Review by Booklist Review
This soft-focus, gently rhythmic picture book offers another sensitively realized appreciation of animals in their natural world from New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Wenzel. The lulling voice of a first-person dreamer tells of being first a salamander, then becoming an octopus, next an elephant, and on to yet more creatures. The voice of "you" offers a beguiling call, pulling the dreamer on to adapt yet again, each change evolving organically as new characteristics unfurl in text and image. Using watercolor, pastels, and collage in a muted palette, Caldecott Honor Book creator Wenzel deepens this dreaming world with undulating compositions set in soft-edged panels. Early expansive moments exploring each animal's world give way to briefer glimpses of ever-different creatures, each illuminated by a short expressive description with the refrain "there I was." After his own playful tumble in the snow, the dreamer snuggles down to return to sleep's "wild stillness." In this poetic and transformative journey, both realistic and reassuring, young readers will find an informative yet lyrical introduction to the varied wonders of the natural world.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In experiential text and form-forward mixed-media art, Caldecott Honoree Wenzel imagines a young dreamer inhabiting the body and consciousness of a succession of animals. "I had a dream I was a sleeping salamander," the book opens. "All the world was safe, snug spaces and a warm, wet blanket of decaying leaves... until you came, with playful limbs, and woke me from that dream." Sinuous pink arms offer clues about the next dream's subject; a page turn later, the dreamer becomes an octopus, "bursts of wonder tingling down the minds of my arms." Cavorting under the waves, the octopus transitions to a land giant, and a new dream begins. Across softly bordered full spreads and vignettes, each visual gives way to the next: the cephalopod's arms move into elephant trunks; the elephants' view of clouds becomes a speeding falcon in the sky; the diving falcon's backdrop reveals a tiger's stripes. As the series of dreams forms an endless loop, suggesting similarities across habitats and species, the beings' expressive eyes communicate joy and curiosity. It's one thing to watch creatures; in this empathetic picture book, Wenzel imagines what it's like to be them. Ages 4--8. Author: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--Encapsulating the intricate beauty of nature's interconnectedness, here is an enchanting story that seamlessly blends mesmerizing storytelling with fascinating mixed-media illustrations. A first-person perspective invites readers to be both observers and dreamers. Crafted with a flowing narrative, the story includes a plethora of creatures, beginning and ending with a salamander that symbolizes nature's resilience. The theme of nature's connections plays out as the dreams cascade from one animal to another. As an octopus transforms into an elephant that morphs into a soaring falcon, readers witness the biomes of water, land, and air, thus showcasing the delicate balance of the Earth's diverse ecosystems. When a child with an animal-adorned blanket enters the tale, young readers will likely find a relatable connection, igniting their curiosity and creativity. The remarkable illustrations, created using a combination of paints, colored pencils, and crayons, are a visual joy, augmenting the narrative with innovative details. This versatile picture book can serve as a delightful bedtime story, an engaging introduction to an animal study unit, a catalyst for poetic exploration, or an inspiration for art classes. Its heartfelt message of the intrinsic value of every creature encourages empathy and a sense of responsibility for our planet. VERDICT A book that enchants, educates, and inspires; this timeless tale has the qualities of a classic in the making. Highly recommended for readers of all ages.--Lynne Stover
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
What if you could dream yourself into another animal? A bright eye peeks from under a tree. Orange-on-blue shapes, first seen on the front endpapers, become 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 salamander becomes an octopus: "Bursts of wonder tingling down the minds of my arms /…until you came…and woke me from that dream." Octopus becomes elephant becomes falcon becomes tiger. Wenzel's creatures are full of personality and spirited energy--they telegraph their natures: secretive, undulating, fearsome, massive, tiny. Light and shadow, camouflage and plumage, bright colors and bold lines pop from the pages, the illustrations combining with the spare text to create a melodic pacing. The dreamer becomes other animals in an accelerating montage: "Then there I was. / And was, / and was / and was again." Finally, there is a tan-skinned child "full of funny thoughts and comfort and family." Here a snowy day of play gives way to striped pajamas, a warm blanket, and a dream. Caldecott winner Wenzel cultivates senses of empathy and imagination in this appreciation of the ways other creatures experience the world, resulting in a buoyantly reverent celebration of the myriad wonders and complexity of life on Earth. The simple poetry of the narrative creates a glorious conversation starter: Who is the dreamer? (This book was reviewed digitally.) Dazzling. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
