America's Dreaming
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
A stunning, uniquely told story about seeking inspiration from our past to become our best selves in the present, from the New York Times bestselling author of Three Little Engines. A beautiful way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary!
Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever desperately wanted to fit in? America understands how you feel.
America dreams of adventures, making new friends, and being strong. But America’s first day at a new school turns out to be a nightmare.
Fortunately, America’s new teacher introduces the Welcome Wagon—a cart filled with books about real-life historical figures who also had trouble feeling accepted. When America falls asleep that night, Amelia Earhart, Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King Jr., and Emma Lazarus jump off the pages to share their stories—inspiring America to return to school the next day and make their dreams come true.
While we never see America, Bob McKinnon’s lyrical writing and Thai My Phuong’s unique, sweeping art helps readers see the world through America’s eyes and encourages us all to be as kind as we are brave, because everyone always deserves to feel welcome.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Casting America as both the new kid at school and this story's narrator, McKinnon and Phuong roll out a historical welcome wagon. The narrator's anxiety is palpable on the initial day of class: "My hands are shaking so bad, I drop my backpack and trip over it." When the teacher asks students to introduce themselves and "share something you love to dream about," America freezes and the others laugh. Asked by the teacher if they like to read, America nods and responds that "opening a book is like someone opening their door for you. Letting you in to see what their life was like and how it might help you with yours." Soon, the classroom Welcome Wagon, filled with books whose "pages turn like the hands of old friends waving hello," helps the new student consider how the words of four historical figures—Amelia Earhart, Martin Luther King Jr., Emma Lazarus, and Sojourner Truth—might inspire their dreams. In Phuong's cool-hued, portrait-forward images, characters emerge from books to encourage the protagonist. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author's note concludes. Ages 4–8.
