Mendon Center Elementary School, Pittsford, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Horn Book Online: Adler, David A. Helen Keller
32 pp. Holiday 2003. ISBN 0-8234-1606-2 (4) K-3 Illustrated by John Wallner. Holiday House Readers series. This brief biography of Helen Keller, which includes quotations from her writing, covers the highlights of her life from her childhood illness and Anne Sullivan's arrival to important events during her adulthood. Although her life makes interesting reading even in a beginning reader format, the short sentences are often flat. Detailed watercolor illustrations add additional information. Timeline. Bib.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I found the reviews for this book interesting, as one was definitely more positive and the other one not as much. The reviews describe how this is an accessible book for young readers, and the attractive watercolor illustrations provide something kids will be drawn to. In addition, they say how this book gives a good sense of Helens childhood, life, and major accomplishments. Overall, I agree with both points of views as they provide good points on each side.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: As mentioned in the Horn Book review, the text of this book is a little dry and very simple. While that makes it very accessible to early readers, it is also a little too dull and un-engaging. I found the use of the small chapters to be helpful, as it provides a good idea of what is to come in that section of the book. I also really enjoyed the images, as they were mystical in the watercolors, but also rather vibrant. Overall, I think this is an appealing book for those early readers, who want to learn about historical figures in a friendly book setting.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I think this could be a good book to have in the classroom library or to have as a resource for social studies. I think that it would be interesting to try to integrate this into a Women’s History Month, or to learn about disabilities. I think there is so much you could do with this topic, and this book would be a useful tool for those early readers.
Author: David A. Adler
Illustrator: John Wallner
Genre: Biography (K-2)
Theme(s): Equality, History, perseverance, determination
Opening line/sentence: “Helen Keller was a writer and speaker.”
Brief Book Summary: This book tells the story of Helen Keller, a child who was deaf and blind, who learned to talk with her hands, write books, and give speeches. Throughout her life she fought for equality, peace and gave others hope. This book goes through her life in an early reader chapter format with water-colored inspired illustrations.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: School Library Journal - School Library Journal
Gr 1-3-Adler has adapted the information in A Picture Book of Helen Keller (Holiday, 1990) into this offering for beginning readers. Youngsters will gain a sense of Keller's frustration as a child, her determination as a student, and her hard work for human rights as an adult. Wallner's softly colored line-and-watercolor illustrations fill in some of the details of Keller's life, especially during her childhood. The clear, large font and attractive, well-placed pictures help newly independent readers make their way through the chapters. A listing of important dates and a bibliography round out the presentation. However, Picture Book correctly lists 1924 as the date Keller began her work with the American Foundation for the Blind; this title lists the date as 1900. Nonetheless, it is an attractive and accessible introduction to this famous figure.-Peg Glisson, Mendon Center Elementary School, Pittsford, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Horn Book Online: Adler, David A. Helen Keller
32 pp. Holiday 2003. ISBN 0-8234-1606-2 (4) K-3 Illustrated by John Wallner. Holiday House Readers series. This brief biography of Helen Keller, which includes quotations from her writing, covers the highlights of her life from her childhood illness and Anne Sullivan's arrival to important events during her adulthood. Although her life makes interesting reading even in a beginning reader format, the short sentences are often flat. Detailed watercolor illustrations add additional information. Timeline. Bib.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I found the reviews for this book interesting, as one was definitely more positive and the other one not as much. The reviews describe how this is an accessible book for young readers, and the attractive watercolor illustrations provide something kids will be drawn to. In addition, they say how this book gives a good sense of Helens childhood, life, and major accomplishments. Overall, I agree with both points of views as they provide good points on each side.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: As mentioned in the Horn Book review, the text of this book is a little dry and very simple. While that makes it very accessible to early readers, it is also a little too dull and un-engaging. I found the use of the small chapters to be helpful, as it provides a good idea of what is to come in that section of the book. I also really enjoyed the images, as they were mystical in the watercolors, but also rather vibrant. Overall, I think this is an appealing book for those early readers, who want to learn about historical figures in a friendly book setting.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I think this could be a good book to have in the classroom library or to have as a resource for social studies. I think that it would be interesting to try to integrate this into a Women’s History Month, or to learn about disabilities. I think there is so much you could do with this topic, and this book would be a useful tool for those early readers.
Want to Read
September 17, 2012Helen keller was a great book.What I learned about Helen keller through that book was that she had two diffrent techers.One was a male techer and one was a feamale teacher.The parents stuk with the feamale teacher beacuse she taught more.I also learned that she helped helen keler with blindnees and deafness.
I connect this with my real life because helen keller had challenges she had to face to go to college.Also I can connect this with my real life because I have challenges in math and social studies. She over came them by working hard in elemenchry school. I worked hard in elemenchry school in math and social studies. I am going to work hard in middle school too.
I would recamend this book for kids who have disibillites because they have disibillites just like Hellen Keller did and they can over come there challenges. This book made me feel like I can over come mine too if she can.
I connect this with my real life because helen keller had challenges she had to face to go to college.Also I can connect this with my real life because I have challenges in math and social studies. She over came them by working hard in elemenchry school. I worked hard in elemenchry school in math and social studies. I am going to work hard in middle school too.
I would recamend this book for kids who have disibillites because they have disibillites just like Hellen Keller did and they can over come there challenges. This book made me feel like I can over come mine too if she can.
November 13, 2016
Awards: None
Grade Levels: 1st-3rd
Summary: Helen Keller was born perfectly well like any other child, but then became ill and lost her sight and hearing. Helen was frustrated and acted out, until her teacher came to help her learn about the world around her. Helen was able to navigate her quiet dark world and shared her wisdom to help others who lost sight or hearing.
Review: I enjoyed this book about Helen Keller's life. I like that it gives the main points and details so that it isn't too overwhelming for young readers. It also has illustrations on each page to help new readers along.
In Class Uses: Class Library, learning about biographies, important people
Grade Levels: 1st-3rd
Summary: Helen Keller was born perfectly well like any other child, but then became ill and lost her sight and hearing. Helen was frustrated and acted out, until her teacher came to help her learn about the world around her. Helen was able to navigate her quiet dark world and shared her wisdom to help others who lost sight or hearing.
Review: I enjoyed this book about Helen Keller's life. I like that it gives the main points and details so that it isn't too overwhelming for young readers. It also has illustrations on each page to help new readers along.
In Class Uses: Class Library, learning about biographies, important people
September 4, 2014
Genre: Biography
This beginning biography about Helen Keller's life is accessible to beginning readers. Colorful illustrations accompany the text to support reader comprehension.
Themes: Biography
Ways to use the book: This could be read as a whole group read-aloud, however, I would obtain several copies and use it in guided reading in a second or third grade classroom. Non-fiction text features include; table of contents and important dates timeline.
This beginning biography about Helen Keller's life is accessible to beginning readers. Colorful illustrations accompany the text to support reader comprehension.
Themes: Biography
Ways to use the book: This could be read as a whole group read-aloud, however, I would obtain several copies and use it in guided reading in a second or third grade classroom. Non-fiction text features include; table of contents and important dates timeline.
September 23, 2013
David Adler did a nice job writing this elementary grade biography of Helen Keller for young readers. The sections are written in simple easy to understand chronological order, each briefly describing this amazing woman who was able to achieve greatness, despite her physical disabilities, with the help of a patient and loving teacher.
July 24, 2016
Very short and fact-based, so it isn't that interesting to me. The watercolors are pretty nice, though.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews