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 · 2,677 ratings  · 323 reviews
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Calista
Nov 26, 2019 rated it it was amazing
The outset page and I was about to check out and rate this low and and then Chris brings his vision to us and I beloved this book. It'southward about our environment and how we are the stewards of the world. It is upwards to us what the world volition look similar. Information technology is a little Sci-fy tale. Yous know how the Native Americans are ever request themselves how this decision affects the side by side vii generations. This story has a long perspective like that, encouraging u.s. to recollect long term instead of day-to-day.

A male child only cares ab

The first page and I was about to bank check out and rate this low so Chris brings his vision to usa and I love this book. It'due south about our environment and how we are the stewards of the world. Information technology is up to us what the earth will await similar. It is a piffling Sci-fy tale. You know how the Native Americans are e'er asking themselves how this decision affects the adjacent seven generations. This story has a long perspective like that, encouraging united states of america to recall long term instead of twenty-four hours-to-twenty-four hour period.

A boy merely cares about his Tv program and the future with robots and flying cars. I told my nephew information technology sounds like him. He was supposed to gear up out the recycling, but he threw it all abroad. The boy wakes upward at dark and his bed has taken him to the future and he sees various ways the future is going. There are no flying cars or robots, only pollution and trash. Over and over he wakes upward to meet a sad world. Fisherman grab ii tiny fish and rejoice. It's depressing. The boy wakes up and changes his tune.

Anyway, I love this story. How nice if nosotros could become a nightly glimpse to see how our actions afflicted our lives and our world 7 generations away. That would be a powerful tool to aid us make decisions. I thought this was a wonderful idea.

The nephew was disappointed that the boy saw no robots in the hereafter. He sort of missed the pregnant of this story and was focused on robots. I volition have to read information technology to him more than once and hope something leaks in. He gave this 2 stars.

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Hilary
Sep 01, 2020 rated information technology liked it
A boy who couldn't care less virtually the environment visits the hereafter in his slumber. Like a version of the Christmas Carol, this boy learns his lesson, changes his ways and makes an endeavor to practise his bit.

Although this is a worthy message and a nice enough short motion picture book and story information technology did experience a bit obvious and preachy.

A boy who couldn't care less most the surroundings visits the hereafter in his slumber. Like a version of the Christmas Carol, this boy learns his lesson, changes his ways and makes an endeavor to practice his bit.

Although this is a worthy message and a dainty plenty short moving-picture show book and story it did feel a chip obvious and preachy.

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Ann
May 20, 2012 rated it liked it
This review has been hidden considering it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I got this book hoping it would be something similar "Sector 7" past David Wiesner, which I loved! Sadly, for me, neither the story nor the illustrations were quite every bit captivating.

The story is near a immature male child who doesn't intendance at all well-nigh the environment (he litters, doesn't see the dazzler of copse). He thinks it would be cool to live in the future and fly spacecrafts and accept robots and stuff, but then he falls asleep and dreams virtually a very different future.

The hereafter he dreams most illustrate a

I got this book hoping it would be something like "Sector 7" by David Wiesner, which I loved! Sadly, for me, neither the story nor the illustrations were quite every bit captivating.

The story is about a young male child who doesn't care at all about the environment (he litters, doesn't see the dazzler of trees). He thinks it would be cool to live in the future and fly spacecrafts and have robots and stuff, just then he falls asleep and dreams about a very different future.

The future he dreams about illustrate a futurity where trees are existence cutting-down, smog is blocking the view of the One thousand Canyon, and at that place'south lots of traffic and people on cell phones (now, rather sadly, this sounds a lot similar "the nowadays" instead of the futurity to me…) but, some of the dream sequences are more "futuristic": a world with few fish left in the body of water, no ponds for ducks to country in, etc. So, the question is, will the young dreamer see the globe in a different light when he wakes upwardly? Volition he finally sort his recyclables and trash into separate bins?

At present, don't get me wrong, I'm all for cleaning up the environment! I dearest nature, I dear clean air, and I think something needs to be washed to start making the world healthier. But this book but struck me the wrong manner from the offset. It feels way too dogmatic and breathy. And what annoyed me was that information technology was and so trivial in a way. The problems the world faces are big problems. So, to trivialize them by proverb the trees are being cut downwards "for toothpicks" or that the smog is being created past a processing plant that produces medicine to help you fight the effects of smog, just seem to make the bug style to "easy."

SPOILER ALERT

And as far every bit the stop, I'm not sure how I experience virtually the "solution" existence, basically, to go back 60 years and live how we did in the 1950s. Are there things we could learn from the by? Definitely! But I suppose, personally, I'd rather envision a hereafter where nosotros learn from the past merely keep progressing by making things amend, rather than reverting to what we've already come up from.

END SPOILER

Some of the full folio illustrations are pretty and pleasant to wait at – and, of course, I dear the addition of the cat! Only overall this book fell apartment for me…

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J
Aug 18, 2016 rated it it was ok
This is ane of those books that came out when being dark-green was a top notch priority while everyone was trying to get rich on offering helpful tips whether some of them made sense or non. At the aforementioned fourth dimension although the concept was a good one in that location were some works that didn't carry quite as pressing a message while in a sense I would say this is one of them.

This isn't the blazon of book that you desire children to learn to read on since the writing is in a big paragraph while at the same time being

This is one of those books that came out when existence green was a top notch priority while anybody was trying to go rich on offering helpful tips whether some of them fabricated sense or not. At the same time although the concept was a good one there were some works that didn't deport quite equally pressing a message while in a sense I would say this is one of them.

This isn't the blazon of volume that you want children to larn to read on since the writing is in a large paragraph while at the same time being monotonous. After a while the reader gets the concept of what is going to happen more than or less every fourth dimension his bed floats off.

All in all I would rather recommend Schim's books compared to this i or even Fern Gully for those who don't want to read (and I would only recommend motion-picture show one, not 2) for those who would like to larn more than virtually protecting the futurity around them. For those who may be interested in this particular book it can definitely be a starter on how our actions on the earth impact the future we may receive while besides offering a few tips to aid you get started on being more environmentally-friendly.

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Jane G Meyer
Just a Dream is a moving-picture show volume that focuses on encouraging kids to retrieve almost the surroundings, and how the choices they make today will bear on them in the futurity. I'thou all for such books, but this one falls short, and with motion picture books beingness as expensive as they are, I wouldn't choose to spend my money on this one...

Two reasons: though I like the idea of reading books to our kids about doing their part in keeping this planet clean and healthy, the concept of this book sings of cliche and reads

Just a Dream is a moving-picture show book that focuses on encouraging kids to remember about the surroundings, and how the choices they make today volition affect them in the future. I'm all for such books, but this i falls short, and with picture books being equally expensive equally they are, I wouldn't cull to spend my money on this one...

2 reasons: though I like the idea of reading books to our kids about doing their office in keeping this planet clean and healthy, the concept of this book sings of cliche and reads like propoganda. There'due south a message in the words from the moment nosotros meet the footling male child who throws his trash onto the basis to the very last folio when he rejoices in his decision to have planted a tree on his altogether then many years ago. But... I suppose if I were the editor, and this story had been brought my way, I might accept voted to publish it, as well.

The fault in this story goes to its layout. Whoever decided to feature the illustrations as ii-page spreads, then have the text for those pages follow the illustrations only blew it. When you're reading a picture show book to a child, you want something for the child to expect at while you lot're reading through the story. And y'all want that picture and those words to match. Especially if the text is long. In this book, you open to the spread of a man climbing a smokestack, and the male child in his dream is in this illustration as well, then nosotros plow the page and nosotros read all almost that picture we just passed, meanwhile the kid is looking at a snippet of the next part of the story that is to come up. Logically, information technology but doesn't make sense. You lose the interest of a young reader this fashion, and of a sudden the story becomes just words, just a teacher or a mom rambling on and on most burning throats and itchy eyes.

I will say, though. That if y'all had a oversupply of eight or nine or x-year-olds, that they would become this book. Past that time they'd have plenty experience reading without needing the aid of pictures, and would get the concept the author is trying to convey, and I could see them even being inspired to be better stewards of our world, as long as the teacher sat and had a good discussion with them following the reading.

My penny'south worth.

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Mathew
Nov 12, 2018 rated information technology really liked information technology
Walter hasn't got time to consider the firsthand globe around him. He doesn't want to recall most preservation or conservation or doing his part to look after the planet: his eyes and mind are set on the future in which he tin own an aeroplane and accept a robot do all his work for him. And then when he sees that his neighbor, Rose, shows him her birthday present: a tree planted in her back yard, he scoffs and heads off to sleep.
Merely Walter's dreams are total of uncomfortable and portentous visions. Vie
Walter hasn't got time to consider the immediate world around him. He doesn't desire to call back about preservation or conservation or doing his part to look subsequently the planet: his eyes and mind are set on the hereafter in which he can ain an aeroplane and accept a robot practise all his piece of work for him. So when he sees that his neighbour, Rose, shows him her altogether present: a tree planted in her back thousand, he scoffs and heads off to sleep.
But Walter's dreams are full of uncomfortable and portentous visions. Views lost to smog, a sea in which fish are thin, a landscape carpeted in mountains of litter and Everest tamed, ridiculed by mankind. Just as with Scrooge, Walter returns changed and understands that ignoring the present is dangerous. Instead on his own birthday he thinks about that footling human action of Rose and makes a choice that changes his path forever.
I may have questioned how much text Allsburg calls on during the dream sequences (I don't think whatever were needed) but I still recall the message is well done an is a lovely little slice of ecoliterature. As e'er, Allsburg'southward illustrations are a delight.
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Linda Lipko
Jul 26, 2013 rated information technology did not similar it
This volume was a thwarting. Accustomed to the writer's incredible stories and illustrations, when compared to others, this barbarous flat.

