Trills, Whistles, Warbles & Hoots

Inspired by real events, a blind boy navigates life through his sensorial experiences with sounds in nature, from award-winners Susan Hughes and Mariana Ruiz Johnson.

 

Born blind, Mateo lives in a world of sensorial experiences. Smells, tastes, textures—but mostly sounds that fill the air. His favorites, above all, are bird songs. Not only does Mateo take pleasure in their dulcet tones, he tries to memorize them and associate each song to its specific bird. As Mateo begins his first day at a new school, already intimidated by abrasive hallway bells and the sounds of children whispering about him, his teacher assigns a class project: one where they must share something that’s important to them. Recorder in hand, Mateo enthusiastically sets out to capture his beloved bird songs—but how will his passion sound to his classmates?