The Horn Book Guide

THE ARTS

Powers, J. L.

Colors of the Wind: The Story of Blind Artist and Champion Runner George Mendoza

40 pp. | Purple | September, 2014 | Trade ISBN 978-1-930900-73-8 $18.95

(4) K-3 Illustrated by George Mendoza & Hayley Morgan-Sanders. Full-page paintings by Mendoza face text describing how, despite losing most of his vision by fifteen, Mendoza became an Olympic runner then an acclaimed painter. Mendoza's colorful, vibrant paintings overshadow the prosaic drawings on the text pages. An author's note explains the extent of Mendoza's remaining vision, his approach to painting, and his ongoing career, but it's a bit redundant.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges