Happy Dreamer

Grades K-3. “Be you x 2.” “Dream deeply.” “Breathe.” “Show the world who you are.” Colorful end pages filled with affirmations set the tone for this empowering book. A child of unspecified gender floats, spins, dances, and soars through the pages, celebrating the power of self-expression. Although adults may have reasons for telling a child to “Sit still. Be quiet. Pay attention. Focus,” the child explains, “Sometimes my mind just takes flight.” The story demonstrates that moods and inspiration can change quickly, and an exuberant child may need some time to think quietly, too. As an exploration of emotions, impulses, and creativity, the book could help children identify why they feel the way they do, and help others understand why people may respond to events differently. A four-page gatefold illustration includes 48 small vignettes exploring ways to dream and types of happiness. The message of acceptance and patience comes through clearly, and the exhortation to “carve your own path” and “show the world who you are” will be appreciated by anyone who has ever felt misunderstood.

Copyright 2016 Booklist, LLC Used with permission.

Displaying his distinctive voice and images, Reynolds celebrates the joys and challenges of being a creative spirit. “I am a HAPPY DREAMER,” cheers a thin, spiky-haired white boy as he flies skyward, streaming yellow swirls of sparkles. This little “dreamer maximus” piles on the energy with colors and noise and the joy-filled exuberance he has for life. “Wish you could HEAR inside my head / TRUMPETY, ZIGZAG JAZZ!” With clear honesty, he shares that the world tells him to be quiet, to focus and pay attention. Like a roller-coaster ride, Reynolds’ text and illustrations capture the energetic side of creativity and the gloom of cleaning up the messes that come with it while providing a wide vocabulary to describe emotional brilliance and resilience. The protagonist makes no apologies for expressing his feelings and embracing his distinct view of the world. This makes him happy. The book finishes with a question to readers: “What kind of dreamer are you?” Hinging outward, the double-page spread opens to four panels, each with a dozen examples of multiracial children being happy and being dreamers, showing inspiring possibilities for exploration. The best way, of course, is to “just BE YOU.” A sweet gift to praise spirited individuality, this choice encourages readers to dream big. Let those sparkles fly! (Picture book. 4-8)

Copyright 2016 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used with permission.

Reynolds (Playing from the Heart) returns to familiar inspirational territory as he celebrates individuality, self-expression, and the joys of being a dreamer. A shaggy-haired boy narrates, explaining that while the world often tells him to "sit still" and "be quiet," "my dreams have a mind of their own." He's initially shown sitting at a gray desk in a gray classroom, but a swirl of color beckons, and soon he's leaping across a spread, accompanied by music notes and bursts of cheerful color. Throughout, Reynolds's hand-lettered text and airy cartoons dance across the pages, capturing the freewheeling workings of the child's mind, and a gatefold showcases children showing off dozens of way to be happy (a "nature happy" girl on a hike, an "art happy" painter) or dreamers (such as a "stage dreamer" midperformance). While Reynolds's encouragements can get generic at times ("Sometimes... I'm a colorful dreamer, / painting my own path/ full of surprises at every turn!"), he offers a liberating validation of dreaming as restorative, comforting, and powerful, while giving kids full license to be themselves. Ages 4-8. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Mar.)

PreS-Gr 2--A pajama-clad child is a self-proclaimed happy dreamer, good at "daydreams. Big dreams. Little dreams. Creative dreams." The child demonstrates different ways to dream, acknowledging that sometimes dreaming is easy but that there are lonely moments, too. The secret is to find a way out and get back to dreaming. This celebratory book finishes on a motivational note: "But the best way to be a happy dreamer? Just be YOU." The digital illustrations feature loose linework and soft, swirling pastels. As in many of Reynolds's books, the text is hand lettered. A large foldout reveals a plethora of kids participating in various activities: "nature happy," "kindness happy," "civic dream," and "vision dreamer." Although some illustrations pop from the page, others, showing literal visual translations of the text, are less engaging. The work aims to be uplifting and rousing, but the never-ending stream of inspirational keywords and phrases result in a sentimental, cliched free verse poem. Unfortunately, this title lacks the narrative arc and originality of Reynolds's earlier titles, such as Ish and Sky Color. VERDICT An additional purchase for large libraries, or a lovely graduation gift.--Amy Seto Forrester, Denver Public Library