A boy who litters and does non help in taking care of his surround, dreams that his bed is floating above areas where the environment is destroyed, including finding a hotel at the elevation of Mt. Everest.

I don't do well with stories that are preachy. I'thou always left wondering if these folk practice what they preach.

Perhaps I'm too critical, merely I just react t

This book was a disappointment. Accustomed to the author's incredible stories and illustrations, when compared to others, this savage flat.

A boy who litters and does non help in taking care of his environs, dreams that his bed is floating above areas where the environment is destroyed, including finding a hotel at the top of Mt. Everest.

I don't do well with stories that are preachy. I'm always left wondering if these folk practice what they preach.

Perhaps I'm also critical, but I simply react to those who tell others what to exercise. While I employ energy saving bulbs, politicians run their individual jets and limos for hours, sitting on the runway or outside of the hotel after they gave a speech about an inconvenient truth.

Please practice not think I believe Allsburg does this, I'm just saying that my personal reaction colors my thoughts and feelings virtually the book.

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Marc Bisson
Oct 11, 2017 rated it it was astonishing
Only A Dream is virtually a male child named Walter who volition oft leave trash on the ground and hates the idea of getting a tree for his birthday. 1 night when he falls asleep, he is taken into the time to come on his bed and he sees what life would be like if nosotros don't take care of it. In the end, he changes his views on nature and keeping the World clean, and he is again brought back into the hereafter where a tree he planted is admired by afar relatives.

With cute writing and fantastic pictures by Chris

Just A Dream is about a boy named Walter who will often go out trash on the ground and hates the idea of getting a tree for his altogether. One night when he falls asleep, he is taken into the future on his bed and he sees what life would be like if nosotros don't take care of information technology. In the end, he changes his views on nature and keeping the World clean, and he is once again brought back into the futurity where a tree he planted is admired by distant relatives.

With beautiful writing and fantastic pictures by Chris Van Allsburg, this book really comes to life. I used this book with my students to continue talking about theme and summarizing, and they thoroughly savour the story. At that place are and then many different uses for this book every bit you tin talk with older students about the purpose of the pictures and how they enhance the story.

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Angie Kohout
Feb 01, 2015 rated information technology it was amazing
Plot: Walter is young human about to accept a altogether. He seems careless and wreckless with this deportment in regards to the surroundings until he goes to bed where his dreams take him to the future.

Setting: Usa

Characters: Walter, Rose, and various unnamed people Walter meets in his dreams.

Point-of view: Tertiary person

Theme: environmental impact, recycling.

Style: Children'southward fiction, traditional story structure.

Notes: Loved this book! Would be great for sharing with little ones and discussing w

Plot: Walter is beau almost to have a birthday. He seems careless and wreckless with this deportment in regards to the surround until he goes to bed where his dreams accept him to the future.

Setting: United States

Characters: Walter, Rose, and diverse unnamed people Walter meets in his dreams.

Signal-of view: Third person

Theme: environmental impact, recycling.

Manner: Children'southward fiction, traditional story structure.

Notes: Loved this book! Would be corking for sharing with niggling ones and discussing what nosotros can practise for our surroundings. Would exist a bang-up World Day read.

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Eve Leuzinger
Feb 07, 2019 rated it really liked it
A beautiful moving picture book where you don't experience the loss of a written narrative at all. The illustrations inside this text encourage the reader to engage and view the story from a range of perspectives, this would exist a great volume to illustrate the variations of storytelling to KS2.

Inside KS2 this book holds a lot of potential for exploring variations in perception and the acceptance of this. Would also be great in aiding children to approach film books and challenging topics with an open up listen

A cute flick book where you don't feel the loss of a written narrative at all. The illustrations within this text encourage the reader to engage and view the story from a range of perspectives, this would be a great volume to illustrate the variations of storytelling to KS2.

