Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes
Gr. 9-12. Fifteen well-known illustrators contributed beautiful artwork to this heavy-handed, inspirational fable in free-verse poetry. On each spread, Bosak describes a stage of life, writing in the voice of a wise elder who associates each age with a color: as a "cuddled and comforted" baby, the speaker loves yellow; as a teenager struggling with questions of identity and life purpose, the speaker loves blue. Then, as an adult depressed by life's ambiguities, the speaker sees gray everywhere until he (or she?) realizes the powerful impact of dreams, which transform the world into a hopeful green. The greeting-card sentimentality isn't for everyone, but the fine, detailed images from Leo and Diane Dillon, Raul Colon, and others may attract aspiring artists. Older teens, especially graduating seniors, may particularly enjoy the comforting, motivational quotes and messages about embracing life's passages and future possibilities. This is published in association with the Legacy Project, which is dedicated to fostering intergenerational communication, and there are free activity kits available online, which, like the book, may help open discussions between adults and young people.Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved