Dreamers

This is a sumptuously illustrated book about a woman who came to the United States to visit her ailing grandfather, and then married her fiancé. She has written and illustrated many books for children, some of which have won awards.She writes about being in a new country with her baby and discovering the library, which was full of surprises. She learned to read English.The illustrations are creative and colorful. I found them delightful to look at. The book is good quality and is printed in China.

What an inspirational, happy book! Although the recommended ages are 4-8, all elementary school kids will enjoy this. This is both for any immigrant who has felt bewildered upon entering the United States, and parents and teachers who want to convey a hint of what it’s like to come to a strange culture and not speak the language. Plus, it's a natural for anyone wanting to pass on their love of books. The experience is tough, but ultimately heartwarming.It’s a story told by a loving mother to her small child. In the U.S., so much to learn, to see, to experience; it boggles the mind. Author/artist Morales conveys the confusion with her eloquent, lively pictures that kids will delight in. She shows a dry humor when she minimizes some experiences in her narration, but the pictures tell the real tale. Then she discovers a library and finds out she and her son can borrow books. As she reads to her son, her thoughts float in the air - wild and ecstatic. Morales wants to share her love of books and many kids will absorb this like sponges to water.Most of all, she embodies the warm and brave spirit that so many immigrants bring to the U.S. Teachers, parents, if you want your kids to take comfort that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and to know that books will help them to get there, this one’s for you.Morales includes a list of books that inspired her (for all ages) and her personal story at the end of the book.

I bought this as a gift and decided to read it before wrapping it up. Let me just tell you I was not expecting to sob reading a children’s story. This was my story! I was the baby in the book. My family left Nicaragua and migrated to the U.S. when I was 2 years old and we struggled for years while my family learned to adapt living in a new country. I found solace in books. I had my nose in a book my whole childhood/adolescence to escape the harsh realities of my life. My inner child was happy and felt seen while reading this. Thank you Yuyi! I will now purchase my own copy to keep.

I love this book! It brings representation to the classroom! I also love the illustrations and the meaning behind them! Every child should have access to these type of books, so they develop empathy and understanding of other people's journeys!

The first time I read this book, I honestly didn't get it. The artwork is impressive, but the words are sparse. After reading "The Last Cuentista," in which this book plays a fairly prominent role, I went back and reread this. There is so much symbolism on each page that this book is appropriate for a wide range of ages. Younger children might take everything at face value as a straightforward immigration story. Older children and adults can analyze the meaning of the symbols.Overall, a beautiful book worth the investment. And don't forget to have children look for the monarchs on every page!

This is a GORGEOUS book! I could look at the illustrations and read the words for hours. Yuyi Morales is an author, illustrator, and ARTIST. She painted, photographed, used drawings from her childhood, and MUCH more. I’ve not read, but I plan on reading all her books. I just put holds on all her work at my library! “Dreamers” is basically Yuyi’s personal story which began in 1994.Here’s a super quick summary. Mother and son immigrate to the United States. They don’t speak English. They are afraid and disoriented in their new home, and then…They find the public library and find rest for their weary souls.Here’s just a taste…“Books became our language. Books became our home. Books became our lives. We learned to read, to speak, to write, and to make our voices heard.”This is a picture book we should all read, young and old. The message is a beautiful one of love, hope, trust, determination, acceptance, and gratitude. This book should win a Caldecott Medal. Oh, and shhhhh…ALL our grandchildren will be receiving it this Christmas!

This is such a beautiful and personal story of the author’s immigration to the U.S. It is told with short and elegant prose, and beautiful, detailed artwork on each page. It is also a story about the power of books. Yuyi’s introduction to a library and the reasons she eventually becomes an author herself. I will be using this book in my fourth grade class to open the discussion on immigration during our immigration unit, and also to focus on literacy and the importance of books. There are many areas of discussion to be found from this book. You can even discuss the illustrations because they are so detailed. I also appreciated the author adding pages at the end that tell her immigration story in more detail, share a list of books that inspired her, and how she made this book. A beautiful picture book about the American dream and a tribute to the art of picture books.