AUDIOBOOK
About
A nonfiction biography of astrophysicist Wanda Díaz Merced and how losing her sight didn't stop her from studying the stars.
An inspiring true story of a woman scientist of color that's a riveting intersectional read for STEM fans ages 6-9.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Wanda Díaz Merced wanted to learn everything she could about the stars. But in college she started losing her sight. How could she study what she couldn't see?
Wanda found a way. She learned to hear the stars using sonification, which converts data into sounds. Listening to those chimes and drumbeats, she made new discoveries about the universe.
Today Wanda is a leading advocate for inclusive science. She and her friend Amy S. Hansen collaborated on this book to inspire children to follow their curiosity no matter the challenges. As Wanda urges, "Never give up!"
Wanda Hears the Stars is the perfect picture book biography to inspire any STEM-minded future scientist!
An inspiring true story of a woman scientist of color that's a riveting intersectional read for STEM fans ages 6-9.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Wanda Díaz Merced wanted to learn everything she could about the stars. But in college she started losing her sight. How could she study what she couldn't see?
Wanda found a way. She learned to hear the stars using sonification, which converts data into sounds. Listening to those chimes and drumbeats, she made new discoveries about the universe.
Today Wanda is a leading advocate for inclusive science. She and her friend Amy S. Hansen collaborated on this book to inspire children to follow their curiosity no matter the challenges. As Wanda urges, "Never give up!"
Wanda Hears the Stars is the perfect picture book biography to inspire any STEM-minded future scientist!
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Reviews
"M.L. Sanchez introduces listeners to Wanda, a real-life Puerto Rican child who, after seeing the magic of the stars on a fishing trip, grows up to be an astrophysicist. She goes to college but, tragically, loses her vision to diabetes. Wanda's determination and dedication, along with her friends and assistants, are rivetingly portrayed by Sanchez. The moment that a friend introduces her to sonification--radio sounds from space that enable her to envision the stars--is beautifully described. Because Wanda observes by hearing patterns and anomalies, she discovers something in the stars no one else has ever noticed. Interspersed Spanish words add a multicultural touch. Audio enables listeners to journey with Wanda while learning scientific terms and benefitting from her refrain: "Never give up!" S.G.B. � AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine"
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