Annie and Helen written by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Raul Colón, was published in 2012. This biographical picture book tells the true story of the beautiful relationship between a teacher named Annie and little Helen who is blind and deaf. Annie moves in with Helen and her family and begins full time one-on-one tutoring with Helen. Helen who has never been able to communicate is quite difficult to live with, and for the first time ever, in Annie, she is now being held accountable for her behavior and is being guided to learn and communicate herself in a way which was never possible for her before. Including dated excerpts from actual letters written by Annie to a friend, the reader gains an incredible awareness of Helen’s miraculous flourishing and development in such a short period.
I was immediately drawn to this book because growing up I had seen the 1962 Helen Keller movie which I absolutely loved. In this book is included a copy of the first letter which Helen wrote to her mother just four months after Annie began being her teacher. This really touched me, and witnesses to the powerful influence which a teacher who is full of love and dedication can have in a students’ life. The illustrations accurately capture the time period and lifestyles, thus emphasizing the reality of the story.
Annie and Helen would be great for a 3rd-7th grade class as an inspiring story. It would also be a great resource when studying a unit on “influential people” in a social studies or history class. Both Helen Keller and her teacher Annie are such beautiful examples of seeing beyond appearances, love, dedication, perseverance, and trying one’s best for love of God despite what other people may think. I would love to follow this book by studying more of Helen and Annie’s lives, and then watching the 1962 film together in class.
For more historical fiction/biographical picture books by Deborah Hopkinson see: A Band of Angels, A Boy Called Dickens, and Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek.
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