Oprah Winfrey

Gr 2-6–Two more volumes in the inspirational chapter book “She Persisted” series. Helen Keller, born in 1880, contracted a fever when she was just a year and half, causing irreversible vision and hearing loss. Keller’s parents sought the help of Anne Sullivan, a special teacher from the Perkins School for the Blind. Keller learned to read, write, speak, and read lips. Finally able to communicate, she took it upon herself to help those less fortunate, write 14 books, and graduate from Radcliffe College with honors. She changed the way people viewed those with hearing and vision loss. Oprah Winfrey was born with talent, intelligence, and a whole lot of grit. Memorizing scripture, reading and speaking well by age three, and requesting to skip kindergarten by writing her teacher a note stating, “I do not think I belong here” were just some of young Oprah’s accomplishments. She endured poverty, sexual abuse by a cousin, and a stillborn child by the time she was just 18 years old. Determined to overcome, she found success by going to college and landing a job as Nashville’s first Black television anchor. From there, Oprah’s success grew with her ability to speak candidly about her feelings on air. Black-and-white illustrations are peppered throughout both books.