  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 02/15/2012 Arthur wakes up after the most amazing dream about a pink-and-green boat—with the boat perched atop his head. He tries telling his brother, mom, dad, and even the dog about the dream, but, in spite of the boat on his head growing larger and more intricate with each telling, nobody’s listening. But soon, in a surreal twist, Arthur finds himself sailing the boat in a wide sea, with his family bobbing alongside. Now will they listen? The text here is elegant and spare, and often the only words on the page are sounds, which are rendered in a different typeface—from the “Arrrhoooo” of the dog to the “Wooshh” of the waves. Dunbar’s mixed-media illustrations are soft and textured and, in conjunction with the book’s large trim size, heighten Arthur’s dreamlike state. In the end, reality and fantasy are blurred into one; although some children may find this confusing, they likely won’t mind being swept aboard Arthur’s dream boat and sailing off into the sunset. - Copyright 2012 Booklist. School Library Journal - 03/01/2012 PreS-K—Arthur has a dream to describe, but no one in his family is listening. He awakens with a boat on his mind, literally, and as he approaches each oblivious person or pet, another detail is supplied to the growing vessel. The boy first mentions the "pink-and-green boat with a striped mast" to his brother. Observant viewers will notice corresponding patterns and color combinations in this room and on subsequent pages. Arthur proceeds, relaying information about the "polka-dotted sails" and "beautiful figurehead." His final exasperated attempt, expressed in an enormous font, captures his family's attention and conjures up the waves. As the water rolls in, the onlookers enjoy a swim, until the delighted protagonist eventually scoops them up in his boat for a cuddly journey home; all is forgiven. Light aquamarine or white backgrounds provide a foil for the bright red or pink designs highlighted in this persistent hero's story and surroundings. The sounds emitted after each encounter set up the potential for a call-and-response with young audiences, from the "TIPPETY-TAP, TIPPETY-TAP" of the brother's computer to the "HOO-HA-LA-DE-DA!" emanating from the dreamer's mother as she sprinkles fish food into the bowl. The large trim size allows the mixed-media compositions to be easily seen from a distance, making this a welcome choice for storytimes. Children will enjoy comparing and contrasting Dunbar's gentle fantasy to David Small's saga of another child who takes a nighttime transformation in stride: Imogene's Antlers (Crown, 1985).—Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
 |