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Cover of A River Dream
4.0

Based on 1 Google Books ratings

A River Dream

by Allen Say

Book Details

Publisher:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published:1988
Pages:36
Format:BOOK
Language:en
ISBN:9780395482940

Reading Info

Age Range:6-10

About This Book

While sick in bed, a young boy opens a box from his uncle and embarks on a fantastical fishing trip.

Our Review

This gentle picture book explores the imaginative world of a child confined to bed with illness, where a simple gift from his uncle transforms into a magical fishing adventure. Through luminous watercolor illustrations and spare, poetic text, readers follow the boy's journey from his bedroom into a vivid dreamscape where he navigates a river in search of trout. The story beautifully captures how imagination can transport us beyond physical limitations, offering both escape and comfort during difficult moments. This narrative provides a sensitive portrayal of a child's inner world when faced with confinement and uncertainty.

What distinguishes this story is its quiet authenticity in depicting childhood reverie, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur in the most natural way. Children who have experienced illness or confinement will particularly relate to the protagonist's imaginative coping mechanism, while all young readers will appreciate the story's tranquil pacing and visual storytelling. The book serves as a wonderful conversation starter about using imagination during challenging times, leaving readers with a sense of peaceful resolution that lingers long after the final page.

Themes

Juvenile Fiction

Subjects

Juvenile Fiction