Dreamers

Pura Bupré Winner

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Justification: As one of my favorite picture books in the collection, Dreamers is a loving tribute to reading and libraries depicted in full, vibrant acrylic color. Yuyi Morales tells her own immigration story from Mexico to California in this stunning book about hope, dreams, and most importantly, reading. A beautifully told multicultural book, Dreamers offers wonderfully positive experiences to young readers. This picture book successfully introduces its readers to a tradition of literature about another culture and introducers the reader to immigrants. Morales expertly weaves Spanish words into her text without offering explanation allowing the reader to infer the meaning through the context and images.

Evaluation: Clean, crisp resplendent acrylic illustrations combined with embroidered Mexican fabrics in layered collage dominate this picture book. It's a joy to read, and to read aloud. "Say Something. What? Speak English." These are the words we see written backwards in the form of puffy cumulous clouds across the sky. The reader struggles to read the backwards skywriting as much as Morales struggled to read words in English. Unfamiliar words, customs, and cultures abound once mother and child make it to the Unites States from Mexico. They struggle to understand language and make foibles along the way until they discover a library. Our narrator first calls it "Suspicious. Improbable." And then when you turn the page she says: "Unbelievable. Suprising." Finally, "Unimaginable."

In an unexpected surprise, and one very creatively rendered, Morales depicts actual children's books on display in the library. Once can see Short Cut by Donald Crews and Welcome to Medicine Mountain and Lon Po Po exhibited amongst the titles. Call numbers are intricately drawn on books and shelves are labeled for Fiction or Graphic Novels. No detail is spared in depicting the library and the magic of the books contained within. Even the librarian is featured over the course of several spreads as she lovingly gives Morales her library card. The book A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza flies through the air high above the shelves. The children's books on display are clearly imbued with meaning and have had an influence on Morales as pays homage to them. The mother begins to read to her infant son and animals and space shuttles and books begin to fly around the library, whirling around them as her imagination blossoms and takes flight. The unimaginable becomes imaginable.

Libraries are indeed social agencies and should be safe spaces, not only providing refuge for the disenfranchised, but services for all patrons, regardless of their economic background or ability. A place of refuge for many, libraries are popular because they are spacious, calm, quiet, intellectually stimulating and inclusive. They are also free. Morales depicts the library as a safe haven, a place where she can have access to information and have the resources to do so. The story of her struggle transforms into one of hope. "Books became our language. Books became our home. Books became our lives. We learned to read, to speak, to write and make our voices heard."

Conclusion: A story about the power of resilience, this autobiography is about discovering new worlds and taking risks. There is also a theme of gratitude. It is also about trust, and the love of reading and the love of a mother and her son as they embark on a daunting new adventure in a foreign land. Mother and son find refuge in the public library. Readers and lovers of books and librarians can all identify with Morales's experience and the power of libraries is celebrated.

Reference: Morales, Y. (2018). Dreamers. New York : Neal Porter Books/Holiday House.