Talking books Audiobook inventor Dr. Robert B. Irwin and a new way to read

Robert Benjamin Irwin (1883-1951) was, as readers are told, a child who loved to learn. When he loses his sight at age five, he is forced to find new ways to explore his world. The child who peeked into birds' nests becomes a child who listens closely to the sounds of birds to learn about them. At school, impatient with his own slow braille reading, Robert "save[s] pennies to pay other faster finger-readers to narrate books to him." His love of books becomes the impetus for the establishment of a national braille library and, eventually, a way to make audio recordings of literature. "Robert proved to everyone what he could do! Now he began to focus on what he could do for others." The straightforward picture-book biography makes a connection between Irwin's curiosity and his unwillingness to let his blindness limit his education or that of others as he fights for accessibility. Fortson uses curved lines swirling across the pages to convey the sound waves so critical to Irwin's experience of the world. Both the clear writing and the friendly art succeed at providing helpful details for readers to understand Irwin's life and accomplishments. Closing spreads include images of the kinds of circumstances in which people might listen to audiobooks. An author's note discusses universal design and the many ways design for disabled people benefits everyone. Maeve Visser KnothJanuary/February 2026 p.89 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A glimpse at the man who helped pioneer audiobooks. At age 5, Robert B. Irwin (1883-1951) became blind, indicated in Fortson's illustrations by empty white irises. Sounds, especially the melody of chirping birds, had always entranced him, and though he learned to read braille, as a slow finger-reader, he dreamed of "talking books" that he could listen to without help. Eager to make books more accessible, he worked with the newly formed American Foundation for the Blind, which led to the creation of the National Library Service, a braille library that served readers across the U.S. After learning that not all blind people could read braille, Irwin set about making the "talking books" of his fantasy a reality, hiring engineers to create recordings of people reading books aloud. Lacika's narrative highlights Irwin's inquisitive nature and determination and speaks to the joys of reading, no matter the format. Near the end, the author reminds readers that audiobooks aren't just for blind people--a small nod to the concept of universal design that she expands on in an appended note. Though her main text focuses on Irwin's accomplishments, she emphasizes in her backmatter that he worked with a larger community to effect change. Fortson's charming artwork includes embroidered elements; swirling ribbons and linework visually capture the sounds that so mesmerized Irwin. The most poignant page depicts blind readers testifying to the pleasures of being able to read on their own. An engaging and empowering tribute to the power of books--and to a trailblazer who made them more accessible.(Picture-book biography. 4-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.