PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : The Dream by Gideon Sterer & Nik Henderson
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Transformers meets The Lorax in this epic, wordless fantasy with timely environmental takeaways about how to make our world better for all those who live in it—including those who are furred, feathered, and finned. Perfect for Earth Day and every day!
What happens when one girl, disheartened by the way we treat the earth, crosses paths with a mysterious wolf in the woods—who feels just as she does?
With the help of countless beasts from land, sky, and sea, can they protect our plant and its inhabitants?
Here’s a story for all the doers who believe that working together can make that dream come true.
REVIEW
This lengthy picture book is completely wordless. Which makes it interesting that it has both an author and an illustrator. I assume the author proposed the ideas related to the story and the illustrator made it happen. However it worked out, the book makes an interesting statement about environmental harm as well as the power of grassroots activism. This is a book that could lead to some interesting discussions between teacher and students or parent and child. The dreamlike sequences and the fantastic elements lead to some interesting metaphors about the world and the effect humans have on the environment and its effect on us.
After arriving at her home (possibly a new home?), a girl's love of nature leads her on a hike through the woods surrounding her house. This leads her to seeing hunters out hunting before she comes across a nearby factory pumping tons of debris and pollutants into the air. Later that night with the full moon shining through her window, the sleepless girl (or is she dreaming?) walks into the woods where she follows a wolf into the woods. The wolf leads her to a meadow where things take a turn for the strange. She seems to be surrounded by a pack of wolves running circles around her with other animals showing up as enormous trees. The animal trees almost seem to speak to the girl. The next day the girl shares what she's learned and leads her classmates and neighbors to confront the factory. Images of enormous animals hanging over human creations such as oil derricks and lumber yards combined with the image of the group of humans coming together 'as one' highlights the power of nature and concerted human effort to protect our earth.
While some might call the book too fantastical or blatantly cause-driven, I found the illustrations stunning and the message of the power to be found in working with nature rather than against it to be a powerful one. While this isn't a book I would share with the youngest readers, older elementary and up into high school and even college students and other adults could appreciate the imagery and beauty of the storytelling.
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