The Dreamer

In "The Dreamer: The Girl Who Dreamed the War Over," readers are transported to a small town in Ukraine where a young girl and her family huddle together in a bomb shelter. With bombs raining down above her, she dreams of a peaceful world where she and her pet are safe, her family is reunited with her veteran dad, and she can dance with her friends without fear. Through the eyes of the brave and hopeful girl, we see the power of imagination and the strength of family in the face of unimaginable hardship. This heartwarming story inspires children of all ages to dream big and never lose hope, even in the darkest of times.

"Using the thread of Torria's innocent prayers and the vivid subjects of her grandmother's poems, [the authors] have done a brilliant job of weaving together the story. The authors speak to their readers from the copyright page to the end of the book, reflecting their own style of communication, instead of adopting common practices. The vibrant colors will catch the eyes of readers, and the book will be dear to them long after the last page. The story is comforting and gives readers a sense of safety as they understand Torria's situation. Even though Torria seems to dream her wishes and prayers into her life, the story is realistic, and it provides a happy ending. The Dreamer is a great selection for children who fear the uncontrollable effects of war and wish they had the power to end it".

- Courtnee Turner Hoyle

The Dreamer is not just a children's book. Tzuri King and Julie G. Fox paint a dark, but to our horror, almost mundane picture of a family spending so much time in a bomb shelter. The repetitions in the text indicate that their life is the same day after day. But there is a distraction from the tragedy of war; the bedtime stories Torria asks her granny to read over and over again like children often do. Natali Barbalat's excellent illustrations contrast the dim light in the shelter and the vivid colors of the world from the stories, where there is no war. Tzuri and Julie do not name Torria's country directly, but the girl prays for yellow and blue dreams, telling us it is Ukraine. At the same time, The Dreamer leaves a place for hope for a better future for all children around the world affected by war. The story shows that children should not be separated from their friends and family members and should not lose their pets because of the endless shelling. But despite the hard setting, the story has a beautiful plotline and ends on a high note. Also, I appreciate the brilliant editorial work by Leonora Bulbeck and René Nel for The Dreamer is flawless.

- Nino Lobiladze