PAINTING IN THE DARK Esref Armagan, Blind Artist

Bronson Pinchot’s measured, reverent voice is a great match for this account of Esref Armagan, a self-taught Turkish artist who, despite being blind from birth, became a successful painter of international repute. Pinchot uses subtle changes in his tone to capture the young boy’s interactions with his father, who mentored him, and the author’s own thoughts and revelations about the artist. While Pinchot’s voice is light and cheerful for Armagan’s successes, it turns somber at the many challenges he faced. In a well-modulated voice often accompanied by reflective music, Kellgren delivers the author’s explanations of Armagan’s painting techniques, referencing certain pages in the book. Children with access to the print book will enjoy reading along while listening. Musical chimes indicating each page turn will serve as a helpful aid in this task. M.F.T. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2017]