Within KS2 this book holds a lot of potential for exploring variations in perception and the acceptance of this. Would too be bang-up in aiding children to approach picture books and challenging topics with an open up mind and feeling able to discuss these.

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Courtney Barter
This book hit domicile for me. I take always been someone who wants to accept care of the Globe. Later on all, we only have 1 Earth to live on. In this volume, Walter has a dream where he visits the future and sees horrendous things that could easily exist prevented right now on World. When he wakes up, he is motivated to make clean up the world around him and take intendance of Earth. Beautiful illustrations. Illustrator Project Volume.
Genna
This volume is suddenly feeling really relevant again...

I had this book when I was a kid and I still think most it all the time, when I'1000 deciding whether to bother rinsing out a can and then I can recycle it or but toss it in the trash, for instance. I think almost the illustration of the crumpled donut wrapper and I rinse out the can.

This book is suddenly feeling actually relevant again...

I had this book when I was a kid and I still think about it all the time, when I'chiliad deciding whether to bother rinsing out a can so I tin can recycle information technology or merely toss information technology in the trash, for example. I think near the illustration of the crumpled donut wrapper and I rinse out the can.

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The Docta
Not a realistic end but a prissy message all the aforementioned. Creative depiction of of import idea.
Cara Zanetti
January 16, 2020 rated it it was amazing
"Just a Dream" is a skillful story that centers effectually the topic of saving our environment. Walter, the main character, is a careless kid who tosses garbage on the ground, doesn't bother sorting the recyclable materials from the garbage, and doesn't understand why the girl next door is excited about planting a tree. He goes to sleep, thinking about what his future will exist like, hoping it will plough out like his favorite goggle box show that depicts a futurity with personal tiny planes, robots that take out the "Merely a Dream" is a proficient story that centers around the topic of saving our environment. Walter, the main character, is a careless child who tosses garbage on the basis, doesn't bother sorting the recyclable materials from the garbage, and doesn't sympathize why the girl next door is excited nearly planting a tree. He goes to sleep, thinking about what his time to come will be similar, hoping information technology will turn out like his favorite tv show that depicts a future with personal tiny planes, robots that take out the trash, and small machines that can make any food you like at the push button of a button....

He dreams of the future, and it's non what he expects. Information technology'southward nothing like the television receiver show, and it's not how he wants the future to become. He wakes from his dream, determined to change things for the meliorate.

I enjoy reading this story with my fourth grade course. It's a good book to teach the theme of the story, since they easily understand it correct away. Information technology also leads to expert discussions about what they can do to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

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Kim McGiveran
Jan 25, 2020 rated it actually liked it
I idea this volume did an splendid job at describing how most typical teenagers experience about their function in taking care of the surroundings. The main character, Walter, is a boy who litters, thinks planting trees and plants is impaired, and doesn't want to take the time to sort all the trash into the different containers meant for recycling. The book and so transitions into Walter sitting down to lookout man his favorite TV prove which is futuristic with robots and spaceships. He and so drifts into sleep and get I thought this book did an fantabulous job at describing how most typical teenagers experience about their role in taking care of the environment. The main grapheme, Walter, is a boy who litters, thinks planting trees and plants is dumb, and doesn't want to take the time to sort all the trash into the different containers meant for recycling. The book so transitions into Walter sitting down to scout his favorite TV show which is futuristic with robots and spaceships. He and then drifts into sleep and gets a glimpse of what the future actually will wait like if people don't take the time to care about the surroundings. Each page is a different part of Walter's dream with a description of how things have changed and why they changed. Teachers tin can employ this volume to aid teens and older elementary students chronicle to ecology intendance. Students can think about what they can do now to terminate the devastation that caused the deterioration on each page. The environmental devastation is not explicitly stated, but rather implied through the picture and story within the text. Students could also be asked to pick a page and inquiry that particular blazon of environmental care. ...more
Oceana
A story nearly the possible futures of earth if we litter too much. It was pretty good.
Renee
Jul 21, 2021 rated it actually liked it
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. What volition happen to our environs in the hereafter? How is this impacted past our actions in the present? Will technological advances create a paradise where we bulldoze around in airplane cars, or a wasteland filled with trash and smog? These are the questions raised in Van Allsburg'south book "Only a Dream." The main character is a young boy who fantasizes about the technological possibilities of the future, yet fails to care for the present. He litters and is too lazy to sort the recycling. In his drea What will happen to our environment in the future? How is this impacted by our actions in the present? Will technological advances create a paradise where nosotros bulldoze around in airplane cars, or a wasteland filled with trash and smog? These are the questions raised in Van Allsburg's book "Merely a Dream." The main character is a immature boy who fantasizes about the technological possibilities of the future, yet fails to care for the present. He litters and is besides lazy to sort the recycling. In his dreams one dark he experiences different possibilities for the time to come in a land where no one cared for the environment. Upon waking, he realizes that we choose our future past our actions in the present.

