The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Rau, Dana Meachen Weissman, Bari, Illustrator

The Secret Code

32 pp. | Children's Press | January, 1998 | Library ISBN 0-516-20700-8

(4) K-3 Rookie Reader series. Intrigued by Oscar's "secret code," Lucy descovers that her blind friend reads Braille books. After Oscar teaches Lucy how to read in Braille, the pair's classmates are eager to learn, too. Lively watercolor and ink illustrations complement the gentle message that human differences can generate new learning opportunities. Readers may be disappointed that the Braille in the art isn't printed as raised bumps for them to feel.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.