The Dreamer
Pages: 52 pages – ages 6+
Published by: Chronicle Books on September 11, 2018
Theme/Topic: Following dreams, Creative thinking, Problem solving
Opening and Publisher’s Synopsis: Opening: “Once, there was a pig who admired birds.”
Publisher’s Synopsis: “Once, there was a pig who admired birds. But he could never join them. Or could he?
Thus begins the journey of a pig with big dreams, and the perseverance to make them come true. He develops flight plans, builds experimental contraptions, and has far-flung adventures, but at the end of the day, his favorite thing to do is still to sit and watch for those he loves best: the birds. Il Sung Na creates a world at once whimsical and aspirational, where anything is possible and, yes, even pigs can learn to fly.”
The Dreamer – Our Review
What I Thought- This is such a happy book. The pig wants to fly and is willing to work to get in the air. One of the subtle things I loved about the book was that the pig accepted help from friends and that Na pointedly said he listened to them – but just listening to friends wasn’t the solution. The pig had to work for his dream. The conflict is along the lines of how dreams can be difficult to follow, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t unobtainable. The illustration style is whimsical and fits the story perfectly.
Na has crafted a wonderful story about how following dreams can change the world, no matter who is doing the dreaming. You just need to believe in yourself and your dream.
Activities and Resources: For ideas on how to discuss dreams and goals with your kid, Freespiritpublishingblog.com has a great resource HERE!
How about creating an invention with your child by using items from around your house? The Kids Love to Know wiki has some great ideas to get you started -click HERE to go THERE
Got some older kids? PBS Kids has an awesome resource for kids 9-12 on creating inventions. Click HERE to find it.