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Easy to read, amazing story. ( )

Saint Hildegard was born in 1098 AD in Germany. In her long life, she enjoyed visions of heaven and the future, studied science and nature, wrote books, became a nun, and suffered terrible headaches. Young scientists and visionaries, especially girls, will delight in Demi’s beautifully illustrated picture book of Hildegard’s life. And parents will learn, perhaps, to trust the secrets their children reveal.

Demi tells Hildegard’s story with pleasingly simple sentences, bringing to life a “poor, little woman” who becomes so much more, “a feather on the breath of God” who shares that breath with others, and a wise leader who studies people and nature. The illustrations have sharp lines to attract, and pleasantly muted tones that draw the reader in without distracting. Much of the story can be found waiting in the images, and the use of light to convey Hildegard’s mysterious lights is beautifully done. No simple haloes here! And no insistence that readers share Hildegard’s faith.

Nuns and angels walk the pages. Geese and lambs share space with herbs and brews. Unexpected delights greet each turn of the page, and a delightful appendix invites adults and older readers to learn more. A woman can indeed be a scientist. A scientist can indeed be a saint. And visions can work together with earthbound skills to help, lead and feed. I love this book.

Disclosure: I was given a copy by the publisher and I offer my honest review. ( )