The first two pages of this biography introduce Helen Keller as a girl who, though unable to see or hear, learned to read, write, swim, and ride bicycles. She later traveled the world, met 12 presidents, and devoted her life to helping others. Backtracking, the story begins again with Helen as a healthy baby and toddler who, before her second birthday, loses her sight and hearing during an illness. A few years later, 20-year-old Anne Sullivan arrives, breaks through to the beloved but unhappy, "unteachable" child, and broadens her understanding of the world. Even in the limited space of this beginning-reader biography, Keller's story has power, and the fact that significant events happened in her childhood makes it particularly appealing to kids. Simple and expressive, Mazali's illustrations ably portray the people, their emotions, and the historical period. The story flows well and includes well-chosen details. A time line, a brief intro to the Braille system, and archival photos are appended. From the I Can Read series, here's a fine first biography of Helen Keller.