For classroom use, this book could plainly be used as a starting point for discussions about human touch on on the environment, climatic change, pollution, etc. It could likewise prompt thought and discussion almost what we truly want our hereafter to await similar- forth with steps we tin can take now to help bring that future about. That time to come could be ecology, only it can also be applied to pocket-size and large goals for our personal lives. More broadly, this story could demonstrate cause and effect relationships, utilize of dream sequences to show multiple possible outcomes, and carrying a motif (in this case the boy's bed) through a volume. I could see reading this story in grades one-6.

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Jordan Ziemba
Oct 05, 2019 rated information technology really liked information technology
After Walter eats his jelly-filled donut, he crumples up the empty handbag and throws it on the ground. When Walter sees that Rose, the daughter next door got a tree for her altogether present he thought that was a impaired present. Afterwards dinner Walter took out the trash, and didn't split the bottles, cans, and trash but instead put everything into 1 can and then that he could get back to his favorite show. The show that Walter was some excited to picket was about a male child who lived in the future, he went to bed t After Walter eats his jelly-filled donut, he crumples up the empty bag and throws information technology on the ground. When Walter sees that Rose, the daughter next door got a tree for her altogether present he thought that was a impaired present. After dinner Walter took out the trash, and didn't separate the bottles, cans, and trash simply instead put everything into one can so that he could become back to his favorite show. The show that Walter was some excited to watch was about a male child who lived in the hereafter, he went to bed that dark wishing he lived in the future. Until Walter's bed traveled to the future, simply it was a future that was polluted with piles of trash and fume filled air.

As a teacher, I could utilize this book virtually taking care of our planet with a unit lesson plan about recycling or global warming. This book by Chis Van Allsburg had a unique way of waking Walter upwards to accept a more eco-friendly life. Showing that doing the pocket-sized things, similar recycling or picking upwards your trash tin can change the future for us all. Peculiarly in today earth, where global warming is causing our world is slowly getting washed away because of the choices we fabricated in the past.

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Alli Davis
Oct 07, 2019 rated it really liked it
This volume is about a young male child who littered, didn't split his trash and recycling, and told his neighbor Rose, who had gotten a tree for her altogether, that he would never get a tree for his birthday. Subsequently watching a prove almost the future he went to bed. That night he went to various forms of the futurity, but it wasn't what he expected. He had expected robots and flying cars. Still, he saw trash dumps where his house used to be, smog filled landmarks, and ducks who struggled to notice a pond t This book is virtually a young boy who littered, didn't separate his trash and recycling, and told his neighbor Rose, who had gotten a tree for her birthday, that he would never get a tree for his altogether. Later on watching a show about the hereafter he went to bed. That night he went to diverse forms of the future, but it wasn't what he expected. He had expected robots and flying cars. However, he saw trash dumps where his firm used to be, smog filled landmarks, and ducks who struggled to find a swimming to eat at. Afterwards he woke upwards he picked up his trash, sorted the garbage and recycling, and planted a tree for his altogether.
This would be a great book to employ in older grades when talking nigh recycling or near Earth Mean solar day. This volume could be read and and then students could write a story nigh what they're ideal hereafter would wait similar and how they can help create it. Some other fun activity would be to get to a recycling institute or go outside and pick upwardly trash.
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Kennedy Meredith
Walter, a young boy, loves to get a jelly doughnut every day on his style domicile from school, only he always throws his paper handbag on the ground. One night, but a few nights before his altogether, Walter had a dream. In this dream, he traveled all around in his bed. He went to the future where he landed in a big pile of garbage, in a tree that was nearly to be chopped down, in an industrial smoke-filled place, on top of Mt. Everest, and many more than places. With every new place he went, he learned of a new Walter, a young boy, loves to get a jelly doughnut every mean solar day on his way home from school, only he always throws his paper purse on the ground. One night, just a few nights before his altogether, Walter had a dream. In this dream, he traveled all effectually in his bed. He went to the future where he landed in a big pile of garbage, in a tree that was most to be chopped down, in an industrial smoke-filled place, on top of Mt. Everest, and many more places. With every new place he went, he learned of a new way the Earth could be polluted. He kept telling himself that it was "Just a Dream," but when he woke up the next morning he took activeness. Walter went and found the paper bag from the mean solar day before and threw it in the recycling where it belonged. A few days afterwards his birthday, he planted a new tree. On the night of his birthday he had another dream, but this time when he went to the futurity information technology was light-green and cute because he had done everything he could to help the environs.

This volume would exist great to use in 1st-fifth course to teach near the environment and the impacts we have on it by our everyday choices.

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Jessica
October 12, 2017 rated it really liked it
Summary: Van Allsburg captures readers immediately in his well-liked volume, Only a Dream. The story begins with a boy, Walter, who does not have a care in the earth near the environs. And then much so that he purposely hurries through chores and even throws trash straight on the ground. He falls asleep one nighttime and dreams of the futurity. Each experience shows the damage done past past generations who feel the mode Walter does about the environment. The story terrifies him folio subsequently page, seeing the p Summary: Van Allsburg captures readers immediately in his well-liked book, Just a Dream. The story begins with a boy, Walter, who does not have a care in the world about the environment. So much so that he purposely hurries through chores and even throws trash direct on the footing. He falls asleep i night and dreams of the future. Each experience shows the damage done past past generations who feel the style Walter does about the environment. The story terrifies him page later on page, seeing the pollution and overcrowding effects. This fantasy meets reality equally Walter begins to realize the importance of caring for the earth. The ending turns out, as Walter describes, peaceful.
Instruction tool: This book could be used for so many lessons! Clearly, Van Allsburg'south talent allows the reader to acquire from every folio. A specific lesson in the story is the importance of caring for the environs. Reading strategies that could be enhanced with this book are predicting and inferring. Van Allsburg does not include text on every page, allowing the reader to infer what is happening. Something else he does that could do good young readers is non stating the problem, instead he hints around and suggests readers decide why the situation isn't favorable. Lastly, students could study the author's apply of scale. He makes sure to emphasize the important aspects on each page by their size. Splendid, multi-purpose text for the classroom.
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Graham Lazar
I am peradventure not the most objective judge of Van Allsburg's "Simply a Dream," equally this is an writer and illustrator I have grown up with and later on built into my curriculum as a first-year 3rd grade teacher. I find his illustrations most elusive and stimulating. Just a Dream does not disappoint in this regard, with Van Allsburg's trusted vision every bit an illustrator.

The narrative itself provides an explicit, if a scrap didactic, education of environmental ethics. A immature boy, Walter, dreams of a fu

I am perhaps not the well-nigh objective judge of Van Allsburg's "Just a Dream," as this is an author and illustrator I accept grown up with and subsequently congenital into my curriculum as a first-yr 3rd form teacher. I discover his illustrations almost elusive and stimulating. Just a Dream does not disappoint in this regard, with Van Allsburg'southward trusted vision as an illustrator.

The narrative itself provides an explicit, if a bit didactic, pedagogy of environmental ideals. A immature male child, Walter, dreams of a future of robots and sophisticated machines. He is a boy who doesn't believe in recycling, doesn't care virtually litter, and laughs at his friend Rose'due south birthday gift of a sapling tree. Like to Cherry's "The Slap-up Kapok Tree," Van Allsburg relies on dreams every bit a structure to project a dark and dreary hypothetical future, a future in which wastefulness and trash prevail, and the natural world is in peril.

This is a corking text to teach character perspective and changes in character perspective (i.e. "how exercise Walter'south dreams change his character perspective?). This would as well be a peachy text to teach alongside "The Great Kapok Tree" to run across if students option up on the text structure of dreams as a vehicle of irresolute character perspective.

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Kathryn
May 22, 2012 rated information technology it was ok
Well, I would say that I expected more from Van Allsburg, but I'd read my sister's excellent review before I read the book (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) so I knew I probably wasn't going to love this 1 too much. Still, it could have been then much amend! Maybe I'm beingness a scrap too hard on information technology considering it'south Van Allsburg, but the imagination attribute here was merely so overpowered by the didactic, dim nature of the story I couldn't enjoy it at all. The storytelling was banal and anticipated Well, I would say that I expected more than from Van Allsburg, but I'd read my sister's excellent review before I read the book (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) so I knew I probably wasn't going to love this one too much. Still, it could have been so much better! Maybe I'chiliad beingness a bit too difficult on information technology because it'southward Van Allsburg, but the imagination aspect here was only so overpowered by the didactic, dim nature of the story I couldn't relish it at all. The storytelling was bland and predictable; while I appreciate the message of caring for the surroundings (here a fiddling boy learns how his negative deportment could affect the futurity), I am not certain I liked the solution presented here. All in all, I would recommend other picture books if y'all are looking for something to promote care of the Globe, perhaps On Meadowview Street, Home or Big Conduct Hug. ...more than
Joan
Nov 30, 2017 rated it liked it
Walter is simply non an environmentalist: he'due south a litterbug who sees no reason to sort trash and recycle. While he is watching a tv bear witness about the future, his next-door neighbor, Rose, is watering her birthday present: a tree. Walter thinks it's the most ridiculous present he's ever seen.

