More Than What Eyes See: A Book about Blindness

A blind child shares her joys, struggles, and self-confidence.

In More Than What Eyes See, Maya explains what it's like to be blind. Sometimes she feels left out when she can't do all the things sighted kids can do. But then she remembers her many great qualities and abilities. She's curious, brave, confident, and creative. She reads Braille, plays sports with her friends, and enjoys painting and writing. With the help of her cane, Maya confidently navigates the world without sight--even if she occasionally wishes her eyes could see. Maya loves being who she is.

• Written by an author who has been blind since birth, drawing on her own childhood experience.
• Offers an honest portrayal of life as a blind child, including assistive technology, mobility aids, and accessible activities.
• Celebrates disability joy and offers an empowering self-representation for disabled kids.
• Helps children develop empathy and understanding with first-person storytelling from a child's perspective.
• Centers disabled voices by drawing on the author's experience with blindness.

The Disability Books for Kids series explores visible and invisible disability in the first person, as seen through the eyes of children and written from lived experience. The series builds allyship, challenges ableism, and celebrates difference, empowering and educating all readers. Each book includes an author's note to the reader.

Miso Kwak was born in South Korea and has been blind since birth. Miso and her family came to the United States when Miso was in middle school. She hopes that all disabled children can grow up feeling loved and confident in who they are, so she is pursuing a Ph.D. in special education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. When she is not reading or writing, Miso enjoys watching cooking shows, listening to and playing music, and spending time with her friends.

Thaís Mesquita is a Brazilian illustrator and mixed-media artist who loves bringing words to life through pictures. She is particularly drawn to stories full of spookiness, mystery, humor, and heart. Holding a BA in fine arts and an MFA in media and design, Thaís creates pictures rich in textures, collages, and patterns. Her experimental creation process is always an adventure that keeps her amazed and looking forward to the next story. Since 2017, Thaís has lived in a green city in the heart of Germany and works as a full-time illustrator. Constantly inspired by her beloved homeland of Brazil, she always celebrates its magical energy and warm colors in her artwork.