Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille

by Russell Freedman and Kate Freedman, Russell; Kiesler

Book Overview

A biography of the modest Frenchman who, after being blinded at the age of three, went on to develop a system of raised dots on paper that enabled blind people to read and write.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0395968887
• ISBN13: 9780395968888
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 81 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 10 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 7

Customer Reviews

SMALL BOOK but good

Love being able to know how Braille started

Not just for kids

My mother is a teacher of daily living skills and Braille. She wanted this book to inform sighted adults about Braille. She and others felt this book could be read by adults.

"Out of Darkness"

Out of Darkness is a story about Louis Braille. Louis Braille was blind in the year 1812. It happened when he was a little boy. Louis was playing with a knife from his father's tools. He was trying to make holes in a piece a strong leather. The knife slipped and it stabbed his left eye. Louis had to stay in a dark room to help his eye heal. An infection spread from his left eye to his right eye. In 1812 there was no way to control his serious infection. 15 years later Louis Braille invented braille lettering for all blind people. I think that this is a good book for young readers to read because it shows good friendship between people.

Inspiring!

This fact based biography is one of the best I have encountered for children starting at about grade three. Adults will also enjoy. The book documents the life of Louis Braille. Born and raised in a small town near Paris, Louis suffered a tragic injury at the age of 3, which rendered him blind for life. The story captures the true essence of courage and the triumph of the human spirit; to meet even the most seemingly insurmountable obstacles with dignity, tenacity and unshaken faith. Louis did not give up. Despite many frustrations and setbacks, his attempts at creating and perfecting the Braille system were successful and accepted and distributed world wide. Unfortunately, Louis died in his early forties and was not here to witness the magnitude that his system bestowed on the world of the blind, their families, loved ones and associates. But he did pass away in peace and in the knowledge that his mission had been fufilled. Louis opened a door to the visually impaired, and in this way significantly transformed and enhanced many, many lives by providing this invaluable means of reading, writing, and communicating. Louis Braille was a true hero and will remain so for all time.

GREAT BOOK!!!!

THIS BOOK TELLS HOW LOUIS GOT BLINDED AND WHAT HE DOES TO OVER COME THE OBSTACLE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO READ. HE REVISES AN ALREADY MADE PLAN OF RAISED DOTS AND DASHES MADE BY A SEA CAPTAIN-NOW KNOWN AS BRAILLE-AND BECOMES AN ASSISTANT TEACHER, PROGRESSES AND THEN EVENTUALLY RE-FOUNDS THE SCHOOL!!