If I Had a Little Dream

November 21, 2016
Illustrator Castrillon debuts with a splash, imagining a world enclosed in a riot of lush, filigreed leaves and flowers, dyed with the warm colors of sunset and the blue of Chinese porcelain. Laden (Are We There Yet?) writes in the voice of a girl who dances, bicycles, and dreams her way through scenes that picture her wishes for a house, boat, dog, siblings, and more: “If I had a little garden,/ I would name it Whole./ Whole would be filled/ with roots and seeds,/ and feed my heart and soul.” At bedtime, the girl’s mother cradles her in her arms and tells her, “If I had a little dream,/ I would name it You./ You would make life magical,/ where wishes do come true.” Through Laden’s rhymes can be awkward in places, her poetry comes from the heart, and Castrillon’s artwork carries the words to a place where birds bring tea and cupcakes to the window, thistly flowers grow as high as trees, and houses are just the right size for a single child. She’s a talent to watch. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator’s agency: Pickled Ink.

November 1, 2016
Rhyming stanzas explore the notion of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, each one beginning with the words, "If I had a little...."The rhymes are sweet and childlike, almost begging to be sung (although scansion is sometimes unruly: "If I had a little boat, / I would name it Treasure. / Treasure would make me sparkle inside, / more than I could measure"). The artwork, which uses a limited, autumnal palette, has a retro feel. It has the appearance of thin inked lines surrounded by stencils and block prints. Whimsical animals and plants decorate and sometimes frame the cast of white-skinned children and a motherly woman at the end. A child who wears an orange dress and blonde pigtails is in every illustration--apparently the voice of the poems. Within the art's parameters, each page turn produces a fresh look in terms of layout, negative space, and appealing, eye-catching details. The overarching sentiments are love and gentleness, and the verse and artwork complement each other as they lull a child into sleepiness. A verse that imagines the narrator's little brother is particularly endearing and is accompanied by a radiant illustration of siblings flying a kite together. There is humor as well: "If I had a little cat, / I would name him Curious. / Curious would make me laugh, / and never make me furious." Easy on the eyes and ears; excellent for bedtime. (Picture book. 3-7)

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January 1, 2017

PreS-K-In a rhyming, lyrical bedtime book, a pigtailed child with rosy cheeks dreams up imaginary people, places, and things. Each is the subject of a quatrain that is phrased in a soothing and pleasant rhythm, adding to the precious and endearing quality of the text. The verses follow the same pattern: "If I had a little book, /I would name it Friend./Friend would go wherever I went, /our story would never end." While Laden does not describe the objects themselves as otherworldly, Castrillon creates a dreamlike tone with her pencil illustrations, which swirl with detail in deep blues, burnt oranges, browns, and reds. The objects and backgrounds are slightly surreal, some with a Seussian feel. The child is surrounded by intricate trees, peculiar plants, and curious forest creatures. Dream threads appear as winding blue vines from the child's head. The pages are pleasantly constructed, with a balance of smaller symmetrical vignettes and half and full spreads. The final page shows the child in the arms of a loving adult caregiver and offers the message, "If I had a little dream, /I would name it You./You would make life magical, /where wishes do come true." VERDICT A sweet bedtime selection where the illustrations are the star. Purchase for medium and large collections.-Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2016
Preschool-K A genial, dreamy girl narrates a sweet world of possibility in this cozy bedtime read. Laden's lyrical lines explore ideas of home, friends, and family in vague but evocative terms. Beginning with a description of home ( If I had a little land, / I would name it There ), each lilting four-line poem adds depth and detail to the surroundings, from boats for exploring to a pond for wondering to tables and pets and siblings, until, finally, the little girl imagines a warm, inviting bed and a hug from mom. Though the text might go over the heads of some little ones, the lively illustrations are gorgeous. Vignettes surrounded by rococo detailssuch as twining, sepia and Dutch-blue vines filled with flowers, and branches cradling birds, cats, and other creaturesmake those moments seem extra precious, while full-bleed scenes in fiery oranges and reds contain happy children traipsing through fanciful, Seussian trees and flowers. Taken together, the lulling lines and lovely artwork cultivate a snug, welcoming atmosphere ideal for one-on-one sharing before saying good night.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)