Six Dots is the endearing story of Louis Braille, a young boy, blind and frustrated with the lack of writing available to individuals with impaired vision. Determined to change the reading of literature for the blind, he set out on a mission to develop a new language.
Jen Bryant and Boris Kulikov open our story to a world of wonder being explored by young Louis. At the age of five, Louis Braille loses his eyesight. He is sent to a school for the blind in Paris. Even as a young boy he knew that in order to expand his horizons and for blind people to keep up in the world, he and they must have access to written language. When his school teachers showed him the very limited books they had available for “reading” he was disappointed.
It was then that Louis Braille set out on a mission to come up with a better way to do things. He spent years trying various methods and techniques to develop a new alphabet. Our author and illustrator walk us through this process with grace and humor. They make it all too easy to understand Louis’ frustration and desperation, as well as his gumption and fastidious spirit.
Eventually, a break through!
Louis Braille developed an alphabet and numeral system using a series of raised dots on a page. Readers could quickly pass their fingers over the dots and make out the words and sentences on the pages. Today, this language is, of course, known as Braille.
This story is a must read! Have you ever felt discouraged or like something was too far out of your grasp? Imagine coming up with your own alphabet! What an impossible feat. Young Louis teaches us that no mountain is to high to climb if we simply keep putting one foot in front of the other—a lesson that I think everyone needs reminding of from time to time.