Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille

Author Jen Bryant
Illustrated by Boris Kulikov
$6.99 US
RH Childrens Books | Knopf Books for Young Readers
On sale Sep 06, 2016 | 9780449813393
Age 4-8 years
Reading Level: Lexile 590L | Fountas & Pinnell R
Sales rights: World
An inspiring picture-book biography of Louis Braille—a blind boy so determined to read that he invented his own alphabet.

**Winner of a Schneider Family Book Award!**
 
Louis Braille was just five years old when he lost his sight. He was a clever boy, determined to live like everyone else, and what he wanted more than anything was to be able to read.
 
Even at the school for the blind in Paris, there were no books for him.
 
And so he invented his own alphabet—a whole new system for writing that could be read by touch. A system so ingenious that it is still used by the blind community today.
 
Award-winning writer Jen Bryant tells Braille’s inspiring story with a lively and accessible text, filled with the sounds, the smells, and the touch of Louis’s world. Boris Kulikov’s inspired paintings help readers to understand what Louis lost, and what he was determined to gain back through books.
 
An author’s note and additional resources at the end of the book complement the simple story and offer more information for parents and teachers.

Praise for Six Dots:
"An inspiring look at a child inventor whose drive and intelligence changed to world—for the blind and sighted alike."—Kirkus Reviews

"Even in a crowded field, Bryant’s tightly focused work, cast in the fictionalized voice of Braille himself, is particularly distinguished."—Bulletin, starred review

"This picture book biography strikes a perfect balance between the seriousness of Braille’s life and the exuberance he projected out into the world." — School Library Journal, starred review
  • SELECTION | 2107
    Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Book Award
  • SELECTION | 2019
    Illinois State Library Monarch Award
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Horned Toad Tale List
  • SELECTION | 2017
    Amazon Best of the Year
  • SELECTION | 2017
    Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
  • SELECTION | 2017
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
  • AWARD | 2017
    Schneider Family Book Award
  • SELECTION | 2016
    Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books
"An inspiring look at a child inventor whose drive and intelligence changed to world—for the blind and sighted alike." —Kirkus Reviews

"Although many Braille biographies stress his disability, Bryant’s title subtly emphasizes his creativity and celebrates him as an inventor, making this an excellent addition for STEM collections. Illustrations in Kulikov’s signature style, light-hearted with a touch of tartness, deftly toggle between sun-washed scenes in which the world views Louis and blackened scenes in which Louis recreates the world he sees in his mind."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

"Bryant’s sensitive first-person narration draws readers intimately close to Braille’s experiences, and an author’s note and q&a add further depth to a stirring portrait of innovation and determination." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The focus on Braille as one of the world’s great inventors is apt, and by taking a close look at his childhood, his family, and his experiences as a young person, Bryant makes Braille’s story even more powerful." —School Library Journal, starred review

"Bryant’s portrayal captures Louis’s intelligence, determination, and tenacious desire for access to the written word.  As Bryant states, “The name Braille deserves to be on everyone’s list of great inventors,” and this book ably demonstrates why."--The Horn Book Magazine

"Readers will be floored by the sheer tenacity of Louis Braille." -- Shelf Awareness

Classroom Activities for Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

About

An inspiring picture-book biography of Louis Braille—a blind boy so determined to read that he invented his own alphabet.

**Winner of a Schneider Family Book Award!**
 
Louis Braille was just five years old when he lost his sight. He was a clever boy, determined to live like everyone else, and what he wanted more than anything was to be able to read.
 
Even at the school for the blind in Paris, there were no books for him.
 
And so he invented his own alphabet—a whole new system for writing that could be read by touch. A system so ingenious that it is still used by the blind community today.
 
Award-winning writer Jen Bryant tells Braille’s inspiring story with a lively and accessible text, filled with the sounds, the smells, and the touch of Louis’s world. Boris Kulikov’s inspired paintings help readers to understand what Louis lost, and what he was determined to gain back through books.
 
An author’s note and additional resources at the end of the book complement the simple story and offer more information for parents and teachers.

Praise for Six Dots:
"An inspiring look at a child inventor whose drive and intelligence changed to world—for the blind and sighted alike."—Kirkus Reviews

"Even in a crowded field, Bryant’s tightly focused work, cast in the fictionalized voice of Braille himself, is particularly distinguished."—Bulletin, starred review

"This picture book biography strikes a perfect balance between the seriousness of Braille’s life and the exuberance he projected out into the world." — School Library Journal, starred review

Awards

  • SELECTION | 2107
    Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Book Award
  • SELECTION | 2019
    Illinois State Library Monarch Award
  • SELECTION | 2018
    Horned Toad Tale List
  • SELECTION | 2017
    Amazon Best of the Year
  • SELECTION | 2017
    Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
  • SELECTION | 2017
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
  • AWARD | 2017
    Schneider Family Book Award
  • SELECTION | 2016
    Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books

Praise

"An inspiring look at a child inventor whose drive and intelligence changed to world—for the blind and sighted alike." —Kirkus Reviews

"Although many Braille biographies stress his disability, Bryant’s title subtly emphasizes his creativity and celebrates him as an inventor, making this an excellent addition for STEM collections. Illustrations in Kulikov’s signature style, light-hearted with a touch of tartness, deftly toggle between sun-washed scenes in which the world views Louis and blackened scenes in which Louis recreates the world he sees in his mind."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review

"Bryant’s sensitive first-person narration draws readers intimately close to Braille’s experiences, and an author’s note and q&a add further depth to a stirring portrait of innovation and determination." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The focus on Braille as one of the world’s great inventors is apt, and by taking a close look at his childhood, his family, and his experiences as a young person, Bryant makes Braille’s story even more powerful." —School Library Journal, starred review

"Bryant’s portrayal captures Louis’s intelligence, determination, and tenacious desire for access to the written word.  As Bryant states, “The name Braille deserves to be on everyone’s list of great inventors,” and this book ably demonstrates why."--The Horn Book Magazine

"Readers will be floored by the sheer tenacity of Louis Braille." -- Shelf Awareness

Guides

Classroom Activities for Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)