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

by J. L. Powers, George Mendoza (Illustrator), Hayley Morgan-Sanders (Illustrator)

Overview

George was one of those kids. You know, the kind that never stays still. And then one day, the doctor said he was going blind. Did that slow George down? Not for a single second. In fact, he was so fast, he went on to break a world record for blind runners. And now he's breaking more barriers—because ironically, George Mendoza, blind painter, paints what he sees.

George Mendoza started going blind at age 15 from a degenerative eye disease. It wasn't the sudden onset of blindness that many people experience. George lost his central vision and started seeing things that weren't there—eyes floating in the air, extraordinary colors, objects multiplied and reflected back. George describes this condition as having "kaleidoscope eyes."

He triumphed over his blindness by setting the world record in the mile for blind runners, and later competing in both the 1980 and 1984 Olympics for the Disabled. Now a full-time artist, Mendoza's collection of paintings, also titled Colors of the Wind, is a National Smithsonian Affiliates traveling exhibit.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781930900738
Publisher:	Purple House Press
Publication date:	09/28/2014
Pages:	1
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 10.26(h) x 0.38(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

Editorial Reviews

09/01/2014
Powers traces the life of Mendoza, a blind painter, accompanied by Mendoza’s own striking paintings. As a child, Mendoza learned that he was losing his vision: “George didn’t lose all his sight, though. Instead, he started seeing flashing lights and brilliant colors even at night when he dreamed.” Despite the changes in his vision (an afterword describes his condition as “kaleidoscope eyes”), Mendoza discovered a love for running, twice competing at the Olympics. He then found his life purpose when he takes the advice of a priest to “paint what you see.” Reproductions of Mendoza’s bright, abstract paintings appear opposite the text and small line drawings of George running and interacting with others. While these cartoons help ground the narrative, they have a stiff and stilted quality that doesn’t fare well against the fiery impact of Mendoza’s own artwork. Ages 3–8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

George Mendoza wanted to be a basketball player; but at the age of 15, when he became legally blind, he had to change his dreams. He became a runner, discovering that it made him so tired, he forgot about being blind. He went on to become an Olympic runner. When his best friend died in a motorcycle accident, Mendoza began to ponder his purpose in life. He could still see colors but he did not see the way other people see. He recalled the question that Debbie, a girl who had been blind since birth, had once asked him, “What color is the wind?” He began to paint. As he visits schools today and talks with children, he asks them the same question, letting them paint what they see. Mendoza’s story is remarkable on so many levels. It is one of encouragement and empowerment, suggesting that we need to discover and develop the gifts, talents, and interests that we have. It implies that individuals do not have disabilities but, rather, differences. The text is simple and straightforward, making this an appropriate picture book for teens and adults who are learning to read or who are overcoming obstacles in their own lives. Sections of eighteen paintings by this contemporary artist are presented in the book and on the cover, making this a rich experience for the reader. Vibrant and colorful, they offer endless possibilities for discussion. Art teachers, from elementary school through high school, will discover that this is a good source to encourage creativity in their students. Further information about George Mendoza can be found in the back. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo; Ages 6 to 10.

Children's Literature - Sharon Salluzzo

10/01/2014
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

School Library Journal

2014-07-29
Absorbing paintings carry this abbreviated story of George Mendoza, a blind runner and artist. George Mendoza wants to play basketball when he grows up, but then he sees "the whole world painted red" and starts having headaches. A doctor tells him he is going blind, but he continues to see "flashing lights and brilliant colors"; a priest advises him to paint what he sees. Instead, Mendoza begins to run—so fast, writes Powers, that he goes to the Olympics twice, but she does not detail this feat. When his best friend dies, Mendoza finds purpose in painting (with brushes or fingers) his kaleidoscopic perception; these paintings appear throughout the book. His heavy, bold streaks and swirls of color depict key events, focusing his story in ways the short sentences supplemented by Morgan-Sanders' minimalist line drawings cannot; it's hard to look away from a swarm of blurry butterflies or a basketball hoop painted like a blazing eye. An author's note provides greater (and more interesting) biographical detail, explaining how Mendoza went blind and specifying that he trained and placed in the Olympics for the Disabled in 1980 and 1984. It is too bad this information is not worked into the main text, since the author's note is too complex for the younger audience to whom the main text caters. Mendoza's inspiring story is best understood through his eye-catching artwork, supplemented by the author's note. (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews