This "magnificent account" ( New York Times ) of Helen Keller's life presents a moving portrait of one of the world’s great luminaries.  When Helen was nineteen months old, an illness left her unable to see or speak. She struggled to make herself understood, and often lashed out when she couldn't. With the help of a teacher named Annie Sullivan, she learned to spell words with her fingers, opening her world immeasurably. She soon learned to write and to read Braille, and even to read lips by touch; with Annie by her side, she went to college, and wrote an autobiography that shared her story with the world. She was lauded as a genius and became an advocate for people with disabilities, workers' rights, women's rights, and racial justice.  With her signature style of accessible prose laced with stirring quotes, Doreen Rappaport brings to life Helen Keller’s poignant narrative in this addition to the Big Words series of picture book biographies. Acclaimed illustrator Matt Tavares beautifully captures the dynamism and verve of Helen’s life and legacy, making Helen's Big World an unforgettable portrait of a woman whose vision for innovation and progress changed America—and the world—forever. ★ “Stirring and awe-inspiring.” — The Horn Book ★ “While there are many books available about Helen Keller for this age group, this title offers a unique and beautiful perspective on her life.”  — School Library Journal “No child could read this book without imagining herself, as Helen put it, 'in the still, dark world in which I lived.' But it makes Helen’s path to self-expression all the more resonant and inspiring.” — New York Times "A worthwhile addition to biography shelves." — Booklist Don’t miss these other titles in the Big Words series! Ellen Takes Flight: The Life of Astronaut Ellen Ochoa Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Wilma's Way Home: The Life of Wilma Mankiller Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. K-Gr 4-In a format similar to Martin's Big Words (Hyperion, 2001), Rappaport uses quotations from Helen Keller to provide the framework for this picture-book biography. A great design, incorporating the words in large type, makes this book visually striking. Large scale paintings, rendered in watercolor, pencil, and gouache, are presented on one and a half or double pages. The full images, without borders, invite children into Helen's world, while showing how big it truly became. The opening endpaper showcases the pivotal "water" moment, with teacher Annie Sullivan's and the child's hands accompanied by the quotation, "We do not think with eyes and ears, and our capacity for thought is not measured by five senses." The narrative begins at Keller's childhood home, but expands out to describe her experiences at college, with public speaking, and in championing social causes. A series of excerpts from letters demonstrates her growing proficiency in writing. A dramatic spread shows the pupil and teacher in a boat, majestically cresting a wave, emphasizing what the youngster does experience more than what she does not. While there are many books available about Helen Keller for this age group, this title offers a unique and beautiful perspective on her life.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. * “Stirring and awe-inspiring.”― The Horn Book, starred review * “While there are many books available about Helen Keller for this age group, this title offers a unique and beautiful perspective on her life.” ― School Library Journal, starred review “This magnificent account immerses young readers in the dark lows and subsequent highs of Keller’s story. Rappaport’s text, interspersed with quotations from Keller, is perfectly attuned to the mind of a child. Tavares’s paintings are steeped in emotion, especially in their depiction of young Helen’s anguish and frustration. No child could read this book without imagining herself, as Helen put it, 'in the still, dark world in which I lived.' But it makes Helen’s path to self-expression all the more resonant and inspiring.”― New York Times “One of Helen Keller’s greatest achievements was learning to speak. Rappaport pays tribute to that accomplishment by incorporating Keller’s own words into her prose in the signature style seen in all the author’s children’s biographies, from John Lennon to Martin Luther King, Jr. But the move especially complements this book, where words have such significance. Keller’s story wasn’t just about learning to speak; it was about putting her words to use. There’s no better way to capture that aspiration than seeing the woman herself on the page.”― Entertainment Weekly “A magisterial account.”― Kirkus Reviews “Appearing beside broad, horizontal illustrations, Rappaport’s narrative is spaced