Walter wishes he could visit the hereafter, and, one night, his dream comes true. Simply the time to come is not the one he envisioned. There are no personal airplanes to zip around in, no robots to take out the tras

Walter is only not an environmentalist: he's a litterbug who sees no reason to sort trash and recycle. While he is watching a television show about the future, his adjacent-door neighbor, Rose, is watering her birthday present: a tree. Walter thinks information technology'due south the well-nigh ridiculous present he's ever seen.

Walter wishes he could visit the future, and, one nighttime, his dream comes truthful. But the future is non the one he envisioned. There are no personal airplanes to nothing around in, no robots to take out the trash, no machines to create his favorite jelly doughnuts past the thousands. The futurity is not at all what he'd expected. Simply his new perspective on the future gives him a new dream for his own future.

Despite the vibrant illustrations in this children's picture book, the story falls flat with its unexpected [and patently unrealistic] ending. Children practice demand to learn to intendance for the planet, to appreciate nature, to protect the trees. But this little story, with its glib dorsum-to-the-by solution, fails to brand the lesson one children will take to heart.

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Jakhara Norwood
Only A Dream is a story about a young boy who does not care much near the environment, only is taking through a serial of events that may make him call back twice. He is brought through these scenarios each fourth dimension he lays down to go to slumber.

I dearest the way that the story is framed! It is using the concept of a dream to explore what tin can happen to the environs if littering continues. The message is articulate, but is not necessary being fed to the reader. I just dear how information technology all connects.

Volume Connections:

Simply A Dream is a story about a immature boy who does not care much about the environment, only is taking through a serial of events that may make him call up twice. He is brought through these scenarios each time he lays down to get to sleep.

I love the way that the story is framed! It is using the concept of a dream to explore what can happen to the surroundings if littering continues. The message is clear, just is not necessary being fed to the reader. I but honey how information technology all connects.

Volume Connections: Polar Express past Chris Van Allsburg , Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

"This can't be the future, he thought.I'k sure it's but a dream."

This book tin be used equally a mentor text to teach students how to incorporate alternative realities of fantasy elements into their writing.

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Amy Layton
Dec ten, 2017 rated it actually liked it
I honestly but considered whether to put this into the horror/psychological horror genre, considering that Walter's dreams are Too True and Besides Close to Home.  I mean, his nightmares are pretty dang shut to our reality.  And this was published in 1990.  Yikes.

I know this picturebook essentially teaches children that they have to actively participate towards a clean, environmentally-sound future, but Chris Van Allsburg can't practise all the work here!!  It's a wonderful message overall, and this bo

I honestly just considered whether to put this into the horror/psychological horror genre, considering that Walter's dreams are Too True and Too Shut to Habitation.  I mean, his nightmares are pretty dang close to our reality.  And this was published in 1990.  Yikes.

I know this picturebook essentially teaches children that they accept to actively participate towards a clean, environmentally-audio futurity, simply Chris Van Allsburg can't do all the work here!!  It'due south a wonderful message overall, and this book would hands fit in perfectly with an Earth Day unit,  in the midst of any type of eco-activism you and your picturebook-loving pal are participating in!

Review cantankerous-listed here!

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Rebecca
Apr 12, 2011 rated information technology liked it
Goodreads clarification: "Immature Walter litters and refuses to sort trash for recycling, until he dreams of an overcrowded and polluted future which terrifies him into taking care of the earth. "Van Allsburg reaches a new pinnacle of excellence in both analogy and storytelling . . . His legend builds to an urgent plea for activity as it sends a rousing message of hope." -- Publishers Weekly"

The wordless double-page spreads are particularly evocative, with Walter's bed landing in surreal locations

Goodreads clarification: "Young Walter litters and refuses to sort trash for recycling, until he dreams of an overcrowded and polluted future which terrifies him into taking care of the earth. "Van Allsburg reaches a new pinnacle of excellence in both analogy and storytelling . . . His fable builds to an urgent plea for activeness every bit it sends a rousing message of hope." -- Publishers Weekly"

The wordless double-page spreads are particularly evocative, with Walter's bed landing in surreal locations. This is ane of Chris Van Allsburg's few total-color books, and it has a stiff ecology bulletin.

