Stunningly Brilliant.
By Brendan Wenzel ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 26, 2023
Imagining yourself as another creature is a captivating thought. A bright eye peeks from under a tree, revealing a salamander’s patterned skin. An unseen narrator begins, “I had a dream I was a sleeping salamander… // until you came…and woke me from that dream.” The dreamer then transforms into an octopus, an elephant, a falcon, and a tiger. The illustrations, full of personality and energy, capture the essence of each creature. Light and shadow, camouflage and plumage, bright colors and bold lines bring the pages to life. The dreamer continues to become other animals in an accelerating montage: “Then there I was. / And was, / and was / and was again.”
Finally, the dreamer is a tan-skinned child “full of funny thoughts and comfort and family.” A snowy day of play gives way to striped pajamas, a warm blanket, and a dream. This book encourages empathy and imagination, and is a reverent celebration of the wonders and complexity of life on Earth. The simple poetry of the narrative creates a conversation starter: Who is the dreamer? (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316512534
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023