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

Gr 2–4—This picture book tells the story of Mendoza, a blind runner who became a painter. The narrative starts off with Mendoza as an active young boy who aspired to play basketball but encountered obstacles when his vision began to fail. Instead of seeing people and objects, he saw bright and vivid colors. Mendoza channeled his energies into athletics and became a runner, attending the Olympics for the Disabled twice, and then turned his talents to painting. Morgan-Sanders's straightforward sketches and Powers's simple, accessible text describe Mendoza's transition, accompanied by Mendoza's vibrant, abstract artwork. Mendoza's illustrations convey what the artist called his "kaleidoscope eyes" and provide testament to his considerable talent. Though additional information is included in the back matter, along with thumbnail examples of more paintings, the narrative itself is on the sparse side: the text contains no explanation for the condition that caused Mendoza's blindness and doesn't provide much information on how old Mendoza was when he experienced various events. Those seeking stories about contemporary artists or inspirational works about overcoming challenges will be sufficiently served by this intriguing tale.—Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library