José Feliciano

Description: This nonfiction book introduces readers to the life of José Feliciano, the successful Puerto Rican musician who was born blind.

Review Quotes: The latest volumes in the attractive Leaders Like Us series introduce young readers to a diverse group of Americans who have worked for justice and against discrimination on many levels. Dalip Singh Saund tells of a young man who left India to study agriculture in California, helped overturn the law barring Indian immigrants from citizenship, and later became the first Asian American and first Sikh elected to Congress. José Feliciano introduces a boy, blind since birth, whose Puerto Rican family moved to New York City in 1945. Playing his guitar for hours every day, he wrote songs, performed, and later brought people together through his music. Pura Belpré chronicles the life of New York City's first Puerto Rican librarian, who started a collection of children's books in Spanish, conducted bilingual programs, and wrote books based on folktales she heard as a child. Yuri Kochiyama presents the life of a notable American activist. Kochiyama's family was incarcerated for two years with other Japanese Americans during WWII. Afterwards, she fought against injustice and promoted the "togetherness of all peoples." The clearly delineated, digital artwork suggests setting subtly, while drawing the eye toward the people discussed and expressing their emotions simply. An appealing biography series for young readers. --Carolyn Phelan Booklist, October 2023