You found the Braille page!
The dots in your paperback show what Braille looks like. Press play to meet Mitchell and see the raised dots he reads with his fingers.
Mitchell is blind. Like the people you met in the book, he uses tools to do what he loves. Braille is one of the tools that helps him read.
Ready to look a little closer?
Braille: see the difference
Dots that tell a story
Braille is a way to read by touch. Raised dots make patterns for letters, numbers, and more. Mitchell feels those patterns with his fingers.
In your paperback
Printed dots you can see.
These dots are flat on the page. You can look at them, but you can’t feel them.
In Mitchell’s Braille book
Raised dots he can feel.
Real Braille dots are raised so fingers can read them. Mitchell feels each pattern.
Mitchell also shows a refreshable Braille display. Its dots can change to show new text. Not every blind person reads Braille or uses the same tools — people choose what works for them.
Explore your book
Find your letter!
Find the first letter of your name. Look at its dot pattern. Can you find another letter with a different pattern?
Printed Braille Alphabet (visual letter-by-letter chart)
A grown-up or class can help you look. This is a way to explore the printed alphabet — it’s different from touching real raised Braille.
A child’s toolbox
What do you want to try?
What will you try?
Answer aloud, draw on paper, or share with someone beside you.
Braille is one of Mitchell’s tools. The people in this book use tools, practice, their senses, and teammates to do things they love. Now it’s your turn.
What do I want to try?
Maybe something from the story, or something brand new to you.
What tool could help me?
Braille, a white cane, a camera, a helmet, clear instructions, practice, or a teammate.
Who could help me get started?
A grown-up, a teacher, a friend, or a coach who believes in you.
One small try is a great place to start.
About the author & Mitchell
Meet Kristin and Mitchell
Hi! I’m Kristin Smedley, the author of What I Can Be Is Up to Me, and this is my son Mitchell. You just watched him read Braille. I wrote this book because every child deserves to believe in themselves, try what excites them, and find the tools and people who can help.
Read the video transcript
[Transcript — replace with the final, approved transcript of the captioned video.] [The book's dog welcomes the viewer with a happy wag.] DOG: Woof! You found the secret Braille page! Ready to look a little closer? [Mitchell appears and demonstrates Braille.] MITCHELL: Hi, I'm Mitchell. This is how I read. These raised dots are Braille. I feel the patterns with my fingers to read letters, numbers, and whole words. Here's the first letter of my name. [Mitchell shows a Braille cell.] [Kristin explains the paperback.] KRISTIN: Hi, I'm Kristin Smedley, the author of "What I Can Be Is Up to Me." The dots in your paperback show what Braille looks like. They're flat on the page, so you can see them, but you can't feel them. Mitchell's Braille book has real, raised dots he can touch. [Mitchell shows a refreshable Braille display.] MITCHELL: This is a refreshable Braille display. Its dots can pop up and change to show new text, like a whole page on a screen. [The dog returns to close the video.] DOG: The people in the book use tools, practice, and teammates to do what they love. What will YOU try? Woof! See you next time.
A note for parents and teachers
Give them a chance to try
Ask what caught the child’s imagination in the story. Listen to what they want to try. Then help them find the access, tool, practice, or person that makes a first step possible. Notice their effort and problem-solving, not just the outcome.
- “What did you notice someone doing in the book?”
- “What would help you try something you’re curious about?”
For the grown-ups
Keep raising confident kids
A child’s confidence grows through the stories they hear, the chances they get to try, and the people who believe in them. In my weekly Raising Confident Kids letter, I share a short story and simple ideas you can use to help a child believe in themselves and take their next step.