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Becky B
A male child who litters, doesn't bother to recycle, and scoffs at the neighbor girl who got a tree for her altogether has startling dreams about the future.

Ok, then this comes off as a fleck preachy, only at the same time sometimes you demand to state things pretty blatantly for kids (and adults) to get the bulletin. I felt like Van Allsburg and all his creative juices could have thought of a more clever and subtle way to become the message across, so that's why just 2 stars. It'due south still a good read for classes or

A boy who litters, doesn't bother to recycle, and scoffs at the neighbour daughter who got a tree for her birthday has startling dreams near the future.

Ok, so this comes off as a bit preachy, simply at the aforementioned time sometimes you need to state things pretty blatantly for kids (and adults) to get the message. I felt similar Van Allsburg and all his artistic juices could accept thought of a more clever and subtle way to become the message across, and so that's why just ii stars. Information technology'due south still a good read for classes or families talking about means to be better stewards of the Globe or classes talking about recycling, etc only at that place might be more tactful and appealing books out there.

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Juushika
Mar 02, 2020 rated information technology did not like information technology
I adore beds in improbable places (as surrealism, as dreamscapes); this is still awful. The bulletin that 1 individual's trash volition atomic number 82 the world to a comically exaggerated trash-dystopia and private attempt tin can return is to a simpler, cleaner, (idealized, fictionalized) time engages the preachy sentimentality that environmentalist texts are prone to and is outright misguided. It'south a hard message to convey while making it attainable/actionable for kids, but there has to be a improve fashion.

And e

I adore beds in improbable places (as surrealism, every bit dreamscapes); this is even so awful. The message that 1 individual's trash will lead the world to a comically exaggerated trash-dystopia and individual endeavour tin can return is to a simpler, cleaner, (idealized, fictionalized) time engages the preachy sentimentality that environmentalist texts are prone to and is outright misguided. Information technology'southward a hard message to convey while making it accessible/actionable for kids, merely there has to be a better fashion.

And every review I've read of Van Allsburg that says "the fine art is nice simply why isn't information technology in colour, kids similar color": this is why! it's because his full-color work is bad!

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Peacegal
This eco-themed story tells of a carelessly wasteful boy who falls asleep one night and dreams of the environmental consequences of littering, air pollution, deforestation, and other ills.

This book had lovely illustrations and a positive theme, but it merely jumped effectually too much. This kid woke upwardly over and over and over again, only to promptly go back to sleep and dream of another scene of environmental destruction.

Chris was built-in in Thou Rapids, Michigan on June 18, 1949, the second child of Doris Christiansen Van Allsburg and Richard Van Allsburg. His sister Karen was born in 1947.

Chris's paternal grandfather, Peter, owned and operated a creamery, a place where milk was turned into butter, cream, cottage cheese, and ice cream. It was named Due east End Creamery and afterwards they bottled the milk (and fabricated the ot

Chris was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June eighteen, 1949, the second kid of Doris Christiansen Van Allsburg and Richard Van Allsburg. His sister Karen was born in 1947.

Chris'due south paternal grandfather, Peter, owned and operated a creamery, a place where milk was turned into butter, cream, cottage cheese, and ice cream. It was named Eastward End Creamery and after they bottled the milk (and made the other products) they delivered information technology to homes all around Grand Rapids in yellow and blue trucks.

When Chris was born, his family unit lived in an onetime subcontract house side by side door to the large brick creamery building. It was a very one-time house that, similar the little house in Virginia Lee Burton'south story, had once looked over farmland. Just by 1949, the house was surrounded past buildings and other houses. Chris'south father ran the dairy with Chris's 3 uncles after his grandad Peter retired.

When Chris was three years old, his family moved to a new business firm at the edge of Thou Rapids that was function of a development; a kind of planned neighborhood, that was notwithstanding being built.

There remained many open fields and streams and ponds where a boy could grab minnows and frogs, or meet a firefly at dark. It was about a mile and a one-half to Breton Downs School, which Chris walked to every solar day and attended until 6th class, when the Van Allsburg family moved over again.

The next house they lived in was an erstwhile brick Tudor Style house in Eastward G Rapids. It was a street that looked like the street on the cover of The Polar Express. The houses were all set dorsum the same altitude from the street. Between the street and the sidewalk grew enormous Elm copse whose branches reached up and touched the branches of the trees on the other side of the street. Chris moved to this street with his mom, dad, sister, and two Siamese cats. One named Fafner and the other proper name Eloise.

Chris went to junior and senior high school in E One thousand Rapids. He didn't take art classes during this time. His interests and talents seemed to be more in the surface area of math